Hancock County Journal
Carthage, Illinois
Thursday
December 11, 1952
Section 2
Page 6
Column 5Rites for Former
Fountain Green
Woman Held SundayFuneral services for Mrs. Edna Seward, 89, former Fountain Green resident, were held Sunday afternoon in the Majorville church. Rev. Henry Bloomer officiated and burial was in Majorville cemetery.
Mrs. Seward died Friday in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Stevens, near Macomb. She was born Feb. 17, 1863, south of Fountain Green, a daughter of James and Martha Owings Williams. She lived at Fountain Green until the death of her husband, Seldon Seward, whom she married Feb.16, 1888. Since his death she had resided with the daughter and a son, Frank Seward of Rock Falls, and during her illness had remained at the daughter's home. She was a member of the Fountain Green Methodist church.
Surviving in addition to the daughter and son are four grandchildren, Harold Reed of LaHarpe, Maurine of Fort Worth, Texas, Maxine and Helen Stevens, and three great grandchildren of Texas. A daughter, Mrs. Grace Reed, a brother, Charles Williams, two sisters, Mrs. Jeanette Duffy and Mrs. Lucy Mourning, and a half-sister, Mrs. Laura Clute Major, are deceased.
Hancock County Historical Society
Siegfried V
Page 180Funeral services for Mrs. Seward were held at Majorville church Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. H. M. Bloomer of Abingdon, Ill. Burial was in Majorville cemetery. Mrs. George Latherow and Miss Ellen Lenix were in charge of the music.
Following is the obituary.
After having completed nearly four score and ten years of earthly life, Mrs. Edna Seward entered into a well earned rest Friday afternoon, December 5th, 1952 about 1:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harley Stevens near Macomb, her exact age being 89 years, 9 months and 18 days.
Edna Anderson Williams, daughter of James and Martha (Owings) Williams was born in the Majorville neighborhood, a few miles south of Fountain Green, Ill., on February 17, 1863. Here, her girlhood days were spent and her education received in the rural schools nearby.
On February 16, 1888 she was married to Seldon Seward of the Ftn. Green community, where she continued to live until after Mr. Seward's death on April 10, 1934.
To this union were born three children, Frank Seward of Rock Falls, Ill., Grace Reed, who passed away in 1918 and Mrs. Martha Stevens who lives south of Macomb, Ill.
Following the death of the daughter Grace, her small son, Harold Reed was taken into the home of his grandparents and tenderly cared for, for several years.
In addition to this grandson, there are three granddaughters, namely: Mrs. Maurine Garrity of Fort Worth, Texas, Misses Maxine and Helen Stevens of the Macomb vicinity. There also seven grandchildren.
Mrs. Seward was the last surviving member of her family, her parents, brother Charles Williams, sisters, Mrs. Laura Majors, Mrs. Lucy Mourning and Mrs. Jeanette Duffy having preceded her in death.
Upon the death of her husband some 18 years ago, she gave up her home and went to live with her son Frank and daughter Martha, dividing her time between the two places. In both of these homes she was made very welcome and received thoughtful consideration from all members of the respective families.
As advancing years and failing health began to creep up on her she was no longer able to make the trips back and forth between the two homes, so for the past 8 years, she has lived exclusively with Mr. and Mrs. Stevens and their daughter where she was given the best of care and attention.
In early life Mrs. Seward became affiliated with the Methodist church of Ftn. Green, continuing her interest as long as that church continued to hold service.
