William H. Bowlsby (1815 - 1901)

BOWLSBY, GARRETSON, COMPTON, KEARNEY

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 1/11/2022 at 10:49:09

Osceola Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
June 20, 1901 , page 4

William H. Bowlsby was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, March 18, 1815. At the age of one year his parents removed to Union county, Indiana. His father died when he was fifteen years of age and his mother four years later, leaving him an orphan at nineteen years of age. He was bound out to learn the blacksmith trade at the age of sixteen years which he completed when he was twenty.

He was married to Mary Ann Garretson at Windsor. Ind., May 5.1836. In September, 1837, at a campmeeting near Deerfield, Indiana, he gave his heart to Jesus and, with his companion, united with the M. E. church in which he remained until the year of 1841. There was an M. P. church organized in the town they lived in and he with many others united with it.

He lived in Indiana eleven years and then removed to Dark county, Ohio, in the year 1845, residing there 8 years. He and his family with many others emigrated with teams to Iowa in 1852 which was then a very new country, he settled first in Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, living there twenty months, but having entered land in Madison county, he moved his family to Winterset in May, 1854. and resided there until November 6, 1866.

In order to have church privileges, he removed with his family to Osceola, Clarke county, where he united with the M. P church (when they worshipped in the little blue church) and remained a faithful and consistent member until he went to join the church triumphant, which was June 15,1901. at 12 o'clock, after an illness of eleven days.

Again the white winged boatman has borne from our midst a brother, a husband and father, to that bourne from which no travelers return. Methinks I hear him as he approaches the river's edge and is loathe to bear so precious a burden from the cries and sobs of the loved ones who stand at his dying bed, but the divine has gone around forth and hearts were agonized and looks grew sadder and sadder as they saw him leave the shores of time. He told his companion that he was ready to go, and it would not be long until they would be reunited in the paradise of God. O, how bright the religion of Christ shines in the dying hour of the child of God!

He was the father of nine children, four of whom proceeded him to the glory land. Those living are Benjamin F., of Winterset. Iowa, Mrs. E. J. Compton. of Shawnee, Oklahoma; James F., of Des Moines: Mrs. May Kearney, of Creston, and Addison K. with whom he made his home—all of whom were present at the funeral, except Mrs. Compton, together with fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren, and they with his aged companion are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving husband, father and grandfather.

He was always cheerful, contented and happy and being almost blind, he could not read, so spent much of his time when at home singing the old familiar hymns he loved so well, and even on his death bed four days before he passed away, he sang three of his favorite hymns, and seemed so happy. His voice of testimony and song will be greatly missed in the house of Cod, but his memory will ever be sacred to many in Osceola and elsewhere. The esteem in which he was held was evidenced by the largo crowd of sympathizing friends that gathered at the church and also by the many floral offerings given to pay the last tribute of respect to the departed.

Funeral services were held at the M.P. church in Osceola at 2 p. m. Monday, June 17th; sermon by his pastor. Rev. W. M. McCorkle, from the words “O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?" He was assistedby Rev. G. W. Robinson, after which we laid his body tenderly to rest in Maple Hill cemetery, there to await the resurrection morn.

Memorial at Findagrave
 

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