Jesse Homan

HOMAN, BURSON, WILSON

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 6/9/2014 at 17:15:03

Uncle Jesse Homan passed from this life at his home in our city Monday, May 29, 1916. He was one of the pioneers of the county and a highly respected citizen.
Jesse Homan, son of Mark and Nancy Burson Homan, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, November 23, 1835 and there grew to manhood. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, but his father lived until 1874, reaching the age of 80 years. Jesse was one of a family of ten children, only two of whom are still living, Mrs. John W. Penton of White Clay, Nebraska and George W. Homan of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. His youthful days were pioneer days in Indiana and his experice and surrounding were those of an ordinary individual in a new timbered country, being born in a log cabin and as he grew older, joint in the pleasures and duties of maple sugar making, cutting wood for the fireplace, helping with the crops, and attending school. On May 21, 1857, he was married to Elizabeth Minerva Wilson, daughter of Michael and Jane Wilson, also of Putnam County, Indiana. To this union were born eight children; Mrs. Alva F. VanWageman, Corning, Grace B. died in 1882; Fred W., Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ralph W., Webster City, Iowa, Elsie G., Corning, Thomas B., Griswold, Iowa, and Lucy I., Corning. He was a veteran of the civil war. He was elected captain of a company of state militia, but soon enlisted, November 1861, in the eighth battery of Indiana light artillery, then organizing at Evansville, Indiana, holding the office of first sergeant. He enlisted for three years, but on account of chronic enlargement of the liver, brought on by exposure in service, was honorably discharged at the end of eight months. In this connection it might be mentioned that his father, Mark Homan, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His first years of married life were spent in Indiana; but in October 1862, he and his wife with their two little girls, started overland with wagon and team for Iowa. They stopped for the winter with friends in Lucas County, Iowa, where he taught a term of school, coming on to Adams County the following spring. In 1864 he entered as a homestead the land in Washington Township on which he lived until he moved to Corning in the fall of 1914 having resided on this homestead fifty years. His wife, who shared the pleasures and hardships of his pioneer days, and was his faithful and inspiring companion of fifty-six years passed away May 19, 1913. In February, 1866, during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Otis, he united with the First Baptist Church of Adams County and was still a member of that church at the time of his death. Although not of a demonstrative nature, he was a man of strong Christian character, and took great comfort in his faith in Christ and hope in heaven. He lived an active life until the last two or three years, when his health gradually failed from old age, and the effects of the complaint which culminated in his death, May 29, 1916.
The funeral services will be held in Corning today. A short service will be held at the home after which the remains will be taken to the First Baptist Church in Washington Township, where extended services will be held and interment made in the cemetery at that church. Rev. F. L. Roper will have charge, assessed by Rev. A. V. Cupp.
Adams County Free Press, May 31, 1916, page 10