Person:Sarah Minger (2)

BIOGRAPHY: Compiled by Mae Brown Siemers Rand SARAH LOUISE (MINGER) SMITH, 1868-1940 and JOHN SMITH, 1864-1960

Sarah Louise Minger, was born on Saturday, the 25th of July 1868. the ninth child of Johann and Elisabeth (Hassig) Minger. She was baptized on 4 October 1868 in St. John's Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, Iowa; the sponsors at the baptism were Johann Jaberg (brother-in-law of Johann Minger) and Elizabeth Anderegg (probably the daughter of Anna Magdalena (Minger) Anderegg). Sarah lived her childhood years on her parent's farm in the Turkey River area and continued to live in the same general area throughout her lifetime.

In 1884 when Sarah was sixteen years old her parents bought a farm on section 15. John Smith lived with his parents on a neighboring farm and when Sarah was twenty-two years old, she and John were married on Sunday, 2 November 1890. They were married by Rev. W. R. Bundy and the witnesses were Nettie Smith (sister of John) and Frank Minger (brother of Sarah). Sarah and John lived the first years of their married life on his parent's farm in a second house which had been built on the property. Here their first three children were born - Irvin, Hattie and Sadie. The family then moved to another farm, just a short distance away, where five more children were born - Emmett, Grace, Ernest, Ferman and Irene. Sarah and John, and their eight children, lived in a log house on this farm until 1908 at which time another house was built. This house still stands today and living in it is Berdina Smith, the widow of Ferman. This part of the area near Turkey River, where the Smith family lived, is known as Goshen Ridge, the Goshen Church being not far away. Besides their eight children, Sarah and John also raised their grandson, Donald Hyde, whose mother Irene died when her baby was only nine days old. Sarah said at the time "No one else shall have him". John had a good orchard on his farm and was especially noted for the pears which he grew in it, and which he sold to other people. He also sold honey from the bees which he had on the farm.

Sarah died at age 72 on 22 August 1940 in her farmhome. She had been afflicted with severe arthritis and suffered greatly from it. After Sarah's death, John continued to live on the farm. He developed cancer and was hospitalized for about 1 1/2 years before he died at the age of 95 on 1 March 1960. He had been a widower for nearly twenty years. Both he and Sarah are interred in the Goshen Cemetery.

Sarah Louise (Minger) Smith is fondly remembered. She was a good cook and loved company. She always had a smile for everyone. Grace (Smith) Donnan said of her mother, "My mother was one of the sweetest women that I ever knew and all the grandchildren just loved her". Laura (Smith) Sandager (daughter of Irvin) wrote of her grandmother, "To add a special touch about Grandma - she was as close to being a saint as one can come. We all loved her dearly; she was special to all". Berdina Smith, who greatly admired her mother-in-law, said, "No lovelier woman ever lived".

OBITUARY: Unlabeled and undated MRS SARAH LOUISA SMITH

Turkey River, IA.- Special: Mrs. Sarah Louisa Smith, 72, died at the family residence in Turkey River Thursday morning at 9:45 o'clock. The deceased has been in poor health for several years.

Mrs. Smith the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Minger, was born in Clayton County, Iowa, July 25, 1868. She was married to John Smith, Nov. 2, 1890 and had been a lifetime resident of this community. She was also a member of the United Brethren Church of Goshen and also a member of the Ladies Aid Society.

The funeral will be held from the family residence to the United Brethren Church at Goshen Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock and burial will be in the adjoining cemetery. The deceased is survived by her husband, three daughters and four sons.