William W. Gruwell 1838-1904

GRUWELL, SWAIN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/28/2018 at 14:57:18

17 November 1904 - West Branch Times

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The many friends of W. W. Gruwell were shocked on Friday afternoon of last week to learn of his death at his home in Des Moines after a lingering illness. The body was brought here for burial arriving at 11:15 in the evening on Saturday and the funeral was held from the Friends church, Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Gruwell was editor and proprietor of the West Branch TIMES for about twenty years, and had a large circle of friends and acquaintances in this vicinity who will extend their sympathy to the bereaved family.

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William W., son of William and Anna Gruwell, was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 5th, 1838. His father died when he was about 14 years of age. He came with his mother to Iowa and settled in Honey Grove neighborhood. On the 29th day of May, 1863, he was united in marriage with Esther Swain. To this union was born six children, all of whom are living to mourn the loss of a loving and beloved father, and to comfort the heart of their grief-stricken mother. The children are all well known in this community though scattered now from the Gulf to the Pacific coast.

William Gruwell was for several assessor of Gower Township. He lived for a few years in Marshall county, where he found a field of usefulness, was in business 2 years in Belle Plaine. Was a very efficient Sabbath School teacher and a birthright member of the Friends church, and a useful member for many years. He was a member of the town council and school board, secretary of Old Settlers Association and Editor of the West Branch paper for about 18 years. A man who was broad in his views and liberal toward all in his editorials, always willing to give both sides of every subject which interested the public, political, moral and religious, a fair and impartial hearing through The Times. A man not only of an innocent nature but of deep convictions, upright in his life and at peace with all men. He spent two winters in Mobile, Ala., for his health, and went to Des Moines in April, 1904, where he sweetly yielded to the powers that be, and gradually, but patiently, approached the borderland and passed away from a long life of usefulness to his eternal reward on the 11th of November, 1904.

His remains were brought to West Branch where appropriate services were conducted at Downey St. Friends Church on the 13th, at 2 p.m. by J. Y. Hoover and Rev. J. W. Stribling. J.Y. HOOVER.