REBECCA (OVERHOLSER) CRUM - Commissioner J. P. Overholser has received word of the death of his sister, Mrs. Rebecca Crum, at the home of her son in north-eastern Iowa, which occurred some time Wednesday [08/16/1916]. The body will be brought to Coleta today. The funeral will be held Friday from the Radical United Brethren church but the hour has not been decided upon. Rebecca Overholser was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, nearly eighty years ago. With her parents and her brothers and sisters she moved to Illinois in the year 1854, the family settling near Coleta, where they lived many years. She married Martin Crum, he dying a number of years ago. Up to the time of his death he and his family resided on a large farm one mile north-west of Coleta. Since his death the wife and mother has been living with her children. Mrs. Crum had been failing for a long time and her death is thought to have been due to a general breaking down. She had been with her two sons in Iowa for over a year. Mrs. Crum leaves the following children to mourn her death: James, of Twin Falls, Idaho; Elias and Sullie, of north-eastern Iowa; Sumner, of Detroit, Mich.; Cephas, on the home farm at Coleta. She also leaves the following brothers and sisters out of a family of thirteen: James P. Overholser, of Sterling; Mrs. George W. Howe and Mrs. William Howe, of Morrison; Mrs. Henry Wetzel, of Rock Falls; Mrs. Anna Beers, of Coleta, and John, also of Coleta. Mrs. Crum was a woman who was loved by everyone. She did much church work during her life in Coleta, when she was able, and she will be mourned by many people in the vicinity of Coleta. (The Sterling Daily Gazette, August 17, 1916, page 1, column 3) Rebecca Overholser was born in Tuscaranas [sic] county, Ohio, May 25, 1836. Departed this mortal life at the home of her son, Sumner M. Crom, in Sabina, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1916, aged 80 years, 2 months and 22 days. She moved with her father's, Martin Overholser, family to Illinois in the year 1854, settling near Coleta, where she lived the major part of her life. She was united in marriage to Martin V. Crom May 22, 1856, who preceded her to the spirit world 23 years ago. To them were born eight children, three of whom died in infancy. The following sons are left to mourn her departure: James A., of Twin Falls, Idaho; Jocephas C., of Coleta; Elias Y. and Sullivan O., of Chapin, Iowa; and Sumner O., of Sabina, Ohio. The following brothers and sisters also survive: James P. Overholser, of Sterling; John M. Overholser and Mrs. Anne Beers, of Coleta; Mrs. Catherine Wetzell, of Rock Falls; Mrs. George W. Howe and Mrs. Wm. J. Howe, of Morrison. Her passing is mourned by 26 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends. At an early age she embraced the Christian religion, joining the United Brethren church, of which she remained a zealous and efficient member more than three score years, instilling principals of love, industry and frugality into the lives of all with whom she came in contact. The later years of her life was spent with her sons in their various homes where she was loved and cherished and will be greatly missed. Her fatal illness covered a period of one year. Her suffering was intense. Her death triumphant. The funeral services were held in Coleta, Friday [08/18/1916], at 1:30 at the J. C. Crom home and 2:00 o'clock at the Radical U. B. church, Rev. Auman, pastor of the church, conducting the services, assisted by Rev. Geo. Lutts, a former pastor. Mrs. Myrtle Carbaugh, Dortha Maxwell, Chas. Garwick and Owen Harrison sang three songs. The pall bearers were the five sons and a nephew, Henry Overholser, of Sterling. The floral offerings were beautiful. Interment was in Hazel Green cemetery beside her husband.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Daily Gazette, August 21, 1916, page 6, column 6