~ Biographical Sketch ~

     Sarah Louisa Minger was born on Saturday, July 25, 1868 in the Minger farm home in Turkey River, Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa, daughter of John Minger and Elizabeth Hassig.¹ Sarah Louisa Minger was baptized on Sunday, October 4, 1868 at age 2 months and 9 days in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, Clayton County, Iowa. The sponsors were Johann Jaberg, Elisabeth Anderegg (Johann Jaberg was the brother-in-law of Johann Minger and Elisabeth Anderegg was a niece of Johann Anderegg).¹ She was raised on a farm near Turkey River, Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa.

According to the US census of June 22, 1870, Sarah was living at home with her parents in Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa. She was one year old.²

She appeared on the Millville Township census of June 1, 1880 living at home with her parents. She was 11 years old and was attending school.³

Sarah was one of the family members included in the 1885 Iowa state census in Millville Township. John Minger was head of the household.⁴

At age 22, Sarah married John Smith on Sunday, November 2, 1890 at the bride's home, on Pumpkin Ridge (Goshen) near Turkey River in Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa. John was 26 years old. He was the son of Leeson A. Smith Sr. and Elizabeth Farley. Rev. William R. Bundy officiated. Witnesses at their marriage were Nettie Smith (sister of John) and Frank Minger (brother of Sarah).^1,5

Sarah and John lived their entire married life on the Pumpkin Ridge (Goshen) near Turkey River in Goshen Ridge. They lived the first years of their married life on his parent's farm in a second house which had been built on the property. It was here that 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 - Emmet, 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 a new house was built. As of 2006 this home still stands.

This new farm home was entered from the porch which led to the dinning room. Left of the dinning room was the kitchen and right of the dinning room was the parlor. Straight through the dinning room and to the right was the stairway to the second floor, and to the left was the main bedroom which was used by John and Sarah. There were several doors leading off of the parlor, this was described as a "wall of doors. One was a "cut-away" that also led to the main bedroom and another lead to the basement. The kitchen was very small with built-in cupboards. The cook stove was heated with wood which had been chopped to the appropriate length. When his son and daughter-in-law, Ferman and Berdina, moved in to help him, he resided in the two rooms on the right side of the house. One memorable piece of furniture that his granddaughter, Darlene (Smith) Julson, recalled was a standing dish cupboard of a plain design in his bedroom. The upper section had framed glass doors, the middle had drawers, and the lower section had wood doors. She also recalled a wooden washstand and bowl. There was no in-house bathroom, but of course they did have an outhouse. His granddaughter, Darlene, also recalls that when John was a widower, he used a horse blanket for his bed. It was a heavy blanket that was made from the hide of a horse and backed with a felt like material. The felt extended beyond the size of the hide and the edges were cut in a large zigzag pattern. John's great-granddaughter, Julie (Smith) Bergeron is the current owner of the horse-hide blanket. Upstairs in the farm house were numerous little bedrooms and storage. John's granddaughter, Millie (Moser) Philbrook, remembers that she used to go upstairs to play with the "little boy" toys and trains that belonged to her cousin, Donald Hyde (Donald was raised by his grandparents).

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 raised on the farm.^6,7

Sarah was 29 when she gave birth to her son Emmet Willard on Wednesday, March 2, 1898, in the family's log home - on the "John Smith Farm" on Goshen Ridge, in Turkey River, Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa.

Sarah appeared on the Millville Township US census of June 13, 1900 living with her husband, John. They had been married for ten years. She was 31 years old caring for her five children; Irvin age eight, Hattie age seven, Sadie age five, Emmet age two, and Grace who was only four months old. All of the children had been born in Iowa.⁸

The Millville Township census of April 28, 1910 shows Sarah living with her husband, John. She was 41 years old. They had been married for about 19 years by now, and had the following children, all living at home: Irvin age 18, Hattie age 17, Sadie age 15, and Emmet age 12, Grace age ten, Ernest age eight, Ferman age five, and Irene who was three years old. Except for the oldest and the two youngest, the children were attending school. This was the first marriage for both John and Sarah. They were living on their own farm and were paying off a mortgage.⁹

On November 6, 1912, her son, Irvin, married Lillian Penhollow.^10,11,1,12

On October 22, 1913, her daughter, Hattie, married Edward Moser.^13,14

In 1914, her daughter, Sadie, married William Holub.^10,1

In 1918, her daughter, Sadie's second marriage was to Harry Smith.^15,10,16

John and Sarah were still living in Millville Township at the time of the February 23, 1920 US census. He was 55 years old and was farming on his own farm, to his own account in a general manner. The farm was free of mortgage. She was 51 years old. Five of their children were living at home; Emmet age 21, Grace age 20, Ernest age 17, Ferman age 15, and Irene who was 13 years old.¹⁷

