Emily A. Sweet

Emily A. Sweet, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Pewsey, was born April 9, 1847 at McGillery, Canada West and died November 10, 1923 at the old homestead in Lincoln township at the age of 76 years, 7 months, and 1 day.  At the age of 18 years, she moved with her parents to Clinton, Iowa.

She was married to George C. Sweet, January 7, 1866 at Davenport, Iowa, and to this union 7 children were born, Mrs. A. Nicholas, Mrs. Mary Spooner, George Henry, Albert Edward, Mrs. Ida Berkler, Mrs. Effie Crowell, and Mrs. Laura Hoffman.Her husband and two sons preceded her to the better land. Her husband departed this life July 21, 1912, George Henry in early childhood and Albert Edwin on May 29, 1923.  She leaves to mourn her loss 5 daughters, 2 brothers David and William Pewsey, 19 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Mrs. Sweet was a woman of beautiful spirit and strong character.

She was firm in her moral convictions and steadfast in every righteous purpose. She was a great lover of home but was readily and willingly responsive to every call of community service. She was a life long and devoted Methodist and affiliated with the church at Truesdale.

Funeral services conducted by the pastor Rev. H.I. Pharo were held Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the house and 2 o’clock at the church. At the special request of the deceased the following selections, “Asleep in Jesus”, “Abide With Me”, and “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” were sung by a quartette made up of local talent. The sermon was most touching and a large tribute was paid to the splendid wife and mother in the large gathering which assembled to pay its last respects to the dead. The floral offerings were beautiful.

Internment was made in the Storm Lake cemetery.

Charles Henry Pewsey

Funeral services for Charles Henry Pewsey, 83, were held Monday afternoon in the Methodist church at Sioux Rapids with burial in the Lakeview Memorial park at Storm Lake.  He is survived by his wife, Belle, of Sioux Rapids; a son, Wayne, of Calvin, N. Dak.; a brother, Russell, of Rembrandt; two sisters, Miss Pearl Pewsey of Storm Lake and Mrs. Carrie Leonard of Clyde, S. Dak; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

I went to Oskaloosa, Ia and searched through the newspapers on microfilm.  Unfortunately, the months surrounding his death are missing.  Perhaps someday they will be recovered somewhere, but as for now they just aren’t there.

In lieu of an obituary (which I like to imagine was incredibly detailed since Thomas Stafford was a pillar of the community), what I did find was this legal notice.  While it’s not what I was looking for, it does give a pretty substantial list of his heirs and lists his property.  I’ll take what I can get.  I wonder if this notice was simply a legal formality, or if Elizabeth was genuinely worried about not receiving her dower interest.

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF IOWA, Mahaska County} SS

To Brantley Stafford, Elias Stafford, Eli Stafford, Henry Stafford, William Stafford, Elam Stafford, Jonathan Atkins, Philena Atkins, Francis Robbins, Abigail Robbins, Philena Shaw, James M. Shaw, William Kirkpatrick, Louisa Kirkpatrick, Ebenezer Shaw, Mary H. Shaw, William H. Shaw, Jacob Coffin, Maria Coffin, Thomas McClain, Brantly McClain, Elizabeth McClain, and John McClain:

You will take notice that there is now on file in the office of the County Judge of Mahaska County, Iowa, the petition of Elizabeth Stafford, widow of Thomas Stafford, deceased, praying that her dower interest in and to the northwest quarter or the southeast quarter of section No. 17, township 75, north of range No. 15 west, late the estate of the said Thomas Stafford, deceased, be set apart to her according to law.  The County Judge has set the first Monday in November next as the day for hearing said petition.

Elizabeth Stafford, by Crookham & Rhinehart her Att’ys.  Sept. 26, 1867

Legal Notice

Isabell Adelia Rudd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rudd, was born at Ute, Iowa, May 30, 1858, and died Feb. 28, 1942, at the George Igou? home in Dow City, where she had been cared for during the past several weeks.

She was united in marriage with W.C. Bybee on March 20, 1881, and 10 children were born to the union.  Four died in infancy and her husband passed away in 1907.  Two sons, Oliver and Asa, also preceded her in death.

Those surviving are Frank, Orchard, South Africa; Daisy, Mrs. Dave McAllister, Boise, Idaho; Charlie, San Bernardino, Calif. and Harry, Los Angeles, Calif.  Surviving also are four sisters, Mrs. Ida Butterworth and Mrs. Melissa Merrick, Independence, Mo.;  Mrs. Clara Birkhofer, Charter Oak, and Mrs. Effie Fewing, Puyallup, Wash.  Also 22 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.

