CANNON, Ephriam Dexter

CANNON, OVIAT

Posted By: Frances Hays (email)
Date: 10/8/2006 at 09:11:02

I am not sure which paper this was printed in, I assume it was in Cherokee, Iowa.

October 19, 1900, Ephriam passed onto the other side. For the last five years his health has been gradually failing, and several times relatives thought the end was near. After a painful illness of two weeks from Neuralgia the Lord took him. He viisted in Minnesota frequently and while there he felt better, so he decided to sell his farm in Afton to Charles Zwick, and buy a home at Wells, Minnesota, to which place he moved a year ago last April, accompanied by his wife and daughter, Miss May Cannon. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon returned from a several months visit with their son Dr. Charles Cannon, in St. Paul just two weeks prior to his death. Upon his arrival at home he was taken worse, since which time he had been unable to talk or take any nourishment. Mr. Cannon has been a resident of Afton Township for over 30 years and all that time lived on the same farm until a year and a half ago when he moved to Wells. Mr. Cannon was seventy-three years old last January. He leaves a devoted wife who has shared his joys and sorrows for fifty-two years. Mr. Cannon chose his own text which was Rev. 21.4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.

Ephriam was born in (Thompkins) Delaware County, New York January 23, 1827. He moved to Wisconsin and was married to Miss Emily Oviat in 1849 and to this union was born 13 children. Mr. Cannon was a kind husband and father. No burden was too heavy nor any day too long for him in his efforts to provide for those he loved. About 53 years ago he identified with the M. E. Church, of thich he was an honored and worth member at the time of his death.

Politically he was an Independent Democrat. He worshipped at no polital shrine, but always voted as he belived to be right and for the betterment of human conditions. Mr. Cannon was a man of Large information, being a great reader. During the years of his early and riper manhood he accumulated a large and valuable supply of knowledge. As a public speaker he was clear and forceful, and very able in debate. When the nations name and honor was in jeopardy, he was among the first to enlist for the defense of the flag, going out in company G of the thirty-eight Wisconsin Volunteers. In 1865 he received a slight wound from a bursting shell, which stunned him for a time, but he remained on the field in action until shouts of victory rent the air. Mr. Cannon was one of the first men to climb the works before Petersburg, and had the great pleasure of witnessing the surrender of Lee to General Grant at Appomattox Court House. He was one of the early pioneers of this county, being identified with its organization and the organization of Afton Township, where he held positions of trust and honor. He was a good man in the fullest possible sense of the term.

The gentle husband, kind father, faithful friend, true soldier and patriot is gone, but the sweet gragrance foa beautiful life remaineth ever.