Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Sarah Maria ELWOOD ************************************************************************ Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, June 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ PIONEER RESIDENT CALLED Mrs. S. M. Elwood passed Peacefully Away Sunday Evening at the Age of 75. This community was shocked by the sudden death on Sunday evening of one, who, tho' of mature years, was so cherry and young in spirit, that old age and possible death were unassociated with her. A week's illness, at first not apparently, serious terminated a long and useful life. Sarah Maria Johnson was born in the town of Xenia, Green County Ohio, on Feb. 28, 1834 and died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Fredus Johnson, in the town of Rutland, Dane County, Wis., Oct. 31, 1909, having attained the age of 75 years, 8 months and 3 days. At the age of four years, she removed with her parents David and Keziah Johnson to Indiana, two years later they came to Union, Rock County. Here on March 23, 1852 she was united in marriage with James Henry Elwood. The new home was established at Mitchel, Ia., but in 1859 they purchased the farm near Union, which had been her childhood home in the pioneer days of Wisconsin. Ever since, Union or Evansville has been her home. When the civil war called for the sacrifice that only a soldier's wife could make, she bravely assumed the care of the farm and little ones and for more than three long years, she, in the quiet of her home, like her husband at the battle front, served her country well. Then followed years of willing service and many sacrifices for her home and children until advancing years made a less active life advisable, and a home was made first in the village of Union and later in this city. In 1902 the golden wedding anniversary was celebrated at the old homestead. On Feb. 20, of this year, after months of suffering, during which time the faithful wife lovingly and constantly cared for him, the husband entered into rest. Though apparently well and likely to survive him many years, but eight months have intervened between the parting and the reunion. Four sorrowing children are left to mourn her loss. They are Eva A. wife of August Freuchen, Ada J. wife of Lyman Johnson, Retta V. wife of Fredus Johnson and D. Ray, who lives on a farm near Fairchild, Wis. Two daughters, Mary and Alice died in infancy. Of a large family of brothers and sisters, two of whom were Daniel and Reuben Johnson, once prominent residents of this place but now deceased, only one remains. She is Mrs. Margaret Johnson. Her six grandchildren are Mrs. Crawford Harper of Madison, the Misses Ethelyne, Lucile and Vernalene Johnson of Brooklyn and little Evalyn and Donald Elwood of Fairchild, Wis. These grand children mourn deeply the loss of one whose great joy was in planning for their pleasure; and many pieces of exquisite lace and needle work, some still unfinished, are left them as tokens of her useful, self- forgetful life. For the Old Settlers' picnic last June Mrs. Elwood prepared and read an excellent history of the pioneer days of Union and Cooksville. With unimpaired memory and as the earliest surviving resident of Union, her account was full of interest and a faithful portrayal of pioneer life. In girlhood she united with the United Brethren church of Rutland but upon her removal to Evansville in 1896, she became a member of the Baptist church. Here she found an opportunity for service and the joy of congenial companionship. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 10:30 a.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lyman Johnson, Rev. Ellen Copp officiating. Amid a wealth of beautiful flowers, in the presence of sympathetic friends and solaced by sweet music, the bereaved ones bade a last farewell to her, who will ever live in memory as a loving mother, a faithful friend and a noble Christian. November 4, 1909, Evansville Review, Evansville, Wisconsin