Obituary Notice:
MRS. MARY F. STICKNEY
Mary Frances, daughter of Josiah and Sally C. Greely, was born at East Kingston, New Hampshire, February 3, 1828. Her mother was a granddaughter of Josiah Bartlett, first of the three men from New Hampshire who signed the Declaration of Independence. She was educated in the public schools of her native town and in the Kingston Seminary at Kingston, New Hampshire.
In February 1855 she was united in marriage to George Stickney and three years later, she with her husband, came west and located at Sioux City, Iowa. Thence they removed in April 1860, to the homestead a mile east of Elk Point. Mrs. Stickney was the first white woman to settle in Union county, which continued to be her home for nearly forty-five years.
Their son, George, now residing in Albert Lea, Minnesota, was but a few weeks old when his parents came to Dakota. The other sons, Henry and Charles A., of Elk Point and Jefferson K. of Kansas City, together with one who died in infancy, were all born here. The four named were all able to be present at the services Sunday.
In the early seventies Mrs. Stickney’s health became impaired and broken, and her suffering arising therefrom discouraged her from mingling with her friends and former associates. During the last few years she has been a great sufferer, but has borne her affliction with fortitude and patience. At five o’clock on the afternoon of Friday, March 3, 1905, being just one month past seventy-seven years of age, she quietly entered into peace.
The funeral services were held at three o’clock Sunday afternoon, at the home of her son, Chas. A. Stickney. The pastor of the Congregational church, Rev. Thos. J. Woodcock, officiated. He spoke briefly from the text, “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter.” Jno. 13:7 Mr. H. P. Beckwith sang a solo and a ladies’ quintette, at the home and cemetery, sang several selections, including “Jesus Lover of My Soul,” which Mrs. Stickney had repeated entire the day before her death. The flowers were unusually beautiful.
Burial took place at the Elk Point cemetery, where thoughtful kindness had made the body’s last resting place beautiful.
Source: Union County Courier, Elk Point SD - Thursday, March 9, 1905
Submitted by: Linda Ziemann, transcriber