On April 29, 1913, she was married to John Edwards, who died May 4, 1931.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 3, at the L.D.S. Church in Dow City, with burial in the local cemetery.  Pallbearers were George Cook, Earnest Neethan, Davis Griffin, George Cook, Fred Baber, and Orville Arnold.

The sermon was by the pastor Elder Elvin Baughman. Mrs. D. R. Griffin, Betty Baber, Donna Jean Baughman, and Mary Lou Butterworth sang with Mrs. Baughman at the piano.

Some in attendance were Mrs. Dave McAllister, Boise, Idaho; Harry Bybee, Los Angeles; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Davis and Donald Bybee, Denison; Mrs. R.D. Henry, Nevada; Mrs. Gladys McClain, Exira; and Mrs. Ancil Chamberlain, Buffalo, N.Y.

She had been a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since 1870.

John Edwards, Sr. was my 3rd great-grandfather.  He served for a short period during the Civil War, in Co. G 9th Michigan Infantry.

This letter was written to try and receive an increase to his pension.  It is transcribed under the images.

Gentlemen – About three (3) years ago, I made an application for $72.00 (seventy-two dollars) a month.  Under disability that I needed the aid of another person and it was granted.  Since that time my aflliction has crawled on.
I can neither dress or undress my self.  Keep to my bed and big chair all the time.
I surely think I am entitled to the ($90.00) ninty dollars a  month.
I have got a big rupture, aboe hte naval as big as a goose egg, which is very painful all the time. Costing me about $5.00 a month for medicine all the time.
My pension certificate no. is 749.884.
Yours Resp,
John Edwards, Sr.
Dow City, Ia

This is a deed I found during my trip to Sigourney, IA earlier this year.  The transcription follows the images.

Know all men by these presents that we Dorothea Henrietta Helena Francy and Louiza Sanchez Teresa the two last is husband + wife all lawful heirs of Nicholas Sanchez Teresa decd of the county of Keokuk and State of Iowa for the Consideration of two hundred + fifty dollars do hereby Convey to Frederick Peter + Philip Sanchez Teresa of Keokuk County State of Iowa all our interest and claim in the following described Real Estate Situate lying and being in the State of Iowa Keokuk County to wit the South half (1/2) of the north East quarter (1/4) and the west half (1/2) of the South East quarter (1/4) of Section twenty five (25) in township Seventy four (74) north of Range eleven west containing one hundred and sixty (160) acres more or less and the said above mentioned heirs of Nicholas Sanchez Teresa will warrant the title of the same against all persons whomsoever in witness where of we have hereunto subscribed our names this fourteenth (14) day of January AD 1854

Henrietta Sanchez Teresa
Helena Sanchez Teresa
Dorothea Sanchez Teresa
Francis Sanchez
Louise Sanchez

in presence of
Horatio J. Yapp
Meshack? Davis

State of Iowa
Keokuk County

On the 14th day of January AD 1854 before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said County appeared Dorothea Henrietta, Helena Francy + Louiza Sanchez Teresa who are personally known to me to be the identical persons whose names are affixed to the foregoing deed of consequence as grantors and acknowledged the same to be their voluntary act and deed in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.
Horatio J. Yapp
Justice of the Peace

The foregoing deed was filed in this office for Record January 24th 1854 at 12 o’clock
H. L Smith Recorder
Pr MM Crocker

The transcription follows the image.

This indenture made this twenty second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty nine between Milton Brittian + Nancy Brittian of the county Keokuk and state of Iowa of the one part and Levi Frisler of the state county and state aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of forty three dollars lawfull money of the United States to them in hand paid by the said party of second part the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged  by the said party of the first part have Granted bargained and sold by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said party of the second part and his heirs and assigns forever all that tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Keokuk and state of Iowa. To wit,

Seven acres of Land Running parrellel with west line running north and south in the North half of the East half of the South West Quarter of Section No. Seven (7) Township 74 North of Range (12) West. To have and to hold the above described premises hereby sold and conveyed unto the said Levi Frisler his heirs and assigns forever to gether with all and singular the appartenances thereunto belonging , or in any wise appertaining to his own proper use and behoof and Milton Brittain + Nancy Brittain his wife for their loirs executors  and administrators. The aforesaid track or parcel of Land and appertenances to the Levi Frisler his heirs Executors and administrators against the claims of all and every person whatever will Warrant and forever Defend In Testimony whereof the said Milton Brittian and Nancy Brittian his wife have hereunto set their hands and affixed their Seal the day and year bove written

