Mary
Ella Lawson Teets
Wife
of Rev. H. A. Teets
Mary
Ella, youngest daughter, of Joseph and Rebecca Lawson, was born at
Willet, Pennsylvania, March 12th, 1837. Her parents were staunch
Methodists of the old school. She was converted in early girlhood under
the labors of Rev. John Pearce.
In
1865 her parents moved to Dayton, Pa., where, in 1870, she married H. A.
Teets, then prominent school teacher, but who, for thirty-two years has
been an efficient minister in the Eric Conference. Well fitted by birth,
early education and natural endowments, always aspiring after the
highest and best in the Christian life, ever exemplifying the blessed
virtues thereof, she so lived and wrought that it could be said of her
“For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven,” With an earnestness,
characteristic of a true and
loving wife, with a devotion worthy of this, the highest of all
callings, she cheerfully with all her sanctified powers threw her whole
life and soul into the work of a Methodist minister’s wife. Her's was
a most beautiful life, beautiful because consecrated. Her home was the
center of love and pure example. Two children grew up in this home, Rev.
Frank Lawson Teets, a prominent preacher in the Pittsburgh Conference,
and Mrs. Mae M. Martin, of Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania. In doctrine she
was orthodox, in testimony clear, in faith strong, in disposition
amiable. She made and retained hosts of friends on every charge. Twice
she was elected to the Lay Electoral Conference. Her last days were
spent in the old home in Dayton, among the friends of other years.
On the third of
September, 1912, her soul stole silently out from her home, in Dayton,
to a home among the sanctified and redeemed in glory.
Funeral services were
held in the church in charge of the pastor Rev. J. M. Cogley assisted by
Rev. G. M. Mclntire, of the Presbyterian church, of Glade Run, and Rev.
D. A. Platt, of DuBois, the latter, an old time friend of Sister Teets,
making the address in which he spoke in highest praise of her heroic
faith, consecrated life and triumphant death.
By
D.A. Platt, Memoirs of Deceased Wives of Ministers, in the Journal and
Yearbook of the Erie Conference, 1912, pages 126-127
