James Wattles 1821-1907

WATTLES, WHITON, SWENDER

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/26/2010 at 13:26:53

Carroll Sentinel
Carroll, Iowa
11 Jun 1907
Page 1

Another Pioneer Passes Away

James Wattles dies at his home in this City after an illness of several weeks at the age of Eighty-Six

Suffered from a partial stroke of Paralysis from which he never fully recovered

In the death of Jas. Wattles another of the pioneers of Carroll county passes from the stage of action. Forty years ago he and his family came to this county and located on a farm on North Coon where they lived until twenty years ago when he and his wife and family located in this city. Ten years ago his good wife, who had shared in the struggles incident to raising a family in the pioneer days in this county, passed to her reward. Since that time he and his daughter Carrie have lived in the second ward. During the winters of late he has enjoyed the pleasant climate of southern California. About two months past he returned home. While he appeared to be enjoying good health it was evident that a great change had come over him during the months that he had been absent from the city. To one who was familiar with Mr. Wattles and knew his dislike to appear old and feeble, it was plainly to be seen that his ragged constitution was giving way and that his days here at best could only be protracted for a short time. Shortly after his return he suffered from a paralytic stroke which came near ending in death. He partially rallied but was never again able to leave his bed. During the weeks of his sickness he was hopeful and thought that in a short time he would be able to be around again. In this he was mistaken. The strength and vitality of his younger manhood, that had stood him well in hand on many former occasions, was gone and he gradually failed. Silently the sands of life ran low and when the end came it was but a transition from the living to the dead. He quietly slept his life away. This was a fitting end for one who had lived the active vigorous life that he had led. At the ripe old age of 86 the husband, father, soldier and citizen dropped for ever the working tools of life and joined the great majority.

When deceased came here he bought his land as a tax title for two dollars per acre. Land was so cheap then that it was not worth the taxes. On that two dollar an acre farm the Wattles lived and reared a family. There the boys were sent away to college and received as good an education as it was possible to get in this state at that time. The oldest son, Mason, died shortly after graduating from the Iowa state college. The next son, Gurdon, was sent there and while not completing the courses got about all out of that college that it was teaching at that time.

The trials and privations that he and the family had to undergo in raising and successively equipping his family for the place they were to fill in the rapidly developing west were those that only the staunch hearted and self sacrificing were willing to make. On that farm he not only met all the responsibilities of a father and a husband but laid the foundation for the future prosperity of the family. After moving to the city he retired from active life and turned over the burdens to his sons who with young hands and active brain have built great fortunes on the foundations that the wise old father had laid for them. His pride in his family was the great controlling passion of his life and remained as strong to the end as it was in those days when he was struggling almost against fate to give them an education and fit them for the wider fields of usefulness that they are now filling. In talking with him a few days after his return his entire interest appeared to be bound up in his family. They were his constant thought and it was with modest pride that he referred to what they have accomplished in the business activities of the day and the success they have made in life. They who had been his great care in the strength of his manhoood were the consolation to his sorrows in his declining days.

James Wattles was born in Lapeer, Cortland county, New York, June 30, 1821, and died June 4, 1907. January 15, 1850, he was married to Elizabeth A. Whiton. To this union were born six children, four boys and two girls, four of whom are now living. One of the daughters died early in life and the son Mason died at the age of twenty. The remaining children are: Walter and Channey of Neligh, Neb., Gurdon of Omaha and Carrie of this city.

From New York state they moved to Illinois where they resided about one year and then moved to Carroll county in 1867 and located on a farm where they resided until twenty years ago when they moved to this city. Mrs. James Wattles died in this city February 15, 1897. Since that time the deceased made his home with his daughter. Mas. Carrie Swender.

Early in boyhood he made a confession of faith and has lived a consistent christian life. In 1887 he was confirmed by Bishop Perry and proved an active member of Trinity Episcopal church until his death. His four children were present at the funeral which was held at the Trinity Episcopal church Thursday, June 6.

Rev. Mackey, pastor of Grace Episcopal church of Omaha, of which G. W. Wattles is a member, delivered the sermon. It was pronounced as being one of the best of its kind ever delivered in the city. After the ceremonies at the church were completed the remains were taken to the cemetery where they were laid to rest beside his wife in the family lot. The floral tributes were very elaborate and despite the rain that was falling in torrents the greater portion of the time the church presented an attractive appearance. Rev. Pratt, the priest in charge, had looked after every detail and it was largely due to him that the beautiful ceremonies of the church wre carried out without the least embarrassment of any kind. The selected choir rendered excellent music.

In the death of Jas. Wattles the community loses a good citizen, who always had a kind word for all who came in the circle of his acquaintance; a good christian, who was attached to the Episcopal church and to which he had been one of its best members and staunchest supporters.