OLD-MISSOURI-NEWSPAPERS-L Archives

Archiver > OLD-MISSOURI-NEWSPAPERS > 2002-05 > 1020619222


From: Virginia <>
Subject: [OLD-MISSOURI-NEWS] OBITUARY OF RHODA WEEMS CARTER
Date: Sun, 05 May 2002 12:24:51 -0500


I thought this was an especially interesting and inspiring obit.

Virginia
*****

THE NEWTON COUNTY NEWS
NEWTONIA, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1900

DIED IN NEWTONIA
Mrs. Rhoda Weems Carter, who was a daughter of the Rev. David Munsey and
was born near Lebanon in Russell county, Virginia, on the 31 day of
December, 1814, and departed this life the 31st of December, 1899, at the
age of 85 years and 28 days, and her funeral was conducted by the writer
and ably preached by Dr. J. B. Ellis, Presiding Elder of Neosho District M.
E. church, South, in Harmony church and laid to rest in the Weem's family
cemetery.

Aunt Rhoda, as we all called her, was married at her father's home in
Russell county, Virginia, at the age of 23 years, to the Rev. John Weems of
Green county, Tennessee, the father of Dr. G. A. Weems and Judge D. P.
Weems, who are well known to the people of Newton county, and four
daughters, three of whom are living, two in Newtonia, Mrs. L. M. Williams
and Mrs. G. A. Synder, and one in North Carolina.

Her husband, the Rev. John Weems, started on the move from their home in
East Tennessee intending to locate on Indian Creek in this county, and he
died on the road to this state near Burksville, Kentucky, on the 2d day of
November, 1843, leaving Aunt Rhoda on the road with six children, a
daughter and son born to the Rev. John Weems by his first wife and four
born to them after their marriage, one son and three daughters, the oldest,
Sarah Margaret about 13 years of age, afterwards became, and was known as
Mrs. Sarah Adams.

Though left a widow on the way to Missouri with six children running in
ages from 13 years down to a baby, with the hardships and disadvantages of
a western and frontier life before her with great resolution and courage
she completed the trip and arrived at old Uncle Jonas Weems, her husband's
brother, on Indian Creek in December, and soon there afterwards bought the
claim and improvements on the place where the little town of Stella now
stands, for which she paid $800.00, the claim her husband had in mind to
buy from the description given him in letters from his brother, Jonas
Weems. This was considered a high priced and valuable claim, the land
being unsectionized and not subject to entry at that date.

She lived there a few years, and was married to Ezekiel Carter, a native of
East Tennessee, who lost his life in the early part of the Civil war in
attempting to cross high water. To her and Mr. Carter were born five
children, three sons and two daughters. One daughter living Mrs. H. Kerby
of Newtonia, and two sons living, Rev. I. M. Carter and N. W. Carter at
Durant, Indian Territory.

This good woman has lived in this county ever since 1843, except one or two
years as a refugee to Benton county, Arkansas, having been driven there by
the horrors and cruelties of the Civil war. She was favorably and well
known especially by the old settlers. She had a hard struggle in her
efforts to provide for to educate and raise up her children in the way they
should go. Coming to this county in so early a day, having to live a
frontier life, then being but little school privileges, no school or church
houses except log cabins with puncheon floors built and covered without a
pane of glass or a single nail. But this mother, with an almost invincible
fortitude and a great Christian character succeeded well under the
circumstances.

She raised a respectable family of children, and her life and efforts are a
worthy example. Although helpless and feeble in the evening of her life,
having been unable to attend church for several years, she was resigned to
her afflictions and made her Bible the source of her joy and happiness,
reading in it almost every day, and talking a great deal to her friends and
visitors on the subject of religion, and taking the greatest of interest in
the church and always happy to hear of revivals and of a conversion.
Having been converted on her birthday at the tender age of ten years and
soon thereafter joined the church and constantly kept the faith, and lived
in every way a long, useful and devoted Christian life, for 75 years and 23
days, and with an undying faith and a perfect hope she calmly and
peacefully passed away without a struggle. Having fought the good fight,
and like many of old she hath done her part, leaving behind many friends
and not an enemy. She responded to the call of the blessed Master, who
doeth all thing well.

Farewell, Aunt Rhoda. Thou art gone, but not forgotten. Peace be to thy
mortal form, thy soul rests in eternal glory.
ORION E. VIVION

Submitted by Virginia Brown


This thread: