Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-13
OBITUARY.
Maria Durnall Walton.

Maria Durnall Walton was born
near Philadelphia, Pa, May II, 1884,
and was the daughter of Milton and
Caroline (kettler) Durnall.
Milton Durnall conducted success
full academy for nearly twenty years
at Unionville, and as Maria was left
motherless at years her young life
was spent in the atmosphere of learn
ing in close companionship with her
father. Milton Durnall was man of
fine mental ability, an excellent teach
er and a profound thinker.
The daughter received most careful
training and developed into woman
hood possessed of clear analytical
mind, brilliant conversationalist and
a charming writer She wrote for pub
| LEGATION both in verse and prose and
with her beautifully modulated voice
she was ever a delight to her friends,
| for to hear her talk was to listen to
| tuneful music.
| She was converted and baptized in
to the Buelah Baptist church in Penn
| sylvania at the tender age of 16. Her
Christian life always showed high
order of faith and trust. She was a
conscientious Christian with never
conflicting doubts. So loyal was she to
everything pertaining to Christ that
she was sorely grieved at the now
prevalent Higher criticism of the BIZ
BILE and she felt it was irreverent han
ding of the Word. To Maria Durnall
the Bible was the law of life and the
hope of death and she based her life
upon those beautiful words from st
Paul: 81 know whom have believed
and am persuaded that he is able tc
keep that which have committed
unto Him against that day.
She was teacher at Sunnyside
Seminary, near Wilmington, Delaware
until her marriage in Nov. 9, 1858, to
Rev. w. r. Walton, native of Phila'
delphia, but then pastor of the First
Baptist church of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Rev. Mr. Walton later was pastor OF
the Baptist church at Anamosa.
At the breaking out of the war Mr.
Walton resigned from the ministry
and moved to Ottumwa in 1861, where
they have resided continuously ever
since.
From cultured Philadelphia to the
wilds of the west, for they staged from
Dubuque, Iowa, to Cedar Falls, Mrs
Walton began the duties of pastors
wife, a life for which she was wei
fitted with her constant cheerfulness
her strength of will and her marked
unselfishness.
For many years she has neither
been able to take part in church mol
social life, altho she was ever alive
to the successes and reverses of hel
church with which she was ever IL
close touch Her friendships were
founded on sincerity and the unswerv
ing principles of a noble life vel
lived
The last days of her life were peace
full and quiet, and on Sept 8, 1900, az
the dawn announced another day hel
spirit took it's flight to the brighter
realm.
Besides her husband, now at the ad
vanced age of 80, and her only child
Mrs. Carrie Walton Miller. her near
est relatives are her half brothers
DR.. Horace Durnall, Harvey Durnall
and half sister, Mrs. Olivia Walker
and stepmother, Mrs. Milton Durnall
all of Washington, D. G.
The funeral was held Monday at
o. M, Sept. 10, 1900. The services
were conducted by her pastor, Rev
#. G. Davies, assisted by Rev. e. T
Bartlett, of Des Moines, secretary o
the state convention board, an init
mate friend of the family.
The hymns sung were Mrs. walton
/. favorites and were: Lead Kindl,
| Light Nearer My God to Thee" ant
/ "Rock of Ages"
Both Rev. Mr.. Davies and Rev. MI
| Bartlett spoke words of comfort an
consolation to the Borrowing famil
i and friends, and many flowers marke'
} the esteem of sympathizing friends.
| The hymn. Il Shall Be Statistic
| When Awake in His Likeness" wa
, the most fitting close OF the servic
: at the grave.
The pail bearers were j. G. Hutch
son, Allen Johnston, J. w. Garner, d.
Z. T. Edgerly, H. G. Chambers and !
G. Cooper.
The Umbrella,