Harriet and Maria Mather
The daughters of Eliza Herrick and Elias Worthington Mather of Twinsburg, Ohio stayed together, both moving to South Dakota in 1879 after their father's death.
Going alone nearly every summer to visit her other daughter, Mrs. Karl (Harriet) Gerner, in Waterloo, Indiana, Eliza (pictured) says: "In all my wanderings I have always found a place in the church and Sabbath school. Since 1863 I have been a teacher and still have a class in the Mayflower Congregational Sunday school. I love the work and hope to remain in it as long as I live. I can truly say thus far the Lord hath led me, and thus far His power prolongs my days, and now in the evening time of my life, His mercies and blessings are new and fresh every morning and evening. My necessities are all abundantly supplied and the pleasures He gives me are without number."
(Newspaper clipping from 1904).
(Newspaper clipping from 1904).
Eliza with her grandson, Alan Gerner (1895-1910)
This violin belonged to Alan Gerner, the little boy with Eliza (left), who was tragically killed in an hunting accident when he was 14.
Hazel Edwards, wife of Karl Gerner, Jr. with her high school class.
A coverlet that belonged to Eliza still survives today.
A tiny cup (above) belonging to Maria (below) still survives even though it is so thin that the rose on the outside of the cup shows through to the inside!
Daughter of Maria (above) and John J., little Hazel Sweet is pictured on the right at 16 months and about 3 years old.
Photos and info courtesy of Margaret Irwin & Pearl and Ruth Gerner.