Obituary for Martha Winslow Smith Thompson

Mrs. M.W. Thompson

Martha Winslow Smith was born in Lexington, Ky., 1832, and died about midnight March 8, 1917, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J.P. Glass, in Piper City, Ill.

She was a representative of an old Virginia family. When a child she came with her parents to Brown County, Illinois. At the age of thirteen she joined the Christian church and was a devoted member thereof her whole life; but when living where there was no Christian church she attended any church convenient. For the past thirty years she attended the First Presbyterian church of Piper City when she was able.

She married in 1852 to Amos R. Thompson, and to them were born nine children, seven of whom are living. Her husband died November 4, 1894, since which time she has made her home with her children.

Following are the children: Mary, wife of Thomas Reed, now living in Oklahoma; A.C. who lives north of Piper City; J. A. now living in Chatsworth; Crozier T., living in Oklahoma; Ruth L., wife of William Sullivan, living in Oklahoma; B. S. living north of Piper City; Lottie C., wife of J.P. Glass, Piper City; Virginia A. Hand, who died in 1892; and William L., who died in infancy. All the children were with her during her last illness except Crozier, who was unable to make the journey.

Mrs. Thompson also leaves to mourn her death twenty-seven grandchildren, one brother, Samuel S. Smith, of Rushville, Ill.; and one sister, Mrs. Mary Whitson, of Kansas City, Mo., who was with her during her last illness.

Grandma Thompson, as she was familiarly known, was a woman of rare attainments. She spent her whole life working for the welfare of others. Although she raised a large family herself and under the most adverse circumstances, she always had time to minister to the (page is blurred here).

But being overshadowed with years she has passed to that greater home where pain and sorrow are unknown. The sympathy of many friends was shown in the beautiful floral offerings.

The funeral was conducted from the First Presbyterian church at two o’clock Saturday afternoon by Rev. M.C. Long of Streator, and burial was in Brenton cemetery.

Among those attending from a distance were James Thompson and Arthur Voyer, Eureka, Ill.; Henry Burns, Mrs. Guy Slater and Miss Flora Slater, Cropsey; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fruin, Mr. and Mrs. John Fruin, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fruin and family, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Anderson, Mrs. Michael Clary and Mr. Roahr of Ashkum.

Source: The Piper City Journal, March 15, 1917; page 4 column 3.

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