Josephine Ellen FARNHAM

1837 - 1923  (86 years)

• Name	Josephine Ellen FARNHAM
  Born	25 Aug 1837	Martinsburg, Knox, Ohio, USA
  Gender	Female
  Died	7 Nov 1923	Knoxville, Marion, Iowa, USA
  Person ID	I33213	Atherton One Name Study
  Last Modified	19 Dec 2015

  
  

  Family 1	Joseph Butler ATHERTON,   b. 29 Jul 1834, Pennsylvania, USA ,   d. 6 Aug 1872, Knoxville, Marion, Iowa, USA  (Age 38 years)
  Married	1859
  Children	1. Carrie B ATHERTON,   b. 1861, Iowa, USA ,   d. 9 Nov 1934, Glendale, Los Angeles, California, USA  (Age 73 years)   2. Cora ATHERTON,   b. 1866, Iowa, USA   3. Frances M ATHERTON,   b. 1869, Iowa, USA   4. Bobbie ATHERTON,   b. 1870,   d. 11 Sep 1872, Knoxville, Marion, Iowa, USA  (Age 2 years)
  Last Modified	1 Apr 2021
  Family ID	F10634	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Isaac H GARRETSON,   b. 27 Jun 1838, Waynesville, Warren, Ohio, USA ,   d. 6 Nov 1931, Mason, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, USA  (Age 93 years)
  Married	1875
  Last Modified	1 Apr 2021
  Family ID	F10635	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  1870 United States Federal Census Name J B Atherton Age in 1870 35 Birth Year abt 1835 Birthplace Pennsylvania Home in 1870 Knoxville, Marion, Iowa Race White Gender Male Post Office Knoxville Household Members Name Age J B Atherton 35 [Lawyer] J E Atherton 32 [Keeping House b. Ohio] Cann [Carrie] Atherton 9 [b. Iowa] Cora Atherton 4 [b. Iowa] Frances Atherton 1 [b. Iowa] Low Coons 17 [b. Ohio] From Find a Grave: Josephine Ellen Farnham Garretson Birth: Aug. 25, 1837 Martinsburg Knox County Ohio, USA Death: Nov. 7, 1923 Knoxville Marion County Iowa, USA Obituary Knoxville Express, Wednesday Nov 7, 1923: Mrs. I.H. Garretson Passes Away Last Wednesday. Came to Knoxville Before the Civil War - Took Prominent Part in Social Affairs of City. Mrs. I. H. Garretson died at her home last Wednesday after a lingering illness at the age of 86 years, 2 months and 6 days. Josephine Ellen Farnham was born in Martinsburg, Knox County, Ohio on August 25, 1837. She received an unusually good education for those early days, attending boarding school in Akron, Ohio, and a seminary in Columbus. Her parents were advanced thinkers and to her death she showed the imprint of their influence in her desire for progress, her open mind to new ideas, and her love and understanding of young people. In 1859 she married J. B. Atherton, who began the practice of law in Knoxville in 1857. When he received a commission in the Army as a Major in the Twenty-second Iowa Regiment of Volunteers, she bore her part of anxiety and dread with the wives and mothers of that time. Mr. Atherton died in 1872 leaving four daughters, the youngest of them following him in a month. In 1875 Mrs. Atherton married P.H. Garretson and her death terminated a happy companionship of over forty-eight years. Her experiences as a young widow, with the care of minor children and property, led her to the belief, then very unpopular, that women should have the ballot and the earliest suffrage meeting in Knoxville and, so far as known in Marion County, was held in the parlors of the brick house on East Main Street, where she had resided for fifty-seven years at the time of her death. She was interested in all movements toward improvement and culture and was a member of the first chautauqua circle in Knoxville and an early Shakespeare club and to the time of her last illness was a constant attendant on the Womens club programs. She was also a charter member of Mary Marion Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a real granddaughter, remembering distinctly when at the age of seven she saw her grandfather, the Revolutionary veteran. She belonged to the Methodist church of this city for a number of years but cast in her lot with the Congregational church when it was established here and was one of a small band of devoted women who lavished time and energy to pay off a large debt on their new building. Years later when death and removals had almost terminated the once flourishing congregation she used her influence and vote toward transferring the beloved church building to the Womens club, that all the women of the town might enjoy it and carry on a valuable community work within it. She is survived by her aged husband and two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Hayward of Knoxville, and Mrs. A. L. Kinkead of Huron, SD; also by ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. One daughter, Mrs. H. I. Wasson, died several years ago. A woman of unerrng judgment, warm heart and high principles she made many and lasting friends while her home was a gathering place for her family and its branches. She will long be missed and mourned. "And all that should accompany old age as honor, love, obedience troops of friends" went with her to the grave, her resting place as she looked to "Mansions" not made with hands. Funeral services were held at the M.E. church at 2 p.m., Friday afternoon, November 2, conducted by Rev. W.A. Longnecker assisted by Rev. George E. Chapman. Burial was in Graceland. The Woman's Relief Corps and the Daughters of the American Revolution attended in a body. Family links: Spouses: Joseph Butler Atherton (1834 - 1872) Isaac H Garretson (1838 - 1931)* *Calculated relationship Burial: Graceland Cemetery Knoxville Marion County Iowa, USA Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?] Created by: Marla Suter Record added: May 27, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 70473729