MATTIE LORD McKIBBEN

MCKIBBEN

Posted By: Tracie
Date: 4/6/2024 at 01:01:32

Mattie Lord McKibben was born on November 12, 1863, near Garden Grove, Iowa, and died on November 13, 1900, in Mexico City, Mexico. At about fifteen years of age, she gave her heart to the Lord. and united with the Church.

In 1886 she was graduated from both the Academical and Musical Departments of Iowa Wesleyan University. She spent several years in teaching, but her heart was turned toward missionary work, so she took a course of preparation in the Chicago Training School and was accepted by the Women's Foreign Missionary Society. The death of her mother at this time placed upon her such obligations to home duties that for a few years the way was not opened to the work of her choice. But these years were marked by signal devotion to the Church, and an abiding interest in missionary work, which was manifested by constant activity in its promotion in the community. These were not years of idle waiting, but of earnest service. Finally, in March 1900, she was sent to Mexico City to engage in schoolwork, where her ability won speedy recognition and where she was a valuable accession to the mission force. The climate put a severe strain upon her health, and she suffered much of the time. Early in November she was seized with pneumonia and after nine days the end came. She was permitted to send requests to the loved ones at home and then "was not, for God too her." A co-worker says of her, "That she was ready, no one who had known her for one brief day could doubt."

Her precious dust lies in the new cemetery in Mexico City. An appropriate memorial service was held the following Sabbath morning in her home Church at Garden Grove, Iowa, her pastor, Rev. I.N. Woodward, using as his text, "Her sun is gone down while it was yet day."

~ Clipping from Zana Curry McKibben's family history collection. Unknown newspaper. Transcribed by TLMP 3/31/2024 ~