Sarah Svensdotter Linn's Obituary

Can you handle just one more obituary? Shortly after I received John Linn's obituary translation from the librarian I've been working with, he sent me this one last obituary. This one is for John Linn's second wife, Sarah Svensdotter. Again, the translation is a bit rough, but still worth reading for a more complete understanding of this couple and their work:

 January 10, 1900, Mrs. Sarah Linn

Pastor John Linn's wife, born in Ulrika Parish, Ostergotland County, Sweden, on 3 December 1820 and died in Stratford, Iowa, on 29 December 1899 at the old age of 70 years and 26 days.

She married and immigrated with Anders Hennrik Jakobsson Somberg in 1851 and stayed in Chicago where her husband died of cholera in October 1853. She arrived with her two small children Melker and John in Swede Bend, Webster County, Iowa,  and on Christmas Day, 25 December, she entered into marriage with John Linn. Their marriage was blessed with 5 girls, of which the youngest [Laura] crossed the river to a better world. She leaves a husband, 8 children, 26 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren who [mourn her loss]. 

The parish in Swede Bend was formed in 1854 and she was among the first to join it. For over 45 years, she was a member of the church, actively serving until her health began to fail. Even then, her husband visited their children in November, hurrying back in December as her suffering became too much to bear. 

During her suffering, there was no sadness. She raised her hand and said "I am near home." And she wanted assurance that she would see her children and grandchildren in heaven. When Mr. Linn greeted her from one of her daughters, the daughter replied by letter, "It is certain." 

Mrs. Linn has followed her husband to many locations in Illinois and in Iowa, including Moline and Rockford, Des Moines, Sheldahl, and Stratford.  She was loved by the congregations wherever she was, hospitable, and welcoming to people her husband would invite to their home.

Peace to her good memory.

This translation had several difficult parts to translate, but I hope you have the essence of what the writer was trying to tell us about Sarah Svensdotter Linn. 

I found each of these memories to have contained details about their lives that I'd not known. They have given me a fuller picture of who they were, their devotion to the work of the church, their unwavering faith, and their love of family. 

Laura Linn had already died when this photo was taken. These are the 4 remaining daughters of John and Sarah Linn as well as Julia and Mary born to John and his first wife Brita.