Obituary — Mrs. Mary Gassett, 1884, Iowa

Leon, Iowa area, 1884

Died, at her home in Eden township, July 17, 1884, at 5:30 A. M., after a lingering illness, Mrs. Mary Gassett.

Her maiden name was Mary Hodgman and was born Nov. 19, 1823, in Townsend, Middlesex Co., Mass., and was married to G. W. Gassett Jan. 7, 1847. She became a Christian at the age of 14, and united with the Baptist Church at Nashua, New Hampshire, which faith she maintained until the day of her death. Her first home after marriage was at Monticello, Jones Co., Iowa. In the spring of 1853, she, with her husband and two children, removed to Eden township, Decatur county, Iowa, where she resided until death called her to a home up higher. Death, however, for her had no terrors.

Mrs. Gassett was cherished by a large and devoted circle of friends and fondly beloved in all the relations of life. She was the mother of seven children — three sons and four daughters — all of whom, with the husband, except one son, were permitted to follow her to her last resting place in the beautiful cemetery in Leon, where she was lovingly laid by the side of her beloved son.

She was a sufferer for many weary months, but bore it all with rare fortitude and Christian resignation that she might ease, if possible, the heart pangs of her family, whom she had reared with such tender solicitude, and who in return did everything within human power to sooth the pain of a suffering mother. When she realized that she was near the "dark river" she kissed and bade the loved ones good bye tenderly, and said I am ready to go.

Thus passed away Mrs. Mary Gassett, who adorned every relation of life, but devoted her greatest energies and fondest affections to the holy duties of a Christian wife and mother, and has erected in the hearts of her household a throne of love that will ever remain consecrated to her memory, yielding to their broken affections a fragrance redolent of Heaven, whither she has gone.

"Thus star by star declines,
Till all are passed away.
As morning higher and higher shines
To pure and perfect day;
Nor sink those stars in empty night,
But hide themselves in Heaven's own light."

D.