I recently received the following newspaper records from the Missouri Archives.
Mary Maria Helpher (my GG-Grandmother) was the wife of Stephen L. Collins. I have more information about her possible family, I will post separately. Mary may have been the daughter of Christopher & Lydia Helfer who lived in Wayne County Ohio at the time of Mary's marriage (1840) to Stephen L. Collins. The circumstantial evidence supports this but so far there is no proven link.
Mary Maria Helpher Collins Obituaries
(from the Missouri Archives)
Lockwood Luminary 26 Dec 1902
As we go to press we learn of the death of Mrs. Collins, widow of the late S.L. Collins at her home near Lockwood today. Funeral services were held at the residence and the interment at the cemetery in the neighborhood. Mrs Collins was about 78 years of age and was a woman whose life had been spent in well doing. She had resided in Dade County many years.
Lockwood Luminary 9 Jan 1903
Obituary
Mary Maria Collins, nee Helpher, died at her home near Lockwood, Dec. 26, 1902. She was born Feb. 28, 1822, in Ashland Co., Ohio, was married to S.L. Collins, Feb. 27, 1840 and joined the Baptist Church the same year. At the time of her death she was 80 years, 10 months, and 10 days old. She leaves 8 children, 5 boys and three girls, 5 children have preceded her to the better land. The children will always remember her kind words and loving deeds of mother may they all be prepared to meet her in that heavenly home where old age never comes and the inhabitants of that city shall not say I am sick, but will be one unending day of joy, a family reunion never to break up. Funeral services were conducted at her home by the writer from Psalms 116:15. The remains were laid to rest in the cemetery nearby to await the resurection morn. J. L. Leonard..
