Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-03-13
Another Pioneer Mother Passes To Her
Reward. 4

Reward.
Lovenia Wanless was born in Pocca-
hontas County, Virginia, September 8,
1881, remaining there until Ia years Of
age when she moved to Illinois with
her parents. In the fall of 1855, the
subject of this sketch, with her parents
and other members of their family,
moved to Iowa and was one of the first
pioneer settlers of this state, settling
on claim that they pre-empted in
Orleans Township. Winneshiek County,
northwest of, the site on which now
stands the new Norwegian Lutheran
church. May 10, 1860, she was united
in marriage with Chandler w. Dawley
and to them five children were born,
namely: Clara NJ, Charles L., of Burr
Oak, Iowa, Ella l. of Blackwell, Okla.
homa, Edgar E., and Albertus E., OF
this city, all of who, with the excep-
ton of Clara M. and Edgar E., togeth-
er with the aged husband survive to
mourn the loss of a kind, loving and
! faithful wife ard mother. She also
leaves a grandson, Claude M. Elzea, of
Sheldon, Iowa, who until recently has
always made his home with his grand
parents. also twelve other grandch Id
rem. She departed life at the residence
OF her daughter, Mrs. Stanton Elzea,
500 w. Padon Ave, Blackwell, Okla
homa, on Wednesday afternoon, Febru-
ary rs, 1914, of old age, passing away
without pain or suffering and her mind
was clear to the last. being so years. 5
months and 16 days Of age atthe time
of her departure.
August l, 1918, she with her husband
accompanied their daughter, Mrs. Stan
ton Elzea and family, to Oklahoma. the
first time she had been away from the
counties of Howard and Winneshiek
during a continuous residence here OF
over SO years, to make their home with
their daughter. On Saturday, Febru-
2lst. she was summoned and after be-
ing confinea to her bed only about five
days, despite the best of medical aid
and loving care, she sank gradually un-
til she passed into that sleep that
knows no awak ening. Short funeral
services were held at the home of her
daughter in Oklahoma, Sunday after
noon, March lst. at O'Clock, before
the remains were brought to Cresco on
Tuesday afternoon. March 3rd, and
funeral services, conducted by Rev.
John Gammons, took place at the home
of her son, Abertus E. Dawley, in this
CITY, where she and her husband has re-
sided since coming to Cresco from near
Burr Oak, Iowa; in the fall of 1907,
with the exception of the past few
months spent in the Southwest, and
where at 9 o'clock a. m. on Wcdnes-
day, old friends and neighbors met to
pay the last sad rites to the cherished
memory of the deceased. She was laid
at rest in the cemetery at Burr Oak,
Iowa. =
Mrs. Dawley was the eldest daugh.
ter of family of sixteen children, all
of whom have departed for the Better
World, except these who remain to
mourn with the members of her immed-
late family. and nearly all of whom are
residing in the state Of Oregon five
brothers, Wilson, Brown, Gilmore, AL
fred and Charley Wanless, and three
sisters, Isabelle Bother, Laura Smell
and Beuna Vista Smell.
With the passing of Mrs. Dawley,
we chronicle the departure of another
of our old pioneers who through toll
and privation have assisted in the up
building of our community. She united
with the Methodist church in early
childhood and has ever since led very
devout, pious, Christian life, andiwas
ever active in the duties of her church
until prevented by the infrmities of
age. She was good wife, q good
neighbor, and above all, a mother in
all that the name implies.