Julia Ann Taylor Sturges (1840-1910)
(Mrs. W.H. Sturges)
- Mrs. W.H. Sturges, one of Mechanicsville’s oldest and most esteemed mothers, died at her late home Saturday morning almost seventy years of age. For over four years Mrs. Sturges had been an invalid and during that time she suffered many acute attacks of heart trouble any of which seemed worse than death in point of suffering and each succeeding attack was always regarded by the anxious family as likely to be the last. But she made a desperate fight to retain the spark of life, that she might be with her husband and her children. When the husband passed away just one month and four days prior to her death, her courage and desire to live seemed to wane, and when her physical ailments culminated in a severe stroke of apoplexy on Tuesday of last week she was unable to longer resist the approach of death and the end came Saturday morning. Surely death, in this case was a blessing. Her children and her friends cannot recognize it as anything less.
Mrs. Sturges’ maiden name was Julia Taylor, daughter of Paul and Eunice Taylor, the former being a nephew of Zachery Taylor, and was born in 1840 in Shelby county, Ohio. At the age of nine years she came with her parents to Indiana and on October 28*, 1858, she was married to W.H. Sturges. To them were born eight children all of whom, save one, Winnifred, survive her. These children are Ernest and Charles of Sioux City, Iowa; George, of Lisbon; Frank and Fred of Mechanicsville; W.H. of Cherokee and Mrs. C.N. Warren of Mr. Vernon. She came to Mechanicsville over forty-two years ago and ever since that time made her home here.
A more devoted, patient, worthy mother could not be found. Her husband, her children and her home held her affections completely and guided her actions. She regarded service for them as the greatest joy life could offer. And how she was loved by them! They were as tender with her as she had been with them when they were infants and when she nursed them through the ills of life. It is a great experience to be the mother of eight children, all of them, except one, living, and all of them devoted to that mother. It’s the greatest riches possible. During her long and bitter illness the tender care given her by her only son at home, Fred, must have been an unspeakable joy and comfort to her and there can be no doubt but that the experience will ever be a precious memory to him.
Just a word about this good woman as a neighbor. She was just such a neighbor as she was mother -- loyal and true. Always sympathetic, always ready without the slightest ostentation to extend a helping hand, never intruding. As a neighbor she knew when, and when not, her presence and her services would be acceptable.
The funeral was held Monday afternoon at the old home on the hill, Revs. Cooper and Ballz conducting the service. Interment was made in the local cemetery beside the newly made grave where reposed the remains of her husband. Peace to their ashes.
* NOTE -- Another newspaper article puts the marriage date of W.H. Sturges and Julia Ann Taylor as Oct. 27, 1858.
MRS. STURGES DIES IN MECHANICSVILLE
Well Known Iowa Woman Suffers Stroke of Paralysis and Death Soon Follows.Charles Sturges, of the firm of Sturges Bros., 411 Pearl st., received news today that his mother, Mrs. Julia A. Sturges, died this morning at her home at Mechanicsville, IA. He will leave tonight with his brother, Ernest, to attend the funeral, which will probably be held Monday.
Mrs. Sturges has visited in Sioux City many times and was well known here. She was formerly Miss Julia Taylor, a direct descendant of the famous General Zachary Taylor. She is the second last of a family of 14 children, being survived by one older sister, Mrs. Susanne Wood, of Crown Point, Insd., who is more than 80 years of age. Her husband, W.H. Sturges, died December 26, 1909. Mrs. Sturges was the mother of seven children, of whom two, Charles and Ernest, live in Sioux City. She has 25 grandchildren, all of whom are living.
At the time of her death Mrs. Sturges was 69 years of age. She was in good health until last Tuesday, when she suffered a stroke of paralysis. Her heart was affected.
It is expected that all the children will be present
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