Hestwood, James Finley Rev. 1830 - 1908

HESTWOOD, FINLEY, JONES, STANLEY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 10/16/2019 at 11:27:10

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 06 Feb. 1908. Strawberry Point column.

Rev. James Finley Hestwood, of this city, passed away at his home Tuesday morning, Jan. 28th. Mr. Hestwood is one of the old pioneer ministers who has been working in all parts of eastern Iowa for more than fifty years and his absence will cause many hearts to ache at the thought that they will not see him among them more. The funeral was held from the Methodist church of this place Monday afternoon at one o'clock. Rev. Rogers, formerly pastor here and now a student at Northeastern University at Evanston, Ill., was in charge of the funeral, assisted by Rev. T. E. Fleming, of Manchester, and Rev. Guilbert, of this place. Following the services at the church, Strawberry Point lodge No. 1_0, A.F. & A.M. of which order he was Chaplain, took charge and under the beautiful services of their order consigned their beloved brother to his last resting place. James Finley Hestwood was born in Delaware county, Ohio, May 1st, 1830. He was one of a family of eight born to John and Alice Finley Hestwood. He was married at Eden, Delaware county, to Miss Catherine Jones and in a short time after their marriage they, with many others, journeyed toward the west. They stopped ay Sycamore, DeKalb county, Ill., for nearly a year and in the fall of 1850 they left that place and came to Mahaska county, Iowa, reaching here Oct. 20th, 1850. During the winter of 1850 the deceased was licensed as an exhorter. In February, 1851, Mr. Hestwood and his wife moved to Marshall county, staked out a claim and built a cabin on it. Mr. Hestwood was a member of the first grand jury in Marshall county. The grand jury room at that time was a piece of timber north of the cabin wherein court was held. In September, 1851, he was licensed as the first "local" in the county. During this time he walked on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays twelve to twenty miles each way to and from charges at what is now Eldora, and a settlement that was at one time an indian village. On Aug. 27, 1856, at Marion, Iowa, Rev. Hestwood assisted in organizing the first Upper Iowa Conference, of which he was a member until his death, a period of over 51 years. In 1862 he was bereft of his wife and a daughter, Mary Ann. In 1865, at North McGregor, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Susannah Stanley. In 1867 he was appointed to the charge of Strawberry Point. In 1871 he accepted the Elkader charge and while holding his charge here he also became a Royal Arch Mason, joining the Chapter at that place. In 1874 he again returned to Strawberry Point. In 1891 he retired from active duties and came to Strawberry Point to seek rest and quiet. His has been a life of most devoted service to all his earthly friends and to his Master.