JENNIE MABEL ERION TERRY

The information for this posting was gathered by me from on line sites such as Ancestry.com and a letter written by Fern E. Terry, daughter of Jennie Mabel Erion Terry, to my Erion grandparents.  It has been written in my own words, with sourcing indicated.  Quotations are indicated in the usual style.  The above photograph was cropped from a family group photograph of Jacob B. Erion and Mary Leonard Erion and their family which appears elsewhere on this blog. The photograph was give to me by my late aunt, Frances Erion Taylor.

The oldest child of Jacob Benjamin Erion and Mary Frances Leonard Erion was Jennie Mabel Erion. Jennie was born 21 Jan 1865 in Iowa. Jennie Mabel was big help to her father in his newspaper office. An item in the 27 Feb 1884 issue of the Lewis Independent (Jacob Benjamin Erion’s newspaper) located in Lewis, Cass County, IA, read as follows:

Lewis Independent, Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, February 27, 1884

"Married:-At the residence of the bride’s parents, on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., Mr. W.A. Terry Jr., to Miss Jennie M. Erion, Rev. Chas Little officiating. The wedding was a private one, only a few of the immediate relatives of the couple being present."

A couple of weeks later, there is a response from Jacob Benjamin Erion, publisher of the Lewis Independent, to the editor of the Anita Tribune, Sherm Myers:

Lewis Independent, Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, March 12, 1884

Sherm Myers, editor of the Anita Tribune, begins a congratulatory item concerning the marriage of W.A. Terry and Miss Jennie Erion as follows: “Bro. Erion, of the Lewis Independent, mourns the loss of his daughter Jennie, who was married to W.A. Terry Jr., of that city. This will cause the old duffer to get up to the "case" and pick type himself, Miss Jennie having been his main help in the office heretofore.” [Jacob responds to Mr. Myers] Now don't you fool yourself, little Shermy. We know too much about our business to be caught in that way. We laid in a supply of help years ago, and still have a few left. You must remember the whole family is printers, and there is several of us if not more. We have a fourteen year old girl who can set type all around Bro. Myers in fifteen minutes."

The “fourteen year old girl” to whom Jacob Benjamin Erion referred was his second oldest child, Luella Matilda Erion.

Regarding the newspaper business and her mother, Fern E. Terry, daughter of Jennie Mabel Erion Terry and W. A. Terry, wrote the following in her letter to Carl Andrew Erion and Louise Marie Krumwied Erion: “. . . my mother was a very rapid and accurate type setter, (offered big wages), but my grandfather insisted she stay in his office. (Rough type of people in newspaper offices at that time.)”

So, imagine if you will, the family of Jacob Benjamin Erion and Mary Frances Leonard Erion in their newspaper office – someone setting type, another one setting up the printing press, and someone running the printing press. Throughout the day, townspeople probably stopped by the office to talk and deliver the news (or gossip) to put in the paper. A Gazetteer for Lewis shows that Western Union was available. Whether Jacob’s wife was involved in the newspaper business also is not known, but what is known is that Jacob did involve his children, whether they were males or females, in his business. This is when it would be nice to have time-travel!

As stated earlier, Jennie Mabel Erion did marry, on 20 Feb 1884 in Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, a young man, 11 years Jennie’s senior, by the name of William A. Terry, Jr. In the 1880 census, William A. Terry, Jr.’s occupation is listed as “butcher” in Lewis, Cass County, Iowa. William was born on Long Island, in the State of New York in 1854 (Source: 1910 US Census). His parents were William A. Terry and Laura ?. Both were natives of New York. In 1868, after living in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin for two years (source: 21 Nov 1883, Lewis Independent, Lewis, Cass County, Iowa) the Terry family, which consisted of William A. Terry, Jr. and four other children, moved from New York State to Lewis, Cass County, Iowa. (Source: 1870 US Census.) Just three months before William A. Terry, Jr. and Jennie Mabel Erion were married a tragedy occurred in the Terry family as reported in the following obituary:

