Isaac McCalla, 1836-1928

MCCALLA, ROSLER, PINNEO, ZIEGLER, JACKSON

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/8/2013 at 11:06:27

ISAAC McCALLA PASSES AWAY AT AGE OF 91

Was One of Few Remaining Civil War Veterans

Isaac H. McCalla, another Civil war veteran and well known to many Clay county residents, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. T.Y. Jackson, in Royal, Monday morning, April 9, 1928. Death occurred from old age and complications. At the time of his death Mr. McCalla was 91 years, 10 months and 7 days of age.

Mr. McCalla had been in failing health since last spring when he suffered a stroke. However, he had seemed to be considerably better at various times. A little more than a week ago he became bedfast and his condition grew gradually worse.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the chapel of the Cobb Funeral Home at three o'clock with the Rev. B.J. Trickey, pastor of the Congregational church of Spencer, officiating. Members of the Annett Post, G.A.R., of which he was a member, took part in the services, while six members of Glen Pedersen Post No. 1 acted as pall bearers.

The body was taken to Dakota, Illinois, that evening where services were held and burial was made in Rock Grove, Illinois cemetery. The two daughters, Mrs. C.M. Pinneo of Spencer and Mrs. T.Y. Jackson of Royal accompanied the body for the services and interment.

Isaac McCalla was born June 2, 1836, on a farm in Union county, Pennsylvania. When about seven or eight years of age he removed with his parents, Alexander and Susan McCalla, to Rock Grove, Illinois, and there, when he was twenty-seven years of age, he enlisted in the Civil War, being with Company B of the 46th Illinois infantry. He served with his regiment for three years and at the close of the war he returned to Illinois and farmed for two years. Later he owned a grocery store and then operated a drug store for more than forty years in Dakota, Illinois.

His marriage to Miss Margaret Ann Ziegler took place before he enlisted in the war. Mrs. McCalla preceded him in death March 17, 1888.

Twenty years ago Mr. McCalla came to Spencer and made his home with his daughter, the late Mrs. F.C. Rosler. Following Mrs. Rosler's death about nine years ago he made his home with another daughter, Mrs. Pinneo, south of Spencer. During the past two months when Mrs. Pinneo had been at Iowa City and Ottumwa with her husband, Mr. McCalla had been with his daughter at Royal.

Mr. McCalla had been a collector of violins in his day but he had only two in possession upon his death. These collections consisted of the 300-year old violin which was shown in a recent picture with Mr. McCalla in The News-Herald, and a Schwitzer which is 150 years old.

The first mentioned violin was traced back to 300 years and a lion's head carved on the neck distinguishes it from present day instruments. Mr. McCalla's chief pleasure and recreation was in his music and he spent many hours with his violins.

He was a member of the Annett Post of G.A.R. and was one of the older men in Clay county. He regularly attended the meetings of the post and the monthly socials of the Women's Relief corps at which the old soldiers were always honored guests.

Besides his two daughters, Mr. McCalla is survived by three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. McCalla always maintained pleasant relations with his many army comrades and with his neighbors and friends. In all his relations in life had been true to high and honorable principles and had never faltered in a choice between right and wrong but had always endeavored to follow a course that his judgment and his conscience sanctioned.

Source: Spencer News-Herald, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; April 12, 1928