Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-21
NONACENARIAN
CALLED BY DEATH
MISS SARAH s. HORNlSH AN
SWERED SUMMONS SUNDAY
2 A. M. AGED 90 YEARS

Slartly after 9 o'clock Sunday morn
ing, after fight against old age that
had been waged successfully Tor
long time, but when during the past
eight weeks made her belfast, Miss
Sarah S. Hornish closed life both
useful and interesting, that covered
the period of almost SO years. TWen-
ity-fve Of these years had been spent
in Ottumwa at the home OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Mills, 322 North Market
Istreet. The funeral will take place to-
morrow morning at 7:45 O'Clock at
the Mills home.
The remains will be taken to keo-
kuk on the Rock Island at O'Clock,
where interment will be made In OAK
land cenNetery.
| Born in Pennsylvania.
Few have had a more interesting
life than did this venerable old lady.
beginning life in the far-off mountains
of Pennsylvania when the great Amer
lean republic was in it's infancy, she
had witnessed the march of progress
through the nine decades Of her exist
ence and 1t is remarked by those VINO
were best acquainted with her, that
she followed these events and incl
dents that have became epochs IN the
country's existence, with keen per-
ception as to their Importance, and a
very retentive memory OF their ap.
pearance on the stage Of life. She was
prone to become reminiscent at times
and was never more pleased tnan
when having gathered about her
number of persons who would lend an
attentive interest to her tales OF the
days gone by with their various
stages
Recalled the Ox-Cart.
Often she would remark In telling
of these things, Does it not seem
strange that I should have lived to
see the stage of civilization advance
from the day of the ox-cart and the
stage coach, to that of the air sh1p?'
She witnessed all these things and
notwithstanding that Pennsylvania
was one of the first states to give use
to railroads, she preceded the steam
cars, the telephone, telegraph. and
the countless improvements Of the
past generation. She said Of the auto
mobile of today. that the jolting exper-
fenced in riding over a rough place,
brought her back to her girlhood on
the stage coach OF western Pennsyl-
vania. She lived to see the wanderer
of the heavens, Halley's comet, twice.
Once when in her seventeenth year,
and just a short time ago, while re-
Ginning on her bed near a west win
dow, SO clear were her faculties and
| so keen her sight, that she picked out
the comet herself and called the at
tention of friends to 1t.
People Were Pioneers.
Sarah S. Hornish, was one of the
third generation of family which
was a pioneer of western Pennsyl-
vania, and her coming to Iowa more
than half a century ago makes her
a pioneer in the Hawkeye state. She
was born April "a, 1918 in Greensburg,
Pa, and came to Iowa with her fam.
lily in 1854, settling in Keokuk. She
continued to reside in Keokuk until
1885, when with her sister, Miss Sue
Hornish whose death few months ago
plunged her in grief and loneliness at
the loss of her companion of SO many
| years, came to Ottumwa with Mr.. and
| Mrs. Frank Mills. Mrs. Mills is a
niece of Miss Hornish and the Mills
home has been the home Of the VEN
cradle Misses Hornish while they
lived in Ottumwa, or for period OF
twenty-five years. Miss Sarah S.
Rornish was perhaps the oldest mem
Der of the Presbyterian church IN Of
tumwa She was at least one OF the
Oldest for she became member OF
the sect when but twenty years OF age
a period Of seventy-two years, and has
continued active in her membership
and interest in the church.
Died Sunday at a. m.
Mrs Frank Mills and family and Mrs.
M. C Hornish and family of Keokuk
are among the nearest relatives sur
viving, while large number Of rela-
tives in Pennsylvania also survive
her. The advance of old age with its
infirmities and inability to Withstand
attacks made upon it, eliminated IN
having the estimable old lady con-
fined to her bed some eight weeks
ago. since which time she has grad
ualIy failed until short time after
o'clock Sunday morning. with facuF
ties bright to the last, she breatned
her last peacefully.
! The funeral service will be conduct
ed Tuesday morning at the Mills
home at 7:45 by Rev. r. Ames Mont
gomery, pastor of the First Presby-
terrain church. The pail bearers Will
be. Samuel Mahon, H. w. Merrill, =.
H, Harper, G.. e. Boude, T. D. Eos
ter and Allen Johnston.
lr..--o nd from there went to the Sax