Dresser, Alonzo Harvey 1841 - 1919

DRESSER, SMITH, BOWMAN, SPRAGUE, MCKEON, COLEMAN, HAGGARD, BAYLESS, MCCREADY, WEBB, HAGENSICK, CLARK, CHASE, SCOTT, REED, STORBECK, HELFER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/22/2012 at 17:21:23

Postville Herald, Fri., 5 Sept. 1919.

Alonzo Harvey Dresser was born in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, December 29, 1841. In November 1855, he came with his parents to Postville, Iowa, as a pioneer resident and settled on a farm where he lived until called to his Heavenly Home on August 29, 1919, at the ripe age of 77 years, and eight months.

Dec. 30, 1873, he was united in holy matrimony to Sarah S. Smith in the town of Republic, Kansas. To this union were born four children: Arthur A. Dresser of Postville; Mabel E. Bowman, who preceded him in death May 29, 1899; Mrs. Ama I. Sprague of Langdon, Iowa; and Mrs. Nina M. McKeon of Galesburg, Ill.

Besides the wife and children left to mourn his loss are three grandchildren-- Mabel E. Bowman of Greene, Iowa; Paul Coleman and Rose Dresser Sprague* of Langdon, Iowa. Also five sisters and three brothers-- Francis of Emmett, Idaho; Hiram of Daysland, Canada; Mrs. Jas. Haggard of Concord, Minn.; Mrs. Harriet Bayless of Elkader; Mrs. R. T. McCready of Cherokee; Mrs. Henry Webb of Postville and John S. of Postville; and Mrs. H. H. Hagensick of Elkader. One brother, Charles; and two sisters, Mrs. Lucy Clark and Mrs. W. I. Chase, preceded him in death.

About the time of the death of his daughter in 1899 his health began to fail. Three years ago his general health failed him completely and he has since been a helpless "shut-in" invalid, and with more than usual patience he endured his afflictions to the end.

He United with the Postville M.E. church during the pastorate of Rev. W. W. Robinson and was very devoted to his religious vows.

In the earlier years of his decline, when unable to attend divine worship, he found great comfort in his mother's Bible, which was his most loved possession for the Heavenly truth which it contained.

Mr. Dresser was an honest, upright and honorable citizen, a good neighbor and friend, an indulgent husband and kind father, who throughout a long and useful life filled with good deeds gathered about him a wide circle of friends, many of whom preceded him to the other shore, but those who survive will grieve that he is no more and will pause to shed a tear of sympathy for those near and dear to him who a little longer wait before joining him in that joy unspeakable that awaits the pure in heart in God's eternal summer-land of love.

The funeral was held from the Postville M.E. church at 2:30 last Sunday afternoon and the large concourse of sympathizing friends that assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to his memory was the best evidence of the high esteem in which he was held by a community to whom his life for many years had been an open book. The services were conducted by Rev. Hadwen Williams, who paid a splendid tribute to his memory. Interment in the Postville cemetery.

Those attending the funeral from away were Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Sprague and sons Ross and Paul of Langdon, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. H. J. McKeon of Galesburg, Ill.; Miss Mabel E. Bowman of Greene; Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Hagensick and son Frank, Miss Mary Hagensick, Miss Anna Staack, Mrs. Harriet Bayless and sons John and Fred, Miss Ruth Bayless, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Storbeck and baby, all of Elkader; H. H. Smith and Wm. Helfer of Republic, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Reed and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Scott of Concord. Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Bayless of North McGregor.

Submitter is not related.

_____________________________________

Note: *Ross Dresser Sprague is given in the obit as "Rose". Ross was a grandson -- not a granddaughter (added by Connie Ellis, Dresser family researcher 12/16/12)