John T. Painter, 1844-1931

PAINTER, STRATTON, ARMS, GILL, COFFIN, PIERCE

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/5/2013 at 07:57:52

J. T. PAINTER, PIONEER, DIES AT AGE OF 87

Long Illness Claims Spencer Man at West Branch

John T. Painter, 87, pioneer Clay county resident and for many years a leader in Spencer affairs, passed away Friday morning, November 13, 1931, at the home of his son-in-law, Bert Gill, in West Branch, Iowa, following an lingering illness of ten weeks duration. Mr. Painter left Spencer early in the fall on a trip to Florida for the winter months and had stopped for a brief visit with his son-in-law when he was taken ill and confined to his room until death claimed him last week.

He observed his 87th birthday anniversary November 10, just three days before his passing.

Friends and neighbors of the Painter family were grieved to hear of his death and a large crowd attended the funeral ceremonies to accord final honor. The services were held from the Cobb-Phelps Funeral chapel at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, November 15, and from the First Congregational church at three o'clock. Rev. Benjamin J. Trickey officiated. Interment was in the mausoleum at Riverside cemetery.

Was Early Settler

Mr. Painter was born in Iowa, November 10, 1844, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Painter. In 1871 he came to Clay county and took up a homestead about six miles south of Spencer on the old Greenville road. For a time he taught school near Greenville in addition to his farming duties. During his first years in the county he made his home in one of the old sod houses that dotted the Iowa prairies in those early days.

In 1874 he was married to Miss Annie Stratton, a school teacher, and both continued in educational work for a time. In the winter they taught in southern Iowa and in summer returned to operate their farm. A daughter, Annie, now Mrs. Bert Gill of West Branch, was born to this union, Mrs. Painter passed away in 1877.

Was County Surveyor

Mr. Painter continued his teaching and farming and later became county surveyor of Clay county.

February 3, 1879, he was married at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, to Lucy Arms of that city, a sister-in-law of Mrs. Elizabeth Arms of Spencer. A daughter, Hazel, later Mrs. Charles Coffin of Marshall, Indiana, who passed away several years ago, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Painter.

Early in the '80s, Mr. and Mrs. Painter took up their residence in Spencer, purchasing the Painter home at 210 West Fifth street. The property was recently sold to the Northwestern Bell Telephone company for its new exchange building now under construction and the old home was sold to Arch Freeman who moved it to Fourth street and has remodeled it.

During his residence in Spencer, Mr. Painter continued as county surveyor for many years and later became interested in an undertaking establishment and furniture store at the corner of Pine and Main streets. During his life here he was an active worker for community betterment and was prominent in civic affairs. Originally he was a member of the Friends church, but later transferred his membership to the First Congregational church of Spencer.

During the declining years of their life, Mr. and Mrs. Painter spent only their summers in Spencer visiting numerous friends and at the home of Mrs. Arms, 226 West Pine Street. They enjoyed the winters in Florida.

Mrs. Painter Died in May

It was at Daytona Beach, May 24, 1931, that Mrs. Painter passed away after a serious illness that prevented the couple from returning to Spencer in the spring as was their custom. Since Mrs. Painter's death and burial at Spencer, Mr. Painter has been residing here until his recent trip that ended in his death.

Surviving the pioneer Spencer man are a sister, Mrs. Virginia Pierce of Des Moines; two brothers, William of University Park, Iowa, and David of Whittier, California; two sons-in-law, Charles Coffin of Marshall, Indianan, and Bert Gill of West Branch, Iowa; and four grandchildren, Lucille and Bert Coffin of Marshall, Indiana, and Fred and Lois Gill of West Branch.

Out-of-town relatives attending the funeral rites at Spencer Sunday afternoon were: Mr. and Mrs. Chester Anderson and Mrs. Fred Dierks of Flandreau, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Yould of Trent, South Dakota; Charles Coffin of Marshall, Indiana; and Bert Gill and daughter of West Branch.

Donated Hospital Site

A civic monument to the memory of John T. Painter is his gift of valuable Spencer property with the provision that it or the proceeds from its sale be used for hospital purposes. The property is a half block on East Ninth and Mill streets, described as the west half of block 25, Griffin and Adams addition to the city of Spencer.

Mr. Painter originally deeded residence property on West Third street, but later a trade was made whereby Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Hanson deeded the more suitable property on Ninth and Mill streets to the county in exchange for the residence lots. In deeding the property, Mr. Painter did not restrict its use or sale for a "county" hospital, but it is available for any community hospital that may be conceived.

During the time when a new post office site was desired in Spencer, Mr. Painter again demonstrated his civic interest by offering his home property at Fifth and West streets at a nominal figure in order that a proposed civic center might result on the block. The government later accepted a site across the street, however, after complications made Mr. Painter's offer unsuitable because of inability to secure additional near-by land.

[Photograph of John T. Painter is included in newspaper obituary. Caption under photo states: "Pioneer farmer and Spencer resident, school teacher, county surveyor, business man and public benefactor, John T. Painter passed away at West Branch, Iowa, Friday morning, November 13, 1931, at the age of 87 years. His death occasioned mourning throughout the community and a large crowd paid him final honor at services at Spencer Sunday afternoon."]

Source: Spencer News Herald, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; November 19, 1931.

Interment in Riverside cemetery
 

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