The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-04-06
ENTIRE CITY
IN MOURNING
Death of Mrs. MCCoIIum Sad
dens Community.
PIONEER LADY LAID TO REST
WITH SIGNAL HONORS
Mother of Homeless Twenty" Filled
Remarkable Position in Life of the
City.

The business houses of Twin Falls
without exception were closed between
the hours of two and three today,
while the whole city showed it's appre-
citation of the life and character of one
OF its pioneer women, Mrs. Alice
Coombs McCollum. When the news
became known Sunday morning that
the notable life had gone out in the
brightness and glory of the Easter
morning, feeling of sadness crept
into the hearts of all the people of
this city. which has not lifted as the
loss to the whole populace is fully re-
allied in the passing of the whole
hearted friend of all.
At ten o'clock Sunday morning with
a pleasant smile upon her face, pass
cd one of the first women of the Twin
Falls country, as the end of brave
struggle for nearly two weeks against
Death. At the bedside were the hus-
band, daughter and the near relatives
who had gathered waiting the issue of
life and death.
The news of her demise brought
scores of testimonials in the way of
beautiful flowers and kilograms of
sympathy from all over Southern Ida
no, where her demise has brought sor-
row
The funeral services held from the
house this afternoon, were attended by
la large concourse of citizens, who thus
sought to show the esteem in which
the deceased was held by all. The
Episcopal service, impressively read
by Rev. Archdeacon Stoy, of Pocatello,
paid tribute to the lovable char
acter of Mrs. McCollum. Interment
was made in the Twin Falls cemetery.
Alice Rosalia Coombs McCollum was
born in Victoria, B. c., March 10th,
! 1860, and was at her death fifty-five
years, having celebrated her birthday
a few days prior to her fatal illness
In the Canadian city her early life was
spent until in her early teens, the ia
ther moved to Colorado. There thirty
five years ago Mrs. McCollum met
Robert McCollum, hustling young
newspaper reporter in Denver and the
romance eliminated In marriage 1897
found Mr. and Mrs. McColum residents
of Idaho, attracted here by the devel-
opment of the mining section. Later
the McCollums became residents OF
Shoshone, where the Shoshone Journa
was acquired and run for number Of
years.
The opening of the Twin Falls trac
brought the McCollums into the life o.
the budding city in the fall of 1904
Mr. McCollum taking charge of devel
Lopment work and his wife taking hel
place as one of the few heroic womeI
who made homes in sagebrush ant
dust of the city. Since that time thu
life of the deceased has been linked
with the social and civic life of thu
!, little city, until probably not a single
!, citizen new, or old, but has come tt
know and value her unselfish devo
, ton to the best of life.
Pioneering in the desert took cour
, age on the part of the men, but TO
the women used to the comforts 0
life it meant great sacrifice ana t
the deceased and the few women VIII,
were the real founders of the hOm
life in Twin Falls. great praise is due
The McCollum home was the first resi-
dence in the city around which, be
cause of the kindly and hospitabl
host and hostess, the social life of tn
little coterie of pioneers centered. Th
home from which it was fitting tha
. the last rites should be held holds
, warm place in the hearts of tn
: Homeless Twenty" because of tn
, sympathy of Mrs. McCollum for home
: sick men separated by miles from thci
: families in the east.
Later when the growth of the cit
!. warranted the bringing out of the fam
: : lilies or sweethearts, it was the gen
: erous nature of the deceased tina
made the days and months of home
sickness for these women forgotten i
the joys of being busy and usefu
Many the young matron Of Twin Falls
/ has reason to bless Mrs. McCollum fo
> the deep interest taken in her socia
welfare that helped to make tn
= dreary prospects roseate. Nor did he
service end with the increased actiy
tiles of larger social duties and pre-
5 vent her doing the same kindly act TO
: the later brides of the community. Th
: community will greatly miss Mrs. Nc
e Collum with her cheerful smile, Will
: all express sympathy to the bereaye
: husband and daughter upon whom th
|. blow falls so heavily.