John F. Hewlett

HEWLETT, BINNING, BAKER

Posted By: KEN BAKER (email)
Date: 9/15/2018 at 13:43:36

JOHN HEWLETT, son of WM. and MARY [Ann Binning] HEWLETT, was born June 25, 1857, near
Auborn, New York. His parents were from Somersetshire, England. He was the second in a
family of nine children. While quite young, he came with his parents from New York State to
Iowa, settling in Delaware County. When he had reached the age of 12, his father died, and
from that time there evolved upon him as a young boy the management of the farm on which
they lived.

It was on Sept. 16th, l873, that he was married to MISS ELIZABETH BAKER, and after they
had spent a couple of years in Delaware County, they finally established their home on the
farm in Decatur County, southeast of Grand River, where they lived without change until
moving to town some eleven years ago.

In l877, Rev. Geo. Mitchell, the Methodist Pastor, held a meeting at the Anstey School
House, and in this meeting, Brother HEWLETT gave his heart to Jesus Christ, uniting with the
Methodist Church. In those days there was no Methodist Church in Grand River, Grand River
as a town was yet in its beginning. The Methodist Church was a school house circuit
surrounding the town. For several years Brother HEWLETT was Supt. of the Sunday School
at the school house, and has ever been one of the staunchest supporters of the local church
enterprises. He had an active part in the building of the Methodist Church, has served
continuously since its erection