Ellen M. Bixby

Mrs. Ellen M. Bixby Passes to Final Reward Saturday Had Made Home in Emmet County for Forty-Three Years Mother of Thirteen Children Funeral Services at Baptist Church – Burial Made In East Side Cemetery Saturday, August 2, Mrs. Ellen M. Bixby one of the pioneer ladies of the city passed away at the advanced age of eight-two years and nine months. She had lived in Emmet County with her family for forty-three years coming here from their former home in Vermont. Mrs. Bixby whose maiden name was Ellen Wells, was born in Underhill, Vermont, on Oct. 5, 1841. She was married in 1860 to Lumon L. Bixby and became the mother of thirteen children, seven of whom survive her. The husband passed away on Dec. 2, 1905. The surviving children are Amanda, Mrs. Orville Manning of Waterloo; Lumon, J., and Arby Anson of Estherville; Roswell W. of Omaha; Charles D. and Archie also of Estherville and Adelbert R. of Clear Lake, S.D.

Funeral services were held from the Baptist Church on Tuesday afternoon, at two-thirty, Rev. Huxford in charge. Burial was made beside her husband in the East Side cemetery.

The deceased was a woman who was greatly loved not only by her family but by a host of friends and her passing will bring grief to the hearts of many. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 6, 1924)

Mrs. L. L. Bixby Passes Away Mrs. Bixby Has Been a Pioneer Resident of This City For Thirty-eight Years Was Fine Neighbor Has Raised Her Family in This City Several of Whom Have Been in Business Here

Ellen M. Bixby, widow of L. L. Bixby, who died here about eighteen years ago, passed away from a complication of diseases on the evening of August 2nd, 1924, at her home on east Des Moines street where she had resided for the past thirty-eight years. Grandmother Bixby, as everyone called her, was born at Underhill, Vermont on October Fifth, 1841, and was married on November 12, 1859, to Luman Louis Bixby. To this union were born thirteen children, of whom seven are still living: Mrs. O. A. Manning, residing at Waterloo, Iowa; Adelbert R. Bixby of Clear Lake, So. Dak.; Roswell W. Bixby of Omaha, Nebr.; and Luman James; Arby Anson; Archie R.; and Charles D. Bixby who reside in this city. In addition to these, twenty-three grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren are left to mourn her loss. Through all the years since Mother Bixby came here she has lived quietly at her home on east Des Moines street while the city grew from a little Hamlet of wheat fields to its present influential place. And through all these years her one thought has been to keep in touch with; and love and minister to her children. And because of this, her children were always very close to her and loved her dearly. Just as the sun was winging down to the horizon, and the first soft shadows of night began to appear, God called her, and in his infinite wisdom took her from us to a place where pain, and suffering, and sorrow are no more. But through all the years to come the influence of her love will be with us and we shall never forget.

We gaze upon the cold, still clay That once was Mother's smiling face, And know that she has passed away And none can take her place.

The dear old face, so lined with care, Those work worn, gnarled, and wrinkled hands; The dear form resting silent there, Is stilled; and God Commands.

Those wrinkled hands that used to hold Us tenderly, when day had fled, That wrapped us snugly from the cold Within our trundle bed.

Those dear old lips that used to sing Some sweet and soothing lullaby; Ah, now, what memories they bring Of childhood at her knee.

We could not keep her here with us here Forever, though her Mother love Was yearning for us; God drew near And called her home above.

And we, who linger here behind Through all the years that stretch before; Ah! May we some day seek and find Our Mother's arms once more.

Funeral services were held in the Baptist church with which she affiliated in early life in Underhill, Vermont, and interment was made in the East Side cemetery.

The out of town relatives present at the funeral were Percy Manning and wife, Hazel Manning, Mrs. Clarence Ness, Mrs. C. M. Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Manning, of Waterloo, Iowa; Adelbert R. Bixby and wife and two children, of Clear Lake, S.Dak. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 6, 1924)