TROUTNER, John Frederick 1842-1929

TROUTNER, PERRY, SMITH, STROMBERG, MCCATHY, BONZER

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 3/17/2012 at 09:57:18

JOHN FREDERICK TROUTNER – April 1, 1842 – June 27, 1929

DEATH CALLS J. F. TROUTNER PIONEER RESIDENT OF COUNTY
CAME TO BRADFORD IN 1853 – VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR AND MEMBER GEO. W.S. DODGE POST, G.A.R.

J. F. Troutner, a pioneer resident of Chickasaw County, passed away at his home in Charles City Thursday morning, June 27, after an illness of considerable duration, at the age of 87 years.

John Frederick Troutner, the second son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Smith) Troutner, was born on April 1, 1842, in Hollisdaysburg, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of eight children who grew to manhood and womanhood, and of these he is survived by only two brothers and one sister, Henry of Ionia, Iowa, and Martin L. of Charles City, Iowa, and Mrs. F. T. Stromberg, Charles City.

The Troutner family was among the pioneers of the middle- west and for Mr. Troutner the pioneering began when he was but four years old. At this time the family moved into northern Indiana –yet a new country. Seven years later, in 1853, the Troutners located in Bradford, Chickasaw County, Iowa. If the hardships, privations, and anxieties of frontier life ever did anything for a man, it undoubtedly put into the fibre of John Frederick Troutner the courage, and brawn, and muscle, that carried him well beyond his allotted three score years and ten.

Ox team journeys to McGregor, the nearest market, which he made unaccompanied when a lad of but 12 and 14 summers, the felling of trees, the hewing of logs, and breaking the prairie sod, was his life in his early teens. During the winter months he attended the Old Bradford Academy.

In May 1861, he enlisted at Cedar Falls in the Co. K. of the 3rd Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving in this regiment for three years. Comrade Troutner re-enlisted in December 1864 in Co. B. of 4th Infantry United States Veteran Volunteer Infantry where he served for more than a year. He was twice taken prisoner. On the first occasion he was held in the famous Libby Prison of Richmond and last at Belle Isle.

The great victories won during the War were of no more importance to the nation than the comradeship which sprang up between them, was to the boys of the 3rd Iowa Volunteers. In Co. K. there were five comrades who were born on April 1st, and for more than 25 years it was the custom of these men to gather at one of their homes for a birthday celebration and love feast. On the day he was taken ill, Mr. Troutner was to have gone to Cedar Falls to celebrate that day with Jacob Boehmler, now the only surviving member of this group.

The deceased was united in marriage with Frances Marie Perry at Bradford, on November 1, 1864, by the Reverend John Keep Nutting, the pastor and builder of the Little Brown Church in the Vale.

To this union seven children were born, Mrs. Cora McCathy of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Homer and Andrew of Nashua, Iowa; Mrs. Ruth Bonzer and Misses Grace and Edith of Charles City. One child, Frederick Anson, passed away in infancy. His wife preceded him in death on February 16, 1903. Mr. Troutner is also survived by nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren, whose companionship he greatly loved.

Comrade Troutner was a charter member of the George W.S. Dodge Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Nashua, and at one time served as commander of this organization. He was also a member of the First Conregational Church of Charles City, Iowa, the Bradford Lodge, A.F. & A. M. of Nashua, Almon Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Charles City and Excelsior Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, also of Charles City. In these organizations he served long and faithfully.

A brief service was held at the home in Charles City Saturday at 1 p.m., after which the body was brought to the Little Brown Church at Bradford, which he attended in his youth. Rev. J. L. McCorison, pastor, conducted the service at the church. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, the burial service being given by Bradford Lodge No. 129, of which deceased had been a member for many years.

Nashua Reporter, Wednesday July 3, 1929