Mary E. Bromwell
BROMWELL, BONNELL, BUNNELL, SHUMACK
Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 12/4/2017 at 19:44:00
Monday January 17, 1916 Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette
Marion & Court House News
HONORED WOMAN OF A PIONEER MARION FAMILY IS TAKEN
Mrs. Mary E. Bromwell Dies at Age of Eighty-Four at the Home of Her Daughter.
Sister Died on Sunday.
When Death came early today to the home of Mrs. Mary E. Bromwell and changed her last earthly sleep to that of eternity It terminated the history of a family of seven of the earliest pioneers of Iowa. Just a few short hours previous, Mrs. Catherine White, an older sister of Mrs. Bromwell and the only other member of the family, had answered a similar call at her home in Clinton.
Always a woman of unusal vitality and one who had kept mentally apace with the changes and developments worked by Time in its progress, Mrs. Bromwell's passing has taken from Marion and Linn county one of its leading pioneers. And her death, like her eight years of life was peaceful. She was taken ill last Thursday of angina pectoris, and the attending physician announced that the attack would, in all probabliity, prove fatal. The first few days of her illness were fraught with much suffering, but Sunday her suffering appeared to lessen, and last night she slept quietly and soundly.
Early today her daughter, Mrs. Addie Shumack, with whom she made her home, on arising looked into her mother's room and saw that she was still asleep. Later, after attending to some early work around the house, Mrs. Shumack again went to her mother's room and this time found that Death had paid its visit since the preceding call at the room.
Mary E. Bonnell, one of a family of seven children, was born in Lancaster, Pa., Aug. 14, 1831. Her early education was received in the public and private schools of Pennsylvania, and in 1853 she came, with the remainder of her family, to Iowa, settlement being made near Marion. For a trifle more than two years, Miss Bonnell taught in the rural schools near Marion, particularly in the Lucore and Kemp neighborhoods. Among her scholars were numbered many of the men and women who have since occupied prominent positions in the life of Marion and Linn county.
October 31, 1856, Miss Bonnell was married to James E. Bromwell, then a prominent young farmer of this county. They made their home on the Bromwell farm homestead two miles east of Marion. From this home Mrs. Bromwell farm homestead two miles east of Marion. From this home Mrs. Bromwell frequently went forth as a ministering angel to stricken neighbors, in addition to maintaining the rigors of the rearing of her own family and the attendance on the multitudinous duties of the life of a farmer's wife in those early days. And, it might be mentioned in passing, that the Bromwell home was for many years a regular haven for the itinerant Methodist ministers of those days, each and all of whom planned on this home as one of their regular stopping places.
In 1883 Mr. Bromwell retired from active work and moved to Marion, where his death occurred May 5, 1900. Since his death, Mrs. Bromwell has made her home with the daughter, Mrs. Addie Shumack, who with James E. Bromwell, prominent attorney of Marion, are the surviving children.
During all of her life, Mrs. Bromwell was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She always took an active interest and part in the various activities of that organization.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion Methodist church and will be in charge of the pastor, the Rev. J.A. Northrop, D.D., the Rev. S.R. Beatty, D.D. and the Rev. J.E. Jones. Burial will be in Oak Shade.
The casket will not be opened at the church and friends wishing to view the remains are requested to call at the Shumack home either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday forenoon. In conformity with an oft-repeated request of Mrs. Bromwell, it is the wish of the surviving children that no flowers be sent.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104166738/mary-e-bromwell
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