Wiltse, Leonard 1822-1893

WILTSE, WILTSIE, SMITH

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/16/2014 at 01:08:03

At his residence in Herndon* at 8 a.m., July 26th, 1893, of dropsy, Leonard Wiltse, aged 70 years and 8 months.

Leonard Wiltse was born in Montreal, Canada, November, 1822, and removed with his father's family to Delaware county, Iowa, in the fall of 1839, being one of the pioneers of that county. He married Louisa Jane Smith, February 5th, 1844, afterward removing to Clayton county, Iowa, where he resided until the spring of 1880, when he came to Rawlins county.

He was one of the most respected of our fellow citizens and was the first coroner of the county being elected at the county seat election July 6, 1881. Of robust constitution, notwithstanding his age, he did much hard work in opening and developing his farm. About three years since heart disease developed, and he was an invalid ever after. The past winter and spring the disease took an agsavated form developing into dropsy of which he died.

Mr. Wiltse was a soldier of the Mexican war, and at the time of his death was receiving a small pension.

He leaves a wife and six children living to mourn his departure. Of a family of ten, only one survives him, and no two in the same graveyard. The funeral services were conducted at Herndon by Rev. McKee, of Traer, and was well attended. His son George - an old soldier like his father, but in a later war - of Montezuma, Iowa, arrived only a few hours after the interment. A good, kindly man has gone from among us, and the world is the poorer because of the passing of a noble soul. - Kansas Ex.

~Elkader Argus, August 16, 1893

*Herndon, Rawlins co. Kansas