Jasper Messenger, 1841-1908

MESSENGER, BONNELL, EVANS, STEBBINS

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/15/2014 at 18:33:28

Jasper Messenger was born December 21, 1841, on a farm near Belleville, Illinois. He lived in Illinois until 1873 when he came to Clay county, Iowa, settling on a farm near the present site of Gillett Grove and engaged for some years in stock buying.

In 1883 Mr. Messenger left his home in this county and engaged in the work of general contractor in railroad building. He visited Seattle and other places while in this work.

Returning to Clay county he was elected county treasurer in 1896, serving three terms or six years in this office and winning the respect of all who came into contact with him.

In the spring of 1905 Mr. Messenger went to Idaho where he remained for a year, returning to Spencer in the early summer of 1906.

Mr. Messenger's health began to fail as a result of the confinement in the county treasurer's office and for some years he has been a sufferer at intervals.

In August, 1907, he left Spencer and went to the home of his sister, Mrs. Elona Bonnell, near Vernon, Illinois. Here surrounded by those he loved best, his sister and his two daughters, he passed to his rest last Thursday, March 12, 1908.

Mr. Messenger enlisted in 1862 in the 117th Illinois Regiment, Co. I, and served his country until 1865.

He was married February 25, 1874, to Ophelia J. Evans who died in 1883.

Mr. Messenger is survived by his sister, Mrs. Bonnell, and his two daughters, Mrs. Eugene Stebbins, of Macon, Missouri, with whom he made his home while in Spencer, and Miss Maud Messenger, now living in Idaho.

The body of Mr. Messenger was brought to Spencer last Sunday morning and at two o'clock in the afternoon services were held in the Congregational church under the auspices of the Grand Army Post, conducted at the church by the pastor, Rev. Ernest E. Day, and at Riverside Cemetery, where the body was interred, by the officers of the Post.

Mr. Messenger is remembered kindly by the residents of this town and county; a man of even temperament, ready in assistance when needed, patient throughout a long and trying sickness, he exemplified the virtues of the soldier, and sleeps, we may believe, the sleep which hath an ending in a world of light.

Source: Spencer Reporter, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; March 8, 1908.

Interment in Riverside cemetery
 

Clay Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen