Susan (Huffman) Mumma

Mrs. Susan Mumma of Forreston died about 11 o'clock a.m., Thursday, May 8, 1902 of pneumonia, after an illness of only four days. On Sunday she was invited to take dinner at the home of Ed Lewis. The invitation was accepted, and she ate a hearty dinner and enjoyed the visit. She went home about two o'clock, and was immediately taken with a hard chill from which she never recovered.

Mrs. Mumma was one of the pioneers of Ogle County, and has a history full of interesting experiences. Susan Huffman was born in Washington County, Maryland, February 1, 1822. December 6, 1842, she was married to John Mumma and in 1846, started for the great West by team over the Allegheny Mountains to the Ohio River, down the Ohio to the Mississippi, up the "Father of Waters" and the Illinois River to Peru, Illinois, from there by team again to near Mt. Morris, Illinois, where they lived until 1853, when they moved to Adeline where she lived until the death of Mr. Mumma eleven years ago. Since then she has lived with her children. For the past five years, she has lived with her son, Frank, and cared for his motherless little boy, with whom she was greatly attached.
Six children survive the aged mother. They are Samuel W., Frank and David of Forreston; Josiah of Rockford, Mrs. Mary E. Kerns of Mt. Morris and Mrs. Catherine Omelia of Forreston. All were at the bedside at the time of her death, except Josiah, who was compelled to return home, Wednesday, having been here the day before.

She was the last of her family, but leaves, besides her children, thirteen grand children and six great grandchildren. The funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. W. H. Harman, who spoke from Exodus 33:14 at the Lutheran Church of Forreston. From there the remains were taken to her old home at Adeline where a brief service was held in the Liberal U. B. Church to a large audience of neighbors and friends. The remains were laid to rest in the family burial lot. She was an unassuming, loving, watchful mother and lived and worked all her days in the sphere of mother for her children and her home, and thus one by one they are going home.

Submitted by Nancy Mumma Jorlando

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