Eliza A. (GRAHAM) SMITH

GRAHAM, SMITH, TUCKER, KELLER, TEALE, WHITE, OLDS, LANDPHAIR

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/10/2009 at 02:45:43

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 5, 1923

OBITUARY - MRS. J. R. SMITH

Eliza A. GRAHAM was the eldest daughter of Theodore and Lena (TUCKER) GRAHAM and was born July 12, 1844. Her education was received in the district school. In her girlhood she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of which she has ever since been a consistent member, and always faithful in her attendance at church as well as in all other lines of Christian service.

On November 3, 1864, she married James R. SMITH in Jo Daviess County, Ill. In 1866, with her husband and parents, she came to Decatur County, Iowa. The following year they settled on a farm southeast of Lamoni, where all of their children with the exception of the two oldest, were born and raised. In 1890, they moved on a smaller farm nearer town, and in 1901, MR. SMITH having retired from active business, they removed to Lamoni where she has ever since resided.

Mr. SMITH passed away February 20, 1922. While she never burdened others with her sorrow, those who knew her best felt she would never recover from the loss of her companion of more than fifty years.

She was the mother of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. The eldest son, E. H., and third son, J. W., died in 1910.

Mrs. SMITH passed away June 23, 1923, after an illness of less than two days, thus surviving her husband but 16 months. She is survived by her daughters, Mrs. D. H. KELLER, of Mt. Sterling, Ill.; Mrs. Bert TEALE, of Mount Ayr, Iowa; Mrs. A. Otis WHITE, of Lamoni, and her sons, C. F., T. J. and A. H., also of Lamoni. Mrs. TEALE who has been very ill the past three months, was unable to be at the funeral.

She is also survived by her sisters, Mrs. Lydia OLDS, of Warren, Ill.; Mrs. Viola LANDPHAIR, of Pleasanton, Iowa; and two brothers, W. H. GRAHAM, of Leon, Iowa; and B. F. GRAHAM, of Lamoni, Iowa.

Seventeen grandchildren will keenly miss the kind ministrations and loving thoughtfulness of a devoted grandmother. The material success of MR. and Mrs. SMITH was largely due to her thrift and early sacrifice in their pioneer days. Mrs. SMITH was greatly loved by all who knew her and her loss is deeply felt by a host of remaining friends as well as her immediate family.

Funeral services were held from the home Monday afternoon in charge of Rev. J. Vincent GRAY, sermon by Rev. R. M. SHIPMAN, of Des Moines. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet, older grandsons acted as pall bearers and younger grandchildren as flower bearers. Interment in Rose Hill [Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa].

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009