Signed sealed and deliverd in the preasence of William S Day and Charles P Lyon

Milton P Brittian {seal}

Nancy Brittian {seal}

State of Iowa Keokuk County}

Personally appeared before me the ___ signed Justice of the Keokuk County and acknowledge the deed of conveyance to which this is affixed to be their act and deed for purposes therein mentioned and also Nancy Brittian the wife of Milton Brittian being seperately examined seperately apart from her husband freely and volintarly Relinquish all and Every species of Right of Dower.

Given under my hand this 11th day of January 1850.  William L. Day JP KC

The above Deed was Filed for record November the 18th 1850 at 1 o’clock PM

B P Showhan Recorder

Earlier this year, I drove through Delphos, Iowa and saw what’s left of the old store.  Not much.

Here is the bill.  I find it interesting reading about the different purchases he made in June of 1938, the month he died.

Harry C. Robertson was my great-grandmother Marie Robertson Thornton’s older brother.  He fought in World War I received a Purple Heart.

Unfortunately, his dates are not visible in this picture.  What I can read is:

Harry C Robertson
Iowa
PVT BTRY B 129 FIELD ARTY
WORLD WAR I

He was born 3 Nov 1892 in Avoca, Iowa and died 21 Jul 1968 in Sioux City, IA.

He is buried in Cavalry Cemetery in Sioux City, IA.

Here is a Google map of the entire town:

View Larger Map

I find it interesting that Sally is the first one listed on the deed, instead of her husband.

I wonder why they decided to sell their land in town.  Ari was a blacksmith and would have been about 68 in 1922. Perhaps he sold the land, because he retired and was passing his shop onto another person.  Just a guess.  In the 1925 and 1930 census, Ari and Sally were still living in Delphos, so it doesn’t look like they moved far.

I found this will in the Keokuk County Courthouse in Sigourney, Iowa.  It was file No. 1187, in a large bundle of loose papers.  I don’t think that the clerk was very happy that I wanted copies of them all, but oh well- that’s their job, right?

I Frederick Sanches Tereso of the County of Keokuk and State of Iowa do make this my Last will and Testament.
first, I will that all of my just Debts and Funeral Expenses be paid out of my personal property and all of the ballance of my Property both Personal and Real Except that hereafter Excepted I do will and bequeath to my wife Matilda Jane to have and to hold During her Lifetime and at her Death then what is Remaining of my property is to be divided Equally among my children Milton F, Helen Handelman, Nancy, Sheridan, Viola Theodore + George Oscar and if my son Milton Shall Stay on the presmises and assist his mother in managing and caring for the Property untill the Youngest one of my children Shall become of age then it is my will that in addition to having an Equal Share with the other heirs above named he is to have the North East quarter of the North West quarter and the North West quarter of the North East quarter of Section Twenty Five (25) Township Seventy four North of Range No thirteenwest, which he is to have for the Services that he is Required to perform as above and Should he fail to perform Said Services as above Stated then all of my property Remaining at the Death of my wife including the above Described Land to be Equally Dividing among my heirs above named and Should my wife Die before my youngest child becomes of age then it is my will that my Son Milton manage and controll my property Remaining at that time untill the youngest heir becomes of age + I do choose my wife Matilda Jane to act as my Executor with my Son Milton has her assistant with of which shall be Required to give bonds and it is my wish and will that my property be divided by my Heirs mutually among themselves without Having the Same to go into Court Witness my Hand this 24th day of August 1881
Fred Sanchez Tereso
witnessed by
Jos Merryfield
___________

I wonder why my grandpa is in a suit and tie, while the rest of the guys are dressed more casually.

This photo was actually labeled, but the names are hard for me to read.

Here is my best guess, left to right: Don Salem, Bob Salhajan?, Bud Fahay, Charlie Hart, Al Thornton Jr.

His will was written on 27 Oct 1863 in Mahaska County, IA.

