George Kelch 1832-1923

KELCH, PIER, CONKLIN, RUMMELLS, MALONEY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/21/2018 at 08:36:38

3 May 1923 - West Branch Times

George Kelch, second son of Nicholas and Katharine Kelch was born in Germany Feb. 20, 1832.

He came with his parents to this country when but two years of age and they located in Newark, N.J., where he grew to manhood. He obtained his education in the common schools of New Jersey, living with his parents until he was 21 years of age.

On March 27, 1854, he was married to Gorgianna Pier at Madison, N.J. The first years of their married life were spent on a farm, working for the same man for ten years. In 1865, just at the close of the war, he and his good wife came to Iowa and located on a farm in Cedar county, west of Centerdale. Here he endured many hardships of those early pioneer days and for forty-four years this couple lived on the same farm.

In 1902 he put aside the work of the fields and the busy cares he and the good wife had on the farm and came to make their abode in West Liberty. They purchased a place, 419 East Third street, and for the past 21 years they have made that their home. It is said that he was the oldest man in West Liberty. Seven children were born to this union, Mrs. B. A. Conklin of West Liberty, Mrs. Henry Rummells, of West Branch, Albert of Aurora, Ill., George W. and Anna Marie, deceased, Frank of Centerdale and John of West Branch.

On March 27th of this year they, with some of the children who could come and friends and neighbors, celebrated their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary.

He had no enemies as far as he knew, and was honored by all his acquaintances, and all his life he sought to live up to the Golden Rule.

He had realized for some time that he was on the afternoon side of life, altho enjoying good health for one of his age, until he was stricken with illness April 18, and passed away April 27th at the age of ninety-one years, two months and seven days.

He leaves to survive him, his aged wife who is past 87, five children, one sister Mrs. Carrie Maloney of Newark, N.J., two brothers Frank of Los Angeles, Calif., and Nicholas of Lake View, Ia., fourteen grandchildren, twenty-five greatgrandchildren, more than a score of nieces and nephews and a lot of friends. He has gone into that bourne from which no traveler returns.

Funeral services were conducted at the home by Rev. Lloyd Tennant of West Liberty, with music by a male quartet, and interment in the Downey cemetery. Grandsons and nephews, three each, acted as pall bearers.