The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

September 7, 1932 - Wednesday, pg 3

EDITH  ARABELLA  (Pettis)  JENKINS  MATTHEWS

Passes Away at Dubuque, Iowa - Mrs. Edith Matthews, Prophetstown, Is Summoned

Prophetstown: - Mrs. Edith Matthews, 75, of this city passed away at 5 o'clock Wednesday morning at the home of a daughter, Mrs. H. C. Wildman, at Dubuque, Iowa.  Mrs. Matthews had been ill for several years, and for the last few months had been bedfast. She had been making her home with Mrs. Wildman for about a year.

Mrs. Matthews was born Feb. 14, 1857, in New York state.  She was married to a Mr. Jenkins in the east, who passed away several years later.  Later she was married to William H. Matthews of Prophetstown, who preceded her in death in 1923.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. H. J. Rasmussen of Highland Park and Mrs. H. C. Wildman of Dubuque; two sons, Ralph of Dixon and Howard of Prophetstown.

The body was brought to the Helm and Helm Mortuary in Prophetstown from Dubuque Wednesday morning, but definite arrangements for the funeral have not been made.  Tentative plans are to hold the rites from the late home Friday afternoon, followed by services at the Leon Church, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

September 10, 1932 - Saturday, pg 5

Funeral services for Mrs. Edith Matthews, 75, who died Wednesday, were held on Friday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock at the late home, and at 2:30 o'clock at the Leon Methodist Church. Rev. W. E. Royston, pastor of the local Methodist Church, conducted the rites, assisted by Rev. F. T. Palm, pastor of the Leon Church.  Three hymns, "Home of the Soul," "Rock of Ages," and "Jesus Savior Pilot Life," were sung by Mrs. H. H. Waite and Mrs. V. R. Olmstead.

Burial was in the Leon Cemetery.  The pallbearers were Clark Lane, Frank Howland, S. G. Wildman, Henry Stewart, Ralph McGrady and Verne Woodworth.

Edith Arabella Pettis, daughter of Irving and Martha Treat Pettis, was born in Oswego County, New York, Feb. 14, 1857, and died after a protracted illness September 7, in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Herman Wildman of Dubuque, Ia.  At the age of seven she came to Geneseo where she grew to womanhood.

She was married to Arthur D. Jenkins in 1881.  He died in 1883. To this union was born one child, Martha Edith (now Mrs. Henrik Rasmussen of Highland Park).  In 1885 she was married to William H. Matthews.  They took up their residence in the vicinity of Leon, where they lived until 1918, when they moved to Prophetstown. They lived there until the time of their death.  Mr. Matthews passed away October 20, 1923.  To this union were born:  Grace Elizabeth, the wife of Herman Wildman of Dubuque, Ia., Howard Matthews of Prophetstown, and Ralph Matthews of Dixon.

Mrs. Matthews accepted  Christ in her early life and was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was transferred by letter, with her husband, from the Leon Methodist Church, Nov. 17, 1918, to the local church, during the pastorate of Rev. Willis Ray Wilson.  She lived a beautiful Christian life and was among the noblest of God's saints in her patience and unselfish attitude toward those about her.  As a neighbor, she could not be excelled, as a mother she was kind and patient and loved unselfishly unto the end.  She enjoyed talking about religious matters and often expressed to her pastor her hopes in immortality and her desire to depart and be with her beloved, who had gone on before.

There remain to mourn her departure besides her four children, seven grandsons, one sister, Mrs. R. Haight of Chicago, and four sisters-in-law, Mrs. H. I. Pettis of Evanston and Mrs. Elizabeth Martin of Marshalltown, Ia., Mrs. Carrie Matthews of Chicago and Mrs. John Matthews of Prophetstown, besides a host of friends.

Those from a distance who attended the services were:  Mr. and Mrs. Rufus J. Haight of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Pettis of Evanston, Mr. and Mrs. Henrik Rasmussen and son Robert of Highland Park, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Wildman and sons, Donald and Richard of Dubuque, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Matthews of Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dale, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Swanson and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Steers of New Bedford, Dr. and Mrs. Harry Terry of Tampico, Mrs. Anna Martin of Eagle Grove, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. George Billings of Annawan, Miss Myrtle Winkler of Sterling, Fred McCormick of Oregon and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Forward and daughter, Kathleen, of Lyndon.