MARTHA FRENCH SNELL BRISTOW

MARTHA FRENCH SNELL WAS BORN OCTOBER 24, 1855, IN CEDAR COUNTY, MISSOURI, AND DEPARTED THIS LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF CRESTON, IA, SEPTEMBER 26, 1924, AT THE AGE OF 68 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AND 2 DAYS.  SHE LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY OF HER BIRTH UNTIL 1875 WHEN SHE WITH HER HUSBAND MOVED TO IOWA, WHERE THEY RESIDED UNTIL THE PIONEER LIFE OF NEBRASKA CALLED THEM THERE IN 1886.  DURING THE SPRING OF 1923 THEY CAME TO THEIR PRESENT HOME NEAR MOUNT AYR, IOWA.   SHE WAS CONVERTED AND UNITED WITH THE BAPTIST  CHURCH OF MT. EON, MO., AT THE AGE OF SIXTEEN YEARS AND SHE ALWAYS REMAINED A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN WORKER ALWAYS READY TO EXTEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED AND TROUBLE AND IN HER DYING HOUR SHE SAID, “UNCLE, BILL, I CAN’T GO HOME WITH YOU, BUT I AM GOING HOME TO JESUS.” THE MESSAGES OF THE 16TH PSALM AND 6TH CHAPTER OF MATTHEW WERE HER GREATEST COMFORT.  SHE WAS UNITED IN MARRIAGE TO W. H. BRISTOW MARCH 9, 1873.  NO CHILDREN CAME TO BLESS THEIR HOME BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS A MOTHER TO THOSE ABOUT HER.  SHE LEAVES TO MOURN HER LOSS, HER HUSBAND, ONE BROTHER, J.H. SNELL, OF JUANITA, NE., NIECES AND NEPHEWS, OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.  SHE WAS LAID TO REST IN THE ROSE HILL CEMETERY SEPTEMBER 29, 1924, FUNERAL SERVICES BEING CONDUCTED BY REV. JAY KIRKENDALL.