R.P.S. NOTSON

NOTSON

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 8/30/2002 at 21:12:57

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, February l4, l924

'Early Sheriff of Decatur County Passes.'

R.P.S. NOTSON, one of the earliest settlers of this section, passed away at the extreme age of ninety-five years, at his home at Hamburg, Iowa, on January l4.

He came to Decatur County in l85l from Jefferson County, Iowa. He made his home on the farm now occupied by H.S. Gamet, just east of the college, before Lamoni was founded, where he lived until l874, when he moved to Fremont County, selling his farm to William Hopkins, father of W.A. Hopkins.

MR. NOTSON held the office of Sheriff of Decatur County in the early days and is said by friends to have been the first Sheriff ever elected in the county. He was engaged in the saw mill business and was prominent in building up the new county of pioneer days.

MR. NOTSON and wife had a large family of children who are remembered as schoolmates and playfellows by W.A. Hopkins, the Smith boys and other early settlers.

While living in the eastern part of the State, MR. NOTSON acted as host for a hunting party, a member of which was Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, afterwards, General of the southern forces during the Civil War.

A Hamburg Paper in printing his obituary adds the following eulogy:

"In the passing of this grand old man the entire community mourns. While he has not been active in life of the town for many years, yet the influence of his life and character have been actively at work, and will continue for long years to come. He was a pioneer in every sense of the word and with a wonderful character and sterling qualities he set about to make our county a place that his children could enjoy, with the advantages which he had been denied in taking up pioneer life."

--Lamoni Chronicle.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
August 29, 2002

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The Olathe Mirror
Olathe, Kansas
January 24, 1924, Page 2

R. P. S. NOTSON DEAD.

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Father of Our Charles Notson, of Stilwell, Was 95 Years Old.
At the age of almost ninety-five years, R. P. S. Norton was called to his home above on Monday morning [January 14, 1924] of this week. For many months he had been in failing health, and his death had been looked for at any time. The funeral service was held from the late home Wednesday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. J. H. Freedline, and interment was made in the Utterback cemetery. His grandsons, Dee, Ross and Neal Notson, Elsworth Shepherd, and R. R. Carson acted as pall bearers.

Mr. Notson was born in Marion county, Tennessee on April 24, 1829 and died at his home in Hamburg, on January 14, 1924, aged 95 years, eight months and 20 days. He came with his parents, in 1840 from Illinois to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river at Fort Madison by ferry. The family first located in Jefferson county and moved to Decatur county in 1851. It was while living in the eastern part of the state that Mr. Notson acted as host for a hunting party, one member of the party being Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, afterwards general of the southern forces during the Civil War.

Mr. Notson was engaged in the saw mill business for many years, and was prominent in the building up of the new country in which he had settled. He was sheriff of his county for one term, and also held other offices in the gift of the people.

After moving to Fremount county in 1874, he settled in Madison township and followed farming until his retirement some years ago. He was a charter member of th Madison M. E. church, in which he was an active member.

Mr. Notson was the oldest living Mason in the state of Iowa, both from years of membership and age. He was made a Master Mason in the Grand River lodge No 78 at Leon, Iowa, on April 18, 1856. In the same year he became a charter member of the Decatur lodge No. 109 at Decatur City, Iowa, and was the last charter member of that lodge to die. At the time of his death he was a member of the Mason lodge, at this place, who had charge of the service at the grave.

Mr. Notson was married to Miss Libbie (sic, Lydia) Rowell in 1848, she having died in 1862 (sic, 1863). Only one son, Henry, of Wellston, Okla., survives this union. He was married to Nancy Louise Edmonston at Decatur City, Iowa, June 8, 1964. To this union ten children were born. Mr. Notson is survived by his wife and the following children: Charles, of Stilwell, Kansas; Ed of Hepburn, Ore.; Lee of Gentry, Ark; Dr. Gerry Notson of Sioux City; Mrs. W. F. Harnley, of Sheridan, Wyo.; and Misses Jessie and Ruth Notson of this city. He also leaves thirty-six grandchildren.

In the passing of this grand old man the entire community mourn. While he has not been active in the life of the town for many years, yet the influence of his life and character have been actively at work, and will continue for long years to come. He was a pioneer in every sense of the word and with a wonderful character and sterling qualities he set about to make our country a place that his children could enjoy with the advantages which he had been denied in taking up the pioneer life.

~ The Hamburg Reporter.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2018