Obituary for Cordelia C. Powell While it was generally known thru last week that death was near, yet news early Saturday of the passing of that good and true woman, Mrs. C.C. Wait, brought genuine sorrow to the hearts of her many friends. Her decline thru several years had been gradual and the end came quietly and peaceful- ly. Her funeral, in the local M.E. church at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, was one of the largest held here in many months. Friends came from the tri-cities, Sherrard, Aledo and other communities to show their affection and esteem for a most estimable woman. Her pastor, Rev. George Shepherd, delivered the sermon and favorite hymns were sung by the Misses Mary and Kathryn Roseberry of Rock Island, former neighbors of Mrs. Wait. The casket covered by a multitude of floral offerings, was carried to its last resting place in the Reynolds cemetery by P.C. Ketzle, Frank Bahringer, F.E. Miller, Bert Vanatta, J.H. Minteer and A.J. Asquith. Cordelia C. Powell, daughter of William and Amanda Powell, was born on June 27, 1838, in Switzerland county, Indiana, and died on Sep. 22, 1923, aged 85 years, 2 months, 26 days. Her early girlhood was spent in Indiana, except a few months when she was a teacher in Boone county, Missouri. In August, 1858, she became the bride of Jacob Wait. There were six children--Silas D., a retired merchant in Reynolds; Mattie, who died at the age of three years; Robert P., banker in Reynolds; and Mrs. Ella Welsh, Willett and Miss Pearl, who live at the old homestead two miles west of the village. Besides the sons and daughters, she is mourned by seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many other relatives and personal friends. Mr. Wait and his family moved to Illinois in September, 1873, and settled on the farm where Mrs. Wait had lived for 50 years as queen of the home and counselor of her children. The father and husband was called by death on Aug. 13, 1895. Early in life Mrs. Wait joined the Methodist church and remained a faithful and consistent member. She was one of the official board all thru her years of activity and remained and honorary member till death. She was a charter member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and for many years served as its president. In all church societies and in WCTU circles she was a helpful and enthusiastic leader. Endowed by nature with all the finer traits of a lovable woman, she was a loyal and helpful companion to her husband, an ideal mother and a valued and trusted friend. She carried well her part in the exacting duties of pioneer days; she saw her children develop under her capable and careful training into successful men and women and she lived long enough to see and enjoy the world's greatest inventions and discoveries as they gradually took the places of the ox team, the tallow candle,and the spinning wheel. Her life was complete and her work was performed in a manner worthy of emulation. -- Source unknown, September 1923 ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kevin Martin