Mary Eliza(Thompson) Sterrett's Father, Thomas Bennett Thompson and her Mother, Eliza Grace Thompson

Mary Eliza Thompson, daughter of Thomas Bennett and Eliza (Grace) Thompson, was born April 13, 1859, in Nicollet Co., Minnesota, the third child of a family of nine. Her father was a pioneer from Virginia and her mother from Ohio. Theirs was the first family of white children in Nicollet County.

When the Indian uprising occurred in 1862. the family had to vacate their home and flee on a steamboat down the Mississippi River.

A new home was made near Davenport in Scott Co., Iowa, where they lived until 1871, when they moved to Crawford County. There at Dow City she met and married Clark Sterrett on September 4, 1876. To them nine children were born. Two preceded her in death, Joe at the age 3 and Cora at age 23.

In 1913 they came to Anthon, living on the Cooney Ranch for four years. Two years were spent at Quimby and the rest of her life in the present home northwest of Anthon.

Surviving her are her husband and seven children: Arley, Edward and Nellie at home, William, Walter and Mabel Fitchner of Anthon, and Adda Vaughan of Lance Creek, Wyoming. There are also 17 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Other survivors include a sister, Kate Markham of Los Angeles, California, three brothers, William Bennett Thompson of Anthon, Mark Thompson of Joseph, Oregon, and John Elton Thompson II of Seattle, Washington, a large number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Mrs. Sterrett enjoyed unusually good health until five years ago when she suffered her first stroke. However, she rallied and recovered so rapidly that she was soon up and around, enjoying her usual pleasures. A second stroke came early in May. She failed gradually all summer and more rapidly the past month until she slept peacefully away December 10, 1937, at the age of 78 years, 7 months and 27 days.

Funeral services were held at the United Methodist Church in Anthon with Rev. Johnson, pastor of the church, officiating.