Untitled Document

Raritan Reporter February 17, 1915

Obit for Mrs. Jonathan Bivens

Margaret Kelly was one of a family of 13 children---one son and twelve daughters---born to Mr. and Mrs. William Kelly, of whom 2 sisters survive, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Flannigan of near Larchland , Illinois , and Mrs. Ann Sloan of Shenandoah Iowa .

The subject of this sketch was born at Westmeath Ireland , January 1, 1847 , and came to America when a child. In February 1872 she was united in marriage in Monmouth Illinois , to Jonathan Bivens. The first five years of their married life were spent on a farm near Kirkwood, Illinois, after which they moved to Raritan township, which continued to be their abiding place until Monday, February 8, 1915,where she passed into her reward after a short illness following a stroke of paralysis which she suffered on January 20 th of this year, the final dissolution taking place at their residence 2 miles east and 2miles south of Raritan.

Five sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bivens, namely: Frank of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Charles, William, John H. and Fred all of Raritan township, who together with the bereaved husband have the sympathy of many friends in their loss of a true devoted wife and indulgent mother.

Funeral services were held at St. Patrick’s Catholic church three miles northeast of Raritan, of which she had been a loyal and faithful member for a quarter of a century

or more, at 10:30 o’clock Wednesday morning, February 10, Father Timothy Owens officiating. Interment was made in the cemetery adjoining the churchyard.

That she was a true Christian woman all who knew of her many good qualities will attest.

She was kindhearted and generous: ever ready to do what she could to assist a friend or neighbor and to relieve distress whenever opportunity offered. The esteem in which she was held by both Protestants and Catholics, was demonstrated by the large concourse that attended the obsequies, the church being inadequate to accommodate all. The floral offerings were many and beautiful.

Submitted by Bonita Evjen

Illinois Ancestors