Meeks, Margaret Brewer (1857-1907)

MEEKS, BREWER, MOORE, CLARK, JOHNSTON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 5/31/2023 at 14:32:34

Daily Freeman Tribune
Webster City, Iowa
Tuesday, January 29, 1907

FUNERAL OF MRS. MEEKS

Funeral of Former Webster City Lady Held at Home of Mrs. Harriet M. Closz - Was Her Niece

REV. ALCOTT READS A POEM

Mrs. Closz Delivers a Short Address Regarding the Mysteries of Life and Death

Margaret Brewer Meeks was the daughter of Wilson and Margaret Moore Brewer who came to Hamilton county, Iowa, from Howard county, Indiana, in 1849. They were the earliest family to arrive in what is now Webster City and both passed the remainder of their days here. Margaret was born June 20, 1857. Her life was spent here with the exception of the past eight years, during which she has resided in Marshalltown, where she died.

She was married to F.L. Meeks in February, 1879, and her three children, Myrtle M. Clark, Carroll C. Johnston and LeRoy Meeks survive her.

The deceased desired that few eulogies be pronounced and no apologies offered for failures. She asked that all needless expense might be avoided and that flowers be made an offering to the grief stricken instead of given to garland the dead. She hoped that her friends would extend sympathy to the suffering who are still among us, and that tears might fall in small number for her.

Mrs. Meeks was essentially optimistic and the cheerfulness of her manner charmed her companions. Throughout the trying, terrible trouble of her life - an affection of the eyes - which later developed into cancer of the breast, not a single murmur, nor even an expression of discomfort escaped her lips.

Her buoyance of spirit and mirthful moods were infections - dispensing life and laughter to the despondent.

Wifehood was to her a perennial pleasure and motherhood its satisfying fulfillment. The companionship of family and friends was not conceded as a privilege to her but accorded as an appreciation from them.

A considerate wife, an indulgent mother, a trustworthy comrade! What achievements of wealth or power can approximate them? They turn the scales in their favor as against the faith and foibles of the human family.

Mrs. Meeks was a member of Ben Hur lodge of Marshalltown, the members of which contributed a beautiful floral emblem; and many other living tributes from friends, in her home town and here, freighted the house with their fragrance; and a large number of people paid their respects to an old resident and neighbor.

The services were conducted Sunday afternoon by Dr. A.N. Alcott and Harriet M. Closz, a niece of the deceased, and at whose residence the funeral was held.

Passages of scripture were read and a prayer offered by Dr. Alcott and a beautiful poem rendered by him, entitled: "When the Tenant Has Moved Away."

Mrs. Closz in submitting her remarks stated that she voiced only her own sentiments on life and death. She said in part: [the rest is several columns long so I will not add them here]