Secellia Griffis Belt died Oct. 30, 1911
Obituary
Secellia Griffis was born in Kosiosco county, Ind., May 12, 1830. On May 5, 1848 she was united in marriage to Benedict Belt. They lived in Indiana till 1853, when they moved to Iowa. To this union were born eleven children, nine sons and two daughters. Of this family, five sons are left to mourn the departure of mother, also one brother in Indiana; four sons, two daughters and her husband having preceded her to the better land.
At the age of twelve she became converted to the Christian faith and united with the Methodist Episcopal church. After coming to Iowa her husband responded to the call of God and became a preacher in the Methodist Protestant church. She united with the church of her husband and shared with him the hardships of a preacher's life in the early days. She was a loving wife and mother and her going will leave an aching void not only to the surviving relatives, but to the countless host of friends to whom she has ministered. She died Oct. 30, 1911, death resulting from the infirmities incident to old age. Her age at death was 81 years, 5 months, 19 days. The testimony of all who knew her was that her life was consistent with her profession.
The above obituary was read by the presiding minister, Rev. S. M. Johnston, in the Collins M. P. Church last Thursday afternoon. He preached an eloquent sermon, paying deserved tribute to the deceased as the wife of a minister, going with him to communities to which he was sent with the gospel message, a helpmeet to him and his congregations. Besides the faithful Christian wife, she was a noble mother and friend to all her children, a kind and helpful neighbor.
The audience at the funeral numbered many of the old friends and neighbors of deceased, who came to pay their last respects to one whom all esteemed for her worth in all the relations of a long life.
The floral tributes were very beautiful. A fine chorus choir sang the sacred songs, Mrs. E. H. Harah presiding at the organ. The pallbearers were D. Denniston, E.W. Shearer, J.E. Dickson, John Thompson, Francis Bence, John Wells.
R.J. Belt of Waterloo, H. M. Belt of Eagle Grove, Ben Belt of Colo, and A. G. Belt of Hawarden were the sons of deceased at the funeral.
A mother's feet have stopped to rest;
A noble life has stood the test;
A mother now in heaven will be,
Where all it's glories she will see.
October thirty, nineteen eleven,
Secellia Belt went up to heaven.
Some eighty-two years she spent here
A Christian; had for death no fear.
As wife of Reverend B. Belt
For years at home, with him, she knelt.
Now she has gone to join that band
In heaven above; that happy land.
The husband had gone on before.
In nineteen six; crossing that shore.
They now have met and there will greet
Each other at the mercy seat.
Eleven children were bestowed
Upon this couple and there glowed
Content and joy within their heart
Until from them they had to part.
Five children now are all that's left,
Of father and mother bereft.
They have a hope that all will meet
And be united at Christ's feet.
November second nineteen eleven,
While her pure spirit is in heaven,
At Collins neath the starry skies
The Mortal, of our mother lies.
Children of Benedict and Seceilla Belt:
Thomas J Belt 1849-1903
Hiriam Marion Belt 1850-
Benjamin F. Belt 1853-1919
George Washington Belt 1855-1902
Azro Lumis Belt 1858-1939
Robert Jackson Belt 1860-
Edwin Brown Belt 1862-1909
Albert Grant Belt 1865-
Lilly Belt 1869
Secellia Griffis Belt died Oct. 30, 1911
Obituary
Secellia Griffis was born in Kosiosco county, Ind., May 12, 1830. On May 5, 1848 she was united in marriage to Benedict Belt. They lived in Indiana till 1853, when they moved to Iowa. To this union were born eleven children, nine sons and two daughters. Of this family, five sons are left to mourn the departure of mother, also one brother in Indiana; four sons, two daughters and her husband having preceded her to the better land.
At the age of twelve she became converted to the Christian faith and united with the Methodist Episcopal church. After coming to Iowa her husband responded to the call of God and became a preacher in the Methodist Protestant church. She united with the church of her husband and shared with him the hardships of a preacher's life in the early days. She was a loving wife and mother and her going will leave an aching void not only to the surviving relatives, but to the countless host of friends to whom she has ministered. She died Oct. 30, 1911, death resulting from the infirmities incident to old age. Her age at death was 81 years, 5 months, 19 days. The testimony of all who knew her was that her life was consistent with her profession.
The above obituary was read by the presiding minister, Rev. S. M. Johnston, in the Collins M. P. Church last Thursday afternoon. He preached an eloquent sermon, paying deserved tribute to the deceased as the wife of a minister, going with him to communities to which he was sent with the gospel message, a helpmeet to him and his congregations. Besides the faithful Christian wife, she was a noble mother and friend to all her children, a kind and helpful neighbor.
The audience at the funeral numbered many of the old friends and neighbors of deceased, who came to pay their last respects to one whom all esteemed for her worth in all the relations of a long life.
The floral tributes were very beautiful. A fine chorus choir sang the sacred songs, Mrs. E. H. Harah presiding at the organ. The pallbearers were D. Denniston, E.W. Shearer, J.E. Dickson, John Thompson, Francis Bence, John Wells.
R.J. Belt of Waterloo, H. M. Belt of Eagle Grove, Ben Belt of Colo, and A. G. Belt of Hawarden were the sons of deceased at the funeral.
A mother's feet have stopped to rest;
A noble life has stood the test;
A mother now in heaven will be,
Where all it's glories she will see.
October thirty, nineteen eleven,
Secellia Belt went up to heaven.
Some eighty-two years she spent here
A Christian; had for death no fear.
As wife of Reverend B. Belt
For years at home, with him, she knelt.
Now she has gone to join that band
In heaven above; that happy land.
The husband had gone on before.
In nineteen six; crossing that shore.
They now have met and there will greet
Each other at the mercy seat.
Eleven children were bestowed
Upon this couple and there glowed
Content and joy within their heart
Until from them they had to part.
Five children now are all that's left,
Of father and mother bereft.
They have a hope that all will meet
And be united at Christ's feet.
November second nineteen eleven,
While her pure spirit is in heaven,
At Collins neath the starry skies
The Mortal, of our mother lies.
Children of Benedict and Seceilla Belt:
Thomas J Belt 1849-1903
Hiriam Marion Belt 1850-
Benjamin F. Belt 1853-1919
George Washington Belt 1855-1902
Azro Lumis Belt 1858-1939
Robert Jackson Belt 1860-
Edwin Brown Belt 1862-1909
Albert Grant Belt 1865-
Lilly Belt 1869