Obit of Mrs. Robert Monkur PLEASANTS (d.1925), Blue Earth Co., MN (Maude Florence BARNES) ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormatted by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Eugene Barnes Submitted: Jan 2002 ========================================================================= Mankato Free Press: 8-22-1925, p 4:5 "WELL-KNOWN SINGER STRICKEN BY DEATH" ________________________ "MRS. ROBERT MONKUR PLEASANTS PASSED AWAY IN THIS CITY YESTERDAY." _______________ "Mrs. Robert Monkur Pleasants, nee Maude Florence Barnes, died yesterday at the home of her parents on Parry street after a lingering illness of many months. Her going will come as a great shock to many of her friends, who had not realized her condition was as serious and the loss of this gentle talented young woman will be deeply felt. Maude Barnes Pleasants was born here thirty-two years ago. She attended the public schools, graduating with honors from both the highschool and Teachers college and leaving behind her in both institutions and enviable record of scholarship as well as the unfailing loyalty to the highest ideals of both schools. Very early in her girlhood Maude gave promise of rare musical talent fulfilled with each passing year and all through her school life here she gave generously of herslef for every phase of musical advancement and uplift. In her three years of teaching following her graduation from the Teachers college, her work was doubly valuable to school and community where she taught, as she was able to accomplish such splendid results with her music in addition to the regular requirements of a successful teacher. But all through the years the desire to make music her life work grew stronger and stronger until she gave up teaching and entered the music department of Drake university, Des Moines, Iowa, where she made many warm friends and rapid musical progress under Holmes Cooper, dean of fine arts at the university. The following year, 1917, she spent in Chicago, where her rich contralto voice and splendid muscianship brought her early recognition and a member- ship in the Musical Art sociey of that great musical centre. The next two seasons were spent chautauqua work, a valuable experience to a young girl and just the added preparation needed to make Maude ready for work in the east. The fall of 1920 found her in New York studying with Yeatman Griffith through the advice of her loyal and interested friend, Florence Mcbeth, and throught the Griffith studio she met many muscians of note, sang on many important occasions - met the same cordial appreciation of her rich contralto voice, her ability as an accommpianist and her beautiful womanhood. She came back to Mankato to sing and to teach, generous with her voice and her help on every side, for, as she expressed it "whateversuccess or trophy I have been fortunate enough to win I love to bring back and lay it at the feet of the home folk." Early in her years in New York maude met Mrs. Eva Laurie Pleasants, a giftedmuscian and teacher of wide experience and her son, Robert Monkur Pleasants, a member of a large International banking firm of New York. This friendship founded on their mutual love of music, grew into life's leargest friendship, and they were married in Mankato on the third of September, 1921. Much of their married life was spent in Chicaco, where one son was born to them, Robert Barnes Pleasants, now nearly two years old, a jolly, robust little lad. (part missing) To Mr. Pleasants, her husband, his little son Robert, to Mr. and Mrs. Orren L. Barnes, her father and mother, to her sister, Myrtle, and to Mrs. Eva Laurie Pleasants, her second mother, the loving sympathy of the entire comunity is extended. Thier loss and sorrow is shared by a host of loving loyal friends for Mrs. Pleasants belonged to all of Mankato. Wherever she went, to all who were priviliged to know her, she is remembered for her gentleness, her sweet unselfish dispostion, her loyal friendship and her unfailing Christian love. Her life has been a blessed service for others. Througout her long illness there was never a complaint but an unshaken faith and and undaunted courage for each new day until the message came, "come up higher." The funeral service will be held the Centenary Methodist church, conducted by Rev. Joh Hall, pastor of the church, on Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock. The body will lie in state from one to two o'clock at the church where Mrs. Pleasants friends may pay their last tribute of respect to her sacred memory." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitter's Note: Post script: We have traced a Robert Pleasants and believe he died in Mo., near Frt. Leavenworth, but without more? It may be the father or son? That was by far the longest obituary of anyone in the family, although we do not have one for Sister Lucia (Wiley) of NY No. 8 Muralist in the US. They celebrate Sister Lucia day in Tillamook, Oregon in Sep. of each year. He was interviewed August 16, 1937 and recounted his experience in the 1862 Indian War. If you would like a copy, and send. Re: Orrin- he died 21/31/1937. Apparently the daughter Ester Barnes died before Maude's death of pulmonary TB on Feb 1, 1925. TB killed most of my Wiley family. Wayne W. was super of schools in Tillamook 1912 and died in 1914 of TD in San Diego. His two younger sisters, twinds Nettie and Nellie also. Lucia was his oldest daughter. Her grand niece worked on Geo. Bush's campaign. Orrin's death certificate carries his wife as Anna Tonnar Barnes. So until we can get to more of the census her maiden name is up for grabs: Tanner, Tonnar, Tonner, Included were the following: 1938 - Marvin Branstuder, Joseph Bruels of St Paul, Wm Blume, Vernon Barnell; 1898 - A. W. Bean, Sarah Burgess, Mrs. Elmer Tildo Bailey, Geo. M. Bradley, John Bushman, Mrs. Gust Berg, w/post mortem report, Baby of Mr. and Mrs. Bauer. 1924- Chelsea Carroll Pratt, well known Physcian. Gene