Will of Thomas Stafford

Last Will and testament of Thomas Stafford of Mahaska County and State of Iowa.
First  I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth Stafford the interest of One Thousand Dollars during her natural lifetime.  I direct that One Thousand Dollars be loaned and the interest thereof be paid to her Semi annually if needed by my Executors hereinafter named
Second   I give and bequeath to my son Brantley Stafford One Thousand three hundred and Ninety-one Dollars
3d  I give + bequeath to my son Elias Stafford One Thousand Three hundred + Ninety one dollars.
4th  I give + bequeath to my son Eli Stafford One Thousand Three hundred and Ninety One Dollars
5th   I give to my son Henry Stafford two notes of hand that I hold on him for one hundred + Seventy dollars dated May 8th 1854 + one for Four hundred Dollars dated August 28th 1863
6th  I give and bequeath to my son William Stafford fournotes that I hold on him, one for One Thousand Dollars dated January 1st 1859, one of same date for Two hundred + thirty dollars + 3 cts, one for forty-five +70/100 dated May 28th 1861.  Also Four hundred Dollars due me on a house + Lot I Sold him
7th  I give + bequeath to my son Elam Stafford One Thousand + Sixty Nine dollars
8th  I give + bequeath to my daughter Philaner Atkins Eighty three Dollars
9th I give + bequeath to my Grand daughter Abigail Robbins the sum of Fifty dollars
10th  I give + bequeath to my Grand Daughter Philana Shaw Fifty Dollars
11th  I give + bequeath to my GrandSon James M Shaw Fifty Dollars
12th  I give + bequeath to my Grand Daughter Louisa Shaw Fifty Dollars
13th  I give + bequeath to my Grand Son Ebenezer Shaw Fifty dollars
14th  I give + bequeath to my Grand Daughter Mary H. Shaw Fifty Dollars
15th  I give + bequeath to my Grand Son William H. Shaw Fifty dollars
16th  I give + bequeath to my Grand Daughter Mariah Coffin Ten Dollars
17th  I give + bequeath to my GrandSon Thomas McCleain One Dollar
18th  I give and bequeath to my Grandson Alexander McCleain Ten Dollars
19th  I give + bequeath to my Grandson William H. McCleain Ten Dollars
20th  I give + bequeath to my GrandSon Elam McCleain Ten______
21st  I give + bequeath to my GrandSon Brantley McCleain One hundred and Seventeen Dollars
22d  I give + bequeath to my Grand Daughter Elizabeth McCleain Ten Dollars

And I further direct that all my Real Estate be sold and conveyed by my Executors on the following terms.  That public notice be given at least four weeks before the sale, and sold at Auction to the highest bidder on a credit not exceeding twelve months.  The purchaser giving his note, with interst from date of Sale with approved Security.
I further give to my beloved wife the household + kitchen furniture, except one bed + the furniture therefor which I give + bequeath to my Grandson Brantley McCleain
All the balance of my property and effects I direct to be sold at public Sale by my Executors
I also direct the One Thousand Dollars set apart for the use and benefit of my Wife (or so much of it as shall not be required for her comfort) shall be at her death divided equally between my children
I now appoint Daniel Pressnall and Andrew C. Williams my Executors.  This 27th day of 10th month A.D. 1863
Attest John Stanley
Charles Wing
John Lamborn
Thomas Stafford

The only other Agee gravestone I saw nearby was that of their daughter, Eva Agee Lindenmeyer (1879-1958).

Nov 23 – 1934

To whom it may concern I wish all of you to know that I wish my two youngest sons George Agee 3511 – 43rd St Sioux City Iowa and John Agee of Delphos Iowa to be the administrators of my estate. My children that have paid money which I have credited on my book or that holds notes that have not been credited on my book shall be paid and after my other debts have been paid and after my property has been sold the money remaining shall be evenly divided between my eight children signed

Ari Agee

At the request of Ari Agee and in the presence of us we hereby subscribe our names as witnesses to the above instrument.

Dated at Mt. Ayr Iowa, this 28th day of November 1934.

W. T T____  Witness

Jorgsen Dolbey Witness

And here also is the Certificate of Proof of Will:

Delphos is near the town of Mount Ayr, which is the county seat of Ringgold County, Iowa.  Mount Ayr is a small, but quaint town with some neat old buildings.  We ate lunch at a really cool diner, called Peggy Sue’s.

Delphos on the other hand seems to have languished over the years.  It is no longer an incorporated town.  We drove through what used to be the town on our recent trip to Iowa.  It made me sad to see all of the run-down buildings.

My great-great grandparents, Ari Austin and Sally Jane (Lee) Agee lived in Delphos from 1904 till their deaths in 1938 and 1934.

Ari was a blacksmith and they owned a lot in the town, where he had his shop.

