Francis Dresser - 1835-1919

DRESSER, HAWKINS, AUTHENBAUGH, CLARK, REED, BAYLESS, WEBB, MCCREADY, CHASE, HAGENSICK

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 9/6/2011 at 19:19:02

SOURCE: Emmett, Idaho EMMETT EXAMINER, November 1919
Contributor: Connie L. (Kelly) Ellis (DRESSER-HAWKINS-WEBB FAMILY RESEARCHER)

Francis Dresser, son of Calvin and Sarah "Sally" (Hawkins) Dresser, was born March 17, 1835 at Barnston, Stanstead County, Province of Quebec, Canada, which was about 100 miles from Montreal, Canada. Francis was the second oldest child of a family of 12 children, 5 boys and 7 girls. At the age of 5 years, he moved with his family to Woodstock, Ohio where he remained until 1855 when he and his family moved to Postville, Iowa, making the move by wagon and team. The Dresser family settled on a farm on the north edge of Postville, Iowa. On October 21, 1861, Francis Dresser was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Authenbaugh at Hardin, Iowa. They were the parents of 5 children, four boys and a daughter. In the spring of 1909, Francis and Harriet moved their family to Emmett, Idaho. All of his life Francis had worked as a farmer except for the 17 years spent in Postville, Iowa.

Francis Dresser died at his home in Emmett, Idaho on October 28, 1919 of heart failure. He passed away while sitting in a chair and in a conversation, having felt in good health for some time. He was aged 84 years, 7 months and 11 days. He was preceded in death by one child who died in infancy, and Charles E. Dresser who died in Emmett, Idaho on July 27, 1918; 2 brothers Alonzo Harvey Dresser, and Charles Dresser, who died at the age of 3 of sunstroke; and 2 sisters, Lucy Clark, and Lydia Chase.

Francis Dresser is survived by his wife, Harriet, son Wilbur C. Dresser of Postville, Iowa, Cora A. Dresser, and Leonard P. Dresser, both of Emmett, Idaho; 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; 2 brothers, Hiram Dresser of Daysland, Alberta, Canada, and John Smith Dresser of Postville, Iowa; 5 sisters, Mehitable Reed Haggard of Concord, Minnesota, the twin sisters Rozilla "Zill" Webb of Postville, Iowa, Arvilla "Vill" McCready of Cherokee, Iowa, Harriet Bayless, and Sarah Jane Hagensick, both of Elkader, Iowa.

Funeral services were held from the Bucknum Chapel in Emmett, Idaho at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Rev. Finley of the Methodist Church officiated. Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery in Emmett, Idaho.