OBITUARIES: Mary Elizabeth Swinney, Wapello County, Iowa   

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Obituaries  from the Blakesburg Excelsior Wapello County, IA  Mar 1925 
Contributed for use in USGENWEB Archives by Martha Richards maseattle@copper.net
Copyright 10/2001

Microfilm from State Historical Society of Iowa Blakesburg (Wapello co, IA) 
Excelsior Newspaper, Jan 1, 1925 (missing issues Aug 6, 13;)  Oct 8, 
1925-Dec 25, 1930  Microfilm from State Historical Society of Iowa

Thurs, March 26, 1925
     Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Christian ECHARD and Lydia (TREAVY) ECHARD was 
born in Augusta Co., near Staunton, Virginia, Oct. 16, 1846.  When about 16 years of 
age, because of the struggle for existence in the South during the Civil War she with her 
family refuged across Mason and Dixon line to Good Hope, Ohio, where she lived for 3 
years then coming to Davis Co,. Iowa, making her home with her sister, Mrs. Sarah 
WARE until her marriage to Jas. Harvey SWINNEY on June 18, 1868. To this union 
were born five children, namely:  Effie Iona, dying in infancy, Orville T., Bentonsport, 
Francis M., Bloomfield, Emma G., Blakesburg, and Roy G. of Richland.  There are also 
five grandchildren--Arden, Fay and Willa May SWINNEY and Goldson and Lawrence 
WALKER, all of whom have prepared to meet her where parting is no more.  Except for 
one year spent in Kansas, Mrs. SWINNEY has resided continuously in Davis County until 
husband’s death in 1917 at their home in Bloomfield, when failing in health she went to 
make her home with her daughter in Wapello County, where she passed away on March 
11, 1925, at 5:30a.m., after more than four years of intense suffering, age 78 years, 5 
months and 25 days.  She was reared in a christian home by Lutheran parents and at the 
age of eighteen she was converted and became a member of the Chequest Union Baptist 
church, retaining her membership there until her death--or for 60 years, being next last 
survivor of the pioneer members of her church and the last of her own generation--a sister 
in Virginia having passed away three weeks ago.  Aunt Mollie, as she was familiarly 
known, was a true, devoted christian woman, practing every day what she believed to be 
right.  She ever followed the example of her Savior in going about doing good.  She went 
far and near ministering to the sick, ever leaving a ray of sunshine where ever she went.  
She was devoted to her church and her delight was teaching the young men’s class in 
Sunday School and her home was always a welcome home for entertaining her pastors.  
She was also a valued member of the Bloomfield Order of the W. R. C.  She was a faithful 
wife, a self-sacrificing mother and a splendid neighbor.  She leaves to mourn her departure 
besides those named above, her children’s companions and many other relatives and a host 
of friends.  The floral offerings were many and beautiful.  Impressive services were held at 
the Walker home Friday at 10 a.m. by Rev. C. E. ELLIS of Blakesburg and later at the 
Bloomfield Baptist church by Rev. C. W. HEADY.  Interment in the Dunville cmemtery.