On February 28, 1923, her daughter, Grace, married Homer Donnan.¹⁰

In July, 1924, her daughter, Irene, married Wilbur Earl Hyde.^1,18

On March 4, 1926, her son, Ernest, married Grace G. Hutchins.¹⁹

On November 30, 1926, her son, Emmet, married Grace Elda Lenhart.^20,21

According to the Turkey River section of the Thursday edition of the local newspaper, "John Smith and wife visited at the Wilbur Hyde home near Dubuque on last Sunday." Although the newspaper clipping was undated, the date would have been Sunday, October 23, 1927 as there was a congratulatory note regarding the birth of Wilbur and Irene's baby boy on October 18th. John and Sarah most likely were there to see baby Donald, their daughter Irene's new baby boy. Irene died five days later.²²

Upon their daughter Irene's death on Oct 28th, 1927, John and Sarah raised her infant son, Donald Earl Hyde, as their own. He was nine days old when his mother died. At the time, Sarah said,"No one else shall have him." Irene's young daughter, Betty Lou, was raised by Irene's in-laws.⁷

On March 5, 1930, her son, Ferman, married Berdina Mildred Schrunk.^10,1,23

By the time of the April 25, 1930 in Millville Township census, John and Sarah were still farming in a general manner. He was 65 years old and she was 61. They owned their own farm and were fortunate to own a radio set. Their grandson, Donald Earl Hyde, was now two and a half years old.²⁴

Sarah died on Thursday, August 22, 1940 at 9:45 in the morning at her home on the farm. She had been afflicted with severe arthritis and suffered greatly from it. on Pumpkin Ridge (Goshen) near Turkey River near Goshen Ridge. She was 72 years old. The cause of death was from heart trouble/stroke.^25,1,7 Her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Emmet Smith (Grace), related to me that a the moment of her death Sarah saw angels and said, "The angels are coming for me. I'm so glad I trusted in the Lord...the angels are coming."²⁶ She was buried on Saturday, August 24, 1940 in Goshen Church Cemetery on Pumpkin Ridge near Turkey River, Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa. Services were held in the family home and in the Goshen Church.^25,1



Sarah was fondly remembered. She was a good cook and loved company. She always had a smile for everyone.

Her daughter, Grace Donnan said of her, "My mother was on of the sweetest women that I ever know and all the granchildren just loved her."

Sarah's granddaughter, 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 so special to all."

Berdina Smith, who greatly loved her mother-in-law, said, "No lovelier woman ever lived."⁷

Two obituary Clippings for Sarah Louisa's have been found. They read as follows ~

Smith Service Held Saturday
Died Last Week

Well known Resident Passes Following Long Sickness --
Funeral services were held on Saturday at the Goshen church for Mrs. John Smith, well known resident of the community south of Guttenberg. Mrs. Smith died last Thursday morning following a long illness.

Nephews are Pallbearers--
The services were in charge of Rev. Wesley Eagan of Waterloo, and burial was in the Goshen cemetery. Pallbearers, all nephews, were Veryl Minger, Roland Minger, Laurel Minger, Roy Butters, Lloyd Graybill and Martin White.

Born in Millville township on July 25, 1868, she was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Minger. On November 2, 1890, she was married to John Smith in Millville township.

Seven Children Survive--
Mrs. Smith is survived by four sons and three daughters, besides Mr. Smith. The children are Irvin Smith of Caledonia, Minnesota; Emmett Smith of Zwingle; Ernest Smith of Missoula, Montana; Ferman Smith of Turkey River; Mrs. Ed Moser of Turkey River; Mrs. Sadie Smith of Waterloo and Mrs. Grace Donnan of Turkey River.

Four brothers and three sisters also survive. They are Frank Minger of Guttenberg, George Minger of Garber, Henry Minger of Turkey River, John Minger of Turkey River, Mrs. Ella White of Guttenberg, Mrs. Lizzie Brown of Turkey River and Mrs. Susie Kinyon of Turkey River. Twenty-one grand children and one great grandchild survive also. One daughter preceded her in death.

State Deaths
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, Mrs. Grace Donnan, Mrs. Hattie Moser and Ferman Smith of Turkey River; and Mrs. Sadie Smith of Waterloo; Irvin Smith, Caledonia, Minn., Emmet Smith of Zwingle, and Ernest Smith of Missoula, Mont., 21 grandchildren and one great grandchild; five brothers and three sisters, Mrs. Ella White and Frank Minger, Guttenberg, John, Charles and Henry Minger, Mrs. J. W. Brown, Mrs. Edward Kenyon of Turkey River and George Minger, Garber, Ia. One daughter, Mrs. Irene Hyde preceded her in death Oct. 28, 1927.²⁷

On July 8, 1946, her daughter, Sadie's third marriage was to Rolla Hurlburt.^{10,16
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