ALMON S. GARDNER

GARDNER, SIMPSON, MYERS, COX, STEWART, AKES

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 2/13/2010 at 14:57:38

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, March 5, 1914

A.S. GARDNER, one of the county's prominent and well known citizens died
very suddenly at his home southwest of Leon Wednesday afternoon of last week
The news of his death was a great shock to his many friends throughout the
county.

SHERM SIMPSON, Mr. GARDNER's hired man, was away at one of the neighbors
that afternoon and Mr. GARDNER had gone from the house to look after some
pigs, about a quarter of a mile west of his home. He was away longer than
Mrs. GARDNER and daughter, Miss NORA, thought necessary so Miss NORA
investigated and found her father lying in the snow, she ran to his side and
raised his head. He died in a few seconds after being found. Miss GARDNER
ran to the home for assistance but all of the men on adjoining farms were
away from home at the time. Several ladies hurried to the GARDNER home and
assisted in carrying the body to the house. The funeral services were held
Friday afternoon. A procession of buggies over a half mile in length
followed the remains from the home to the Leon Cemetery where the burial
took place.
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OBITUARY -- ALMON S. GARDNER

Mr. ALMON S. GARDNER was born in Rochester, Ohio, August 31, 1839. He died
at his home four and a half miles southwest of Leon on February 25, 1914,
being 74 years, five months and twenty-three days of age.

He came to Iowa with his mother and two brothers when about seventeen years
of age. They located on the farm where he still lived.

In December, 1867, he was married to Miss ANNA M. MYERS and to this union
were born four children; Mrs. GEORGE COX; Mrs. JOHN STEWART; Miss NORA and
FRANK. The latter preceding the father by 25 years.

They built their first house on the old home place residing there ever since
having the rare distinction of having spent their entire married life of 47
years in the one place.

He was indeed one of the hardy pioneers of Decatur County. He was a man of
strong convictions and having once decided as to what was right spent his
every energy to accomplish his object. In him the community found a useful
noble-hearted citizen, the wife a loving companion, the children a devoted
father.

He was a public spirited man, believing in the betterment of all conditions
relative to the world's uplift and happiness, often sacrificing his own
pleasure to bestow it upon others. When his country called for aid to
prevent the dividing of our nation he and his youngest brother quickly
volunteered and enlisted in the 34th Iowa Infantry. He served as a private
soldier but a short time when he proved of such sterling worth that he was
promoted to the position of first Lieutenant. He held this office until
finally on account of disability he was honorably discharged. He then
returned home to his widowed mother, and after regaining some of his health
again took up his old profession of teaching which he followed in the winter
farming in the summer, never in all losing sight of his dear old mother.
As teacher, he was known as one of Decatur County's best.

While we suffer the loss of our friend and neighbor, we know that he was the
ripe sheaf that was garnered with the full harvest. Besides his wife he
leaves four grandchildren, one niece, Mrs. JOHN AKES, and two nephews, BERT
and CHARLES GARDNER, to mourn his departure.

The funeral service was held at the home at 1:00 o'clock Friday, Feb. 27,
the service being in charge of Rev. Jas. W. Johnson, of the Leon Christian
Church, the burial being in the Leon Cemetery in charge of the local post of
the G.A.R.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
February 12, 2010
iggy29@grm.net