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- OBITUARY
ELIZABETH MAXWELL ROOT
Mrs. Elizabeth Maxwell Root passed quietly from life unto death Saturday night at 9:30 o'clock. Mrs. Root had been in failing health for several months but her last illness was of a short duration. Elizabeth Maxwell was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Jane Maxwell and was born near Delphi, Ind., February 24, 1838. When but ten years of age she with her parents, brothers and sister came to Iowa, which was then called the far west. The trip was made overland and the company were three weeks on the road. Fairfield was but a mere village then.
She endured the privations of frontier life and lived to see the different modes of traveling from the ox cart to the airplane. At an early age in life she joined the M.E. church. She was united in marriage to A.C. Root in 1865 and they lived a happy wedded life until the grim monster death, called the husband and father in 1907.
After their marriage they spent seven years near Defiance, Ohio, moving back to Iowa in 1872 and settled on the home farm at Beckwith. Three children were the fruit of this union, Victor A.; Dell M.; and Mrs. Jennie Prince, all residents of Jefferson county.
Mrs. Root will ever be remembered as a true hearted friend, a kind and generous neighbor, a tender devoted mother, a loving faithful wife and a sympathetic sister. She also leaves one brother, H.C. Maxwell of Fairfield, who is now the only surviving member of a once large family.
The last services will be held this (Monday) afternoon at the Bethesda church at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Pool a former pastor.
The family desires to express their heartfelt thanks to their many friends and neighbors for their kindness in their hour of sorrow.
A POEM
When we say we've lost a mother,
Is it strange that we do weep,
Whilst our darling earthly treasure
Her vigilance has ceased to keep?
Ne'er again we'll know the boon
Of a precious mother's care,
Bending o'er us in our illness,
Anxious soul engaged in prayer.
And in love she did reprove us
When we erred from the right way;
Ever watchful of our footsteps
Ever anxious day, night and day -
That we tread the ways of wisdom
That we seek our riches where
Moth and rust do not corrupt them,
That our lives be full of prayer;
That our lamps be trimmed and burn
When the Bridegroom enters in,
When the books shall all be opened,
That eternal life we gain.
Oh, the words of love and comfort
We were wont to hear from you,
As life's trials passed before us,
Or the shadows came in view.
Or as launched out on life's ocean,
With the sunshine on the tide,
If thy sweet smile of approval
would go with us and abide.
Then we felt that life were joyous,
And we liv'd in pleasures here,
Till the angel of the covenant
Called you to a higher sphere.
May we meet our dearest mother
Beyond the city of the dead;
Where there comes no dreaded parting,
Where no farewell tears are shed.
When the last dread foe is conquered,
Calm without and peace within,
Meet her in the Crystal City
[Cleansed, Saved?] from every earthly sin
Jefferson County Republican, Nov. 11, 1904, Page 1.
written by Liz [Elizabeth Maxwell Root]
"Pioneer Life in 1849 in Buchanan Township"
I have been requested to write up a short sketch of my experience of pioneer life which might be of interest to you many readers. Early in the spring of '49 my father, Benjamin Maxwell, and family which consisted of mother, five brothers, a sister and myself, aged ten years, left Delphi, Carroll county, Ind. For the "far west" as Iowa was then known. We were accompanied by Uncle John and Aunt Mary Ann McCormick and their seven children. The trip was made in six covered wagons. One in particular I remember as we called it "The Prairie Schooner". It was headed with four yoke of oxen. Paper money was scarce; everything was gold and silver. Uncle John's sack of money was in one corner of this "Schooner" which anyone of us children could not lift. Uncle John was what we called rich in those days. We were three weeks on the road when we arrived at Uncle Henry Overholser's, he being the father of Milt and the late Mrs. Balden Parsons. We moved into a shanty on the David Keltner place and in the coming fall Father purchased 160 acres of government land for $150. And that $150 was harder to procure in those days than $1500 would be today. My father built a log house and there are yet today a few logs left standing to mark the old homestead, on what is now the K. Caviness farm. It was here we had many joys and sorrows. A little sister died and was the first person laid in the Bethesda cemetery. Uncle John McCormick purchased the land that is now owned by Mr. Groves and lived in a double log house which was something a little extra then. There were no railroads; the goods were hauled from Burlington to Fairfield "over land". There were but few roads. We would just go across the prairies horseback or with big wagons. To see a buggy was quite a treat, more so than an "auto" is today. There were just two orchards in this part of the county, one at John Parsons' now the Hawkins place, and the other at Uncle John McCormick's. we gathered wild berries and crabs to make butter and thickened