GAMMON, Caroline Jenkins - Putnam

Source: Decatur County Journal

Thursday, April 3, 1919

After a very brief illness, MRS. W. E. GAMMON passed away at her home in southeast Leon Monday morning, March 24, 1919, at the advanced age of 88 years, 6 months and 23 days. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband in the Eden Prairie Cemetery, March 27, 1919, he having passed away July 26, 1916.

"The river of another life has met and mingled with the sea. A life that was here that was ours has become a blessed memory. The speaking lips are silent, and over the love-lighted eyes has fallen the curtain of night men call Death. "

CAROLINE JENKINS, daughter of HENRY and RACHEL JENKINS, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, September 1, 1830. She was the fourth of a family of ten children, all of whom have passed beyond except one brother, WM. H. JENKINS, of Leon, Iowa. She had four sisters, all of whom died in young womanhood. She was united in marriage to WM. GAMMON in Putnam County, Indiana, April 26, 1849.

MRS. GAMMON leaves to mourn her loss five daughters and one son: MRS. VINA BASSETT, of Farnhamville, Iowa; MRS. ELLEN LONG, MRS. LAURA ALLBAUGH, MRS. DOCIA MITCHELL, MR. ROY GAMMON, of Leon, Iowa; and MRS. BERTHA DAVISSON, of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Besides her children, she leaves eleven grandchildren. She was a devoted grandmother and some of the happiest remembrances of the grandchildren's childhood were their visits with grandma.

MRS. GAMMON's paternal grandfather lived to be one hundred years of age, two aunts lived to be respectively 95 and 97 years of age. Her father died at the age of 89 and the last uncle of a family of eleven children passed away some months ago at the age of 99.

Her maternal grandfather lived to be close to 100 and her mother was in her 89th year when she died.

MRS. GAMMON came with her husband to Iowa in the fall of 1850, stopping in Monroe County, where they spent the winter and came to Decatur County, March 12, 1851, settling on their new home four miles southeast of Leon where they lived until August, l909, when they moved to Leon, Iowa, where she has since resided.

In her pioneer life on the homestead, she cheerfully worked with her husband to help build a home. The wife and mother has an important part to fill in the home-making, and surely no one ever did her part better than this faithful companion in the making of a comfortable and happy home. Her home was ever a hospitable one, and her life long hospitality, charity and deeds of loving kindness will have its influence on generations yet to come.

She was a devoted wife and mother, working to the best interests of her family, giving them the advantage of an education, teaching herself, by precept and example. Her aim in life was for her husband and her children. She was always ready to lend a helping hand in time of trouble and need, extending her sympathy to the sorrowing, and when duty called, she gave her time and strength to care for others aside from her family. Her religion was to do good to help in need, to relieve the suffering and scatter kind words and deeds all along life's pathway. She has lived a long and useful life, loved and respected by all who knew her but her life work is now ended and her loving voice is stilled in death. She leaves a vacant place which cannot be filled. The influence of her character and of her long and useful life will remain and be with us, and be a legacy to the living of all ages as long as the race of man endures. Love shall cherish her memory while in the bosom of the !

earth she lies in peaceful rest. "

Then, farewell, sister, mother, careful hands and loving hearts will guard and deck thy grave and keep thy memory green.

By her request, MR. SAM GATES read the funeral address which had been previously prepared according to her wishes.