Mrs. Emma Sophia Todd, one of Comanche county's earliest settlers, passed away at her home in this city Tuesday morning of last week.Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church in this city Thursday afternoon and were in charge of the pastor, Rev. S. A. Fulton, assisted by Rev. Major W. Parker of the Methodist church. There were many floral offerings.
Marvin Plank and Mrs. Geo. R. Stewart sang as a duet "Abide With Me," Mr. Plank sang "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" and Mrs. Frank Webber sang "Crossing the Bar." Burial was in Crown Hill cemetery.
The active pallbearers were Bert Klingensmith, Ernest Carthrae, Lovedren Hall, Roy Deewall, T. C. Mahan and Eddie Metzger. The honorary pallbearers were Jay T. Botts, Frank Dodsen, C. E. Allderdice, Tom Pepperd, Bernard Stark and Wm. Avery.
Emma Sophia Herren was born at Greenfield, Ind., December 18, 1856, and died at her home in Coldwater, Kansas, November 27, 1945, at the age of 88 years, 11 months and 21 days.
She was united in marriage with John E. Todd April 8, 1879, at Greenwood, Indiana.
Her early life was spent in Indiana and she taught several terms of school in neighboring communities.
In 1883 "the call of the West" reached this young couple and they went by rail to Fort Scott, Kansas, where they lived for two years; then by covered wagon to Comanche county, Kansas, where they proved up a claim near Avilla.
Later they moved to a ranch near the town of Nescatunga where Mr. Todd, in partnership with Volney Barber of Decatur, Ill., engaged in farming and stock raising. Here they continued to reside until Mr. Todd's death April 6, 1927. Since then Mrs. Todd has made her home in Coldwater.
They were real pioneers and experienced all the privations and problems of an undeveloped country. Here they raised their family of four children and took their place in the social and civic activities of their community.
Mrs. Todd was descended from a strict Methodist family and united with that church at an early age. After coming to Kansas she and her husband united with the Presbyterian church at Coldwater, of which she remained a faithful member.
She was a charter member and Past Matron of Coldwater Chapter, O. E. S., and was a member of the fraternal order 71 years.
Mrs. Todd is survived by her four children - Omer H. Todd of Nickerson, Kansas, Alma Pepperd, Frank L. Todd and Ralph H. all of Coldwater, Kansas; 14 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. Two grandsons are still in service overseas.
She is also survived by 2 nieces, Esther Herren and Erschel Eddleman of Indianapolis, Ind., one nephew, Emmett Cox, of Indianapolis, and one grandniece, Marjorie Purves of Ontario, Canada.
Also see:
John Edward & Emma Sophia (Herren) Todd, a family history by Bernice (Todd) Hough.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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