When I read through Ari’s probate records, I found bills from the local store – Seaton Store.  And here it stands today.  Obviously no longer a store.  I wonder what it looked like when it was open for business.

This is the Baptist church which they attended.  It didn’t appear to be in use, although I read online that there was a small museum inside, if you called a lady to open it.  If I had more time to spend in town, I would have pursued that.

And here is the other local church next door.  It’s definitely not open.

It makes me so sad to see towns like this – that reached their peak a hundred years ago and have since died out.  It makes you wonder what causes a town to disappear, when other areas are thriving and overpopulated.  Any ideas?

I was later given confirmation of this story, when a distant cousin sent me this picture of Sally Jane (Lee) Agee:

She did indeed only have one arm.  And she quilted!! I think this is especially amazing since I can’t even quilt with two arms – and a sewing machine!

I also had the following information in her 1934 obituary, which I found on my first trip to Mount Ayr, Iowa.  “Twenty-two years ago Mrs. Agee lost her arm in an accident and through all the years has been a constant sufferer.”  So, I knew that she probably lost her arm in about 1912.  Unfortunately, I was short on time and couldn’t search for it.

That was years ago and I’ve been wondering about the accident this whole time.  This past week, I talked my husband into taking a day trip up to Mount Ayr again.  This time, I was completely prepared to read through the entire year’s worth of newspaper (or more) to find out what happened.  Thankfully, I only had to read through half the year, because I found this in June 1912 in the Mount Ayr Record-News:

“Mrs. A. Agee, of Delphos, who with her daughter Viva and son John, were going to visit her daughter, Mrs. Guy Fisher, south of Delphos Friday afternoon.  When going down a hill the shaft came down, caught in the ground and overturned the buggy.  The occupants were thrown out and Mrs. Agee’s arm was broken above the elbow in such a way that the doctors were unable to set it.  She was taken to the hospital in St. Joseph Saturday morning where the arm was amputated.  Mrs. Agee underwent the operation nicely and at last report she was getting along as well as could be expected.”

I was so happy to finally have some of my questions answered.  I hadn’t realized that her daughter Viva (my great-grandmother) was in the buggy with her.

It must have been a horrific thing to have happened to her.  They transported her to St. Joseph, MO – which is about 100 miles away.  And in the days before airlifting people by helicopter, that was a long ways to go.

She seems to have recovered from her trauma soon enough, because just a couple of months later, I found newspaper tidbits, saying that she was out visiting people.

The town motto, which welcomes you from the main road, says “Where Friends Meet”.  That may be true, but there sure aren’t many of them!  It is a small town, with about 800 people living there.  My great-great grandparents lived on a farm just north of town – from the 1860′s until she died in 1918.

It was never a very large town, but it had a quaint downtown with gorgeous old buildings.  I saw pictures of parades going down main street from late in the 1890′s.

We drove through town last week, looking for the cemetery where they were buried.

The downtown is now like a ghost town.  The old buildings are still standing, but they are boarded up and neglected.  There are weeds growing through the sidewalks.

The farms in the area seem to be thriving, but I think that everyone drives to the larger towns to shop and do business.

There are people living in the town.  The post office is open, as is the city hall.  The lady at city hall was really nice and helped me find the cemetery I was looking for.

It just makes me so sad to see a town in such a state of decay.  I would love to see someone invest in restoring the old buildings down main street – much the way they do in Savannah, GA.  It would be such a quaint town!

Did any of your ancestors live in what has now become a “ghost town”?

I really can’t help myself when it comes to my ancestors though. I play favorites and I’m not sure why.  I think that maybe I tend to like the ones that I have more biographical information on.  Names and dates aren’t all that exciting.  Stories are.

Jacob Frederick Sanchez-Tereso, my great-great grandfather is definitely at the top of my “cool ancestors” list.  He led such an interesting life.  He spoke many languages, served in the military, and had a rare book collection.  My kind of guy!

A little background info before I give you his obituary.  Fred’s  father was Nicanor  (Nicholas)Gonzalo Sanchez-Tereso.  He was born in Herencia, Spain and moved to Germany sometime around the Napoleonic Wars.  He married  Anna Marie Weber there and all of their children  (Fred included) were born in Germany.  I can’t wait to dive into some German research, because I have a feeling that the Sanchez-Tereso’s are going to stick out like a sore thumb there.

Another side note.  His obituary is very detailed (Which is so wonderful!  I wish everyone’s obits were so fact-filled) but I noticed that a portion of it was in present tense (as if he were still alive) and it sounded very familiar.  I realized a portion of his obit is almost word for word from the biography included on him in the local county history. 

Here is the obituary which I found at the KeoMah Genealogical Society’s library in Oskaloosa, Iowa.  This was published in “The News”  of  Sigourney, Iowa, dated April 27, 1882, on page 3, row 3.  (The town, by the way, is not pronounced like “Sigourney Weaver” – the emphasis is on the “Sig” instead.  It was painful for me to hear this said over and over, especially since I had been mispronouncing the name of this town for about 10 years.)

Frederick Sanchez-Tereso, of Benton township died Monday evening last at 9 o’clock.  He was until recently a member of the Board of Supervisors, and resigned on account of ill health.  He has been suffering with lung trouble for almost a year and most of the time was confined to the house.  In the loss of Mr. Tereso the county loses one of its best and most popular men.  He had a fine education and was competent to take charge of most any kind of business.  the whole county will sympathize with the bereaved family.  He was born March 30, 1824, at Hackenheim, Hessen, Germany; his father was a native of Spain, and his mother was of German ancestry; his youth and early manhood were passed at the place of his birth, where he attended first the common school and then the high school; German, Latin, Greek and French were some of the studies here pursued; at the age of 17 years he was appointed clerk of the court, which official position he filled to the satisfaction of the higher officials, and with credit to himself.  On the outbreak of the revolution of 1849, when but 24 years old, he received the important appointment of General Financial Secretary, under the Republic at that time established; this position he held for about six months, when the Republic collapsed, and in company with other patriots he crossed the Rhine into France, and after remaining there a short time, he embarked at Havre for America.  He arrived at New York in September, 1849, and from there he went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the printing business; after remaining there for ten months he returned to New York to meet his parents, and while there awaiting the arrival of the ship he was employed by a publishing house as a translator. Upon the arrival of his parents they set out for Iowa and settled in Jackson township, this county; in [I believe it says 1856] he removed to Benton township and settled where he resides, owns a farm of 270 acres, under good cultivation; has a comfortable, well arranged house, in which is a choice library of rare books.  In August 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. F Thirty-third Iowa Infantry; June 2, 1863, he was promoted to the position of first lieutenant; served during the war, and was discharged July 2, 1865 at New Orleans, and after his discharge returned home; December 24, 1857 he was married to Miss Matilda J. Britton, a native of Henry county, Iowa; they have seven children: Milton F.,  Helen (now Mrs. Handleman), Nancy A., Sheridan P., Viola, Theadore, and Oscar G.

Didn’t he lead an interesting life?  He was definitely so much more than an Iowa farmer.  I really need to brush up on my German history and read more about the revolution of 1849 so that I can understand his life a bit more.  Do any of you have Germans that came to America during this time period?  Did they do so for a similar reason?

{The copy of this clipping was hand-dated 1906}

DIED.

Henry Stafford died at his home, 115 Second avenue west, on Dec. 13, of old age, aged 86 years, 2 months, and 3 days.  Deceased was born in Indiana but had lived in Iowa 62 years.  Deceased leaves a wife, and many friends, in whose memory of the departed will ever linger the recollections of an exempliary life.  Thus passes away one of Mahaska’s oldest pioneers.  Obituary next week.

Dr. Elam Stafford died at the residence of his niece, Mrs. Dan Bradbury 815 Second avenue, February 26, 1899, aged 73 years; death resulted from a stroke of paralysis.  The funeral was held from the residence February 27th with interment in Forest Cemetery. Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Sarah Stafford, and a daughter Dr. Emma Richardson.

Dr. Stafford was an old time resident in Oskaloosa and for a long number of years followed his profession, having a very lucrative practice.  He was also at one time auditor of the county. Failing health compelled him to go west, where after remaining a short time he again came to Oskaloosa. Of late months he has been living with his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Richardson, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He came to Oskaloosa on a visit last Friday evening and when he arrived here was not feeling well. He went to the home of his niece, Mrs. Bradbury, and during the night the family, hearing a noise, went to his room and found him unconscious. He died Sunday morning about 4 o’clock, not having regained consciousness.  His wife and daughter were telegraphed of his serious condition, but did not reach Oskaloosa until about three hours after his death.  They were compelled to return to Cedar Rapids Monday evening owing to the serious illness of Mr. Lafe Richardson. Many friends deeply symphathize with them.

I found it interesting that Elam’s daughter, Emma, was a doctor also.