with sorghum we considered it very good. And happy was the man that could afford pumpkin butter. The wolves and deers could be seen and heard at all times. Our neighbors were few and far between but were good and very sociable. There was no envy or strife among us; we were all on equal footing. I will mention a few of our '49er neighbors. There were Daniel Clapp's, McRose's, a family by the name of Cooper who lived on the James place, and the widow Clover. On the Burlington road from Parsonville to Fairfield was the old Hickenbottom house which kept many a weary traveler over night. A man by the name of [Geller?] lived in a log cabin where George Parsons now lives. Homer Humphreys lived in a little shanty where Dell Green's place is now. The Restmer's lived on what is now the Burkhart farm, making just four houses on the road to Fairfield. Our amusements were corn huskings, wool pickings, quiltings, etc. A little incident occurs to my mind while writing of the pioneer days, which goes to show that we were not without our jokes. At an entertainment given at the Rose school house, Caleb Cooper, a young man, was badly smitten with one of our most beautiful young ladies. A party of the young people decided to deceive young Caleb, Brother Will Maxwell, who was always ring leader when it came to fun, was accordingly dressed to represent the said young lady. He wore a sunbonnet which was quite fashionable then and accompanied Mr. Cooper to the schoolhouse, and taking a back seat, Mr. Cooper never knew the difference but what it was the young lady that he was in love with. Many a hearty laugh was indulged in at Caleb's expense. It is needless to say that he failed to win the young lady for his wife. A singing school was organized under the leadership of W.D. Clapp who, we are glad to say, is still able to be with us. Mary Clover was known for miles around as the pioneer school teacher. She taught reading, writing and spelling, and boarded around with her pupils. Isaac Hodson was another first-class pioneer school teacher, not only with books, but also with the switch. We children had to toe the mark. We knew full well that a switching at school meant another when we returned home.
When our country called for help many of our brave boys enlisted. Will McCormick, second son of John McCormick, was mortally wounded in a battle in Arkansaw and died soon afterwards. Father and three brothers, Will, Almer and Harvey, enlisted; the four, all together, spent eleven years in the country's service. While the war was still ragging, the women were at home trying to do a man's work, and many a time we women were forced to help our brothers (those that were too young to enlist) to haul wood from the timber and gather corn for the hogs. I well remember the time when we would mount old Fan, with a bucket of butter for Mrs. Capt. Crail, and come to Fairfield to hear the latest war news, and if it was good news, how quick old Fan could carry us home.
When Abe Lincoln was elected a grand rally was indulged in by all. A band wagon with 36 young ladies, each one carrying a banner to represent a state in the Union. I remember mine being Maine. We were all dressed in white while just on the outside of the wagon a chair was fastened and Elinor McCormick was seated dressed in deep mourning, representing Kansas which was just waiting to be admitted as a State. Five span of white horses were attached to the wagon. The drivers were Will Maxwell, Henry McCormick, Ike Brown and another young man whose name I have forgotten. As we marched through the streets we were cheered with "God bless those patriotic girls, but we pity the bachelor drivers." wishing us long life and prosperity and good husbands, and showering candies upon us. Those days were long to be remembered. We almost all went barefooted so as to save our shoes for Sunday wear, and if we had a good calico dress and a sunbonnet we were as happy then as the young ladies are today dressed in their silks and satins. And when we went visiting it was a visit and not a call, as everybody was sociable and visited for miles around. The dinners were not served in courses, but were first-class and substantial. And the good sorghum cakes that Mary Clover and Mrs. Levi Fawcett used to bake are still fresh in my memory.
My father and mother lived and died on the old homestead. They died in the years of 1883 and 1884 at the ages of 78 and 75 years, having raised nine children who were all living at the time of their death. But in the year of '92 brother Jim was called Home at the early age of 41 years, he being the youngest of the family. In '94 brother John, living in Chariton, died. In '98 brother Almer died in Neb. Bro. George whom I have not seen for over 50 years was last heard of in Oregon. Brother Will and sister Belle are in Neb. Brother Harvey is in Davenport, while Brother Isaac and myself are the only surviving members in the county of a once large family. How soon a family is separated and gone while memory still remains.
MRS. ELIZABETH MAXWELL ROOT. ELIZABETH MAXWELL WAS BURIED AT BETHESDA CEM. IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, IOWA. SHE
MARRIED A.C. ROOT IN 1865 IN DEFIANCE OHIO.
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