 “OBITUARY

Mrs. Lucy Eveline MACOMBER, daughter of Wm. A. and Laura C. TERRY, was born in Bridgehampton, L.I., November 21, 1847, moved while an infant and brought up in Southampton. As a child she was sprightly, quick to learn, and a general favorite. She enjoyed all the advantages of the excellent academy of that town, and acquired a good education. She loved music, and excelled in it. At the age of twelve years she, at times, acted as organist in the Presbyterian Church, of which she became a member at thirteen years of age, and ever after adorned her profession. 

In 1866, she came west with her parents to Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, remaining there two years, then moving with the family to settle in Lewis, Cass County, Iowa in 1868. Here, as in previous places, she spent a portion of her time in teaching instrumental music. Enthusiastic in this beautiful art, she inspired others with her views and feelings, and gave in the aggregate, a very large number a fine start in its practice!

A host will remember her as the teacher they loved most dearly.

In 1875, November 16, she was joined in marriage to Geo. A. MACOMBER, a worthy companion. But she was doomed to a considerable share of suffering and sorrow, on account of the ill health and sickness of her husband. With the hope of benefitting his health, he went to Southern California in March, 1880. [This is confirmed by the 1880 US Census which shows that George did move out to San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, CA. His occupation is listed as “apiarian” or beekeeper. He was living with Herbert Dickey and his family; Herbert was an apiarian also. Bleu] 

His disease, consumption, growing worse, she joined him in November, and gave him tender and loving care till he died February 5, 1881, near Los Angeles. Left a widow, with two small children, daughters, (at this writing orphans 6 and 4 years of age), she returned to Lewis. Since her mother's death, February 27, 1882, she, as far as possible, filled the mother's place in her father's family, being a wise counselor and comfort to him. But this quiet, happy and useful life was not to continue long. Diphtheria attacked her little daughter May, and brought her low, near to death. The fond mother gave her watchful care day and night for over two weeks, till the child became convalescent, then she was attacked by the same fell disease. 

She was so worn down by her long watching and anxiety, that she was not able to successfully resist the disease, and though she manifested 

great Christian fortitude and struggled heroically against it, she had to yield to its power, and at the end of five days she fell asleep in Jesus, November 14, 1883. 

On account of the contagious nature of the disease, without a public funeral, on the next day, her remains were quietly placed to rest in the beautiful cemetery of Lewis. On Sabbath, the 18th, memorial services were held in the church, and an excellent discourse delivered, founded on Psalm 46. 10-11, by the pastor, Rev. Chas. Little. He was assisted by Rev. A.A. Whitmore, of Anita, a former pastor. 

There was a full house, a number of friends from Atlantic being present. Lucy will long be remembered with strong affection, as a teacher in the public schools and Sunday school, and instructor in music, as organist in the Congregational Church, as member of the choir, an active help in literary and social circles, and aid in every good work. She gained the esteem and affection of a great number. May her mantle fall on many others.”

After Jennie Mabel Erion married William A. Terry, Jr., they went to California because it was there that Jennie’s and William’s first child, William Erion Terry, was born in Nov 1887 (Source: 1910 US Census). On 07 Jul 1889, their second child, Leonard C. Terry was born, also in California. (Source: 1910 US Census)  

Again, the loss of the 1890 US census is deeply felt because at some point between 1889 and 1896, the couple and their two sons moved to Nebraska, for it was there, on 22 Dec 1896, their last child and only daughter, Fern E. Terry, was born. The 1900 US census shows Jennie and William farming and living, along with their three children, in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska.

 Sometime between 1920 and 1930, Jennie’s husband William A. Terry, Jr., died for by 1930, when another Federal Census is collected, Jennie is living with her daughter, Fern E. Terry, in Hastings, Nebraska. No date of death for Jennie has yet been determined.