THEOPHILUS J. GIRARD

GIRARD, MARTIN, NELSON, LOVELY, MUSMAKER, SWIFT

Posted By: Marie O'Brien Schertz (email)
Date: 2/20/2006 at 16:17:40

Theophilus J. Girard was born February 20, 1840 near Adlam, France. He came to this country with his parents at the age of twelve years and grew to manhood in Holmes county, Ohio. He came to Iowa just prior to the Civil War. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted with Company 2, 21st Regiment, Iowa Infantry and served until the close of the war.

On February 6, 1866, he was married to Mary Louise Martin at Wooster, Ohio, and together these two celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary last February.

They came to Iowa and located in Harrison Township nearly forty years ago and resided there until ten years ago when he retired from the farm and moved to Greenfield to live his remaining years.

To this union was born eight children, two sons and six daughters: Emma Nelson of Stuart; Joseph P. Girard, Gilmore City, Iowa; Alice Musmaker of Greenfield; Albert F. Girard of Creston; Lucy Girard of Greenfield; Jennie Swift of Greenfield; Clara Lovely of Stuart; and Esther Swift of Greenfield. All were present at the funeral.

He died at Greenfield, Iowa on October 12, 1916 at the age of 76 years, seven months, and twenty-two days. The funeral was from the Catholic Church in Greenfield on October 14, 1916. The Grand Army of the Republic attended in body to pay their last tribute of respect to their fallen comrade. Interment was made in the Greenfield Cemetery.

"Dad Girard" as he was familiarly called, was in a class by himself. He was full of sunshine, good cheer, witticisms, and jokes. Everyone stopped to chat with him, for he was a cure for the blues, and he scattered good cheer and sunbeams wherever he went. He is in fact a great loss to the community, but he had lived his allotted time.

He was a stalwart Christian, a good husband and father, and a patriotic citizen. He will live many years in the memory of the boys and girls as well as the young people, whom he never passed on the street without a cordial greeting.

Published in the Adair County Free Press 1916