James Oliver Varney, 1846-1922

VARNEY, HOLT, FLINT, THOMPSON

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/6/2013 at 06:49:12

James Oliver Varney, a former resident of Spencer, and one of the early homesteaders in this county, passed away at his home in Bismark, North Dakota, on Thursday, February 16, 1922. He was 75 years, 3 months and 8 days of age at the time of his death, which was due to a general breakdown. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Johnson at Bismark, North Dakota, and the body was brought back to Spencer where service was conducted at the Baptist church by Rev. J.P. Thomas. Interment was made in Riverside cemetery.

Mr. Varney was born in Royalton, Ohio, on November 6, 1846, and received his early education in the public schools of Cleveland and also at Horican, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1869 he took a homestead in this county on what is now the William Torbert farm and in the spring of 1870 moved to Iowa. Later he built a house in the town of Spencer and from 1882 until 1889 worked as a contractor for the Milwaukee Railroad company. For a time he farmed section 16 in Meadow township and also ran a creamery in Dickens for some time. Later he moved back to Spencer and devoted his time to farming. In 1908 he moved to Bismark, North Dakota, where he made his home until his death.

He was first married on August 12, 1869, at Batron, Wisconsin, to Miss Maranda Jane Holt, and to this union two children, Mrs. E.P. Flint of Dickens and Harlow A. Varney of Chicago, were born. She passed away in March, 1882. He was again united in marriage in March, 1883, to Miss Emma Thompson and four children were born to this union, Fred and Bessie Varney of Minneapolis, Marzova of Washington, and Bertha who is living at home. He is also survived by two brothers, Harlow B. of Malta, Montana, and Charles M. of Dickens, Iowa.

Source: Spencer Reporter, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; February 22, 1922.

Interment in Riverside cemetery
 

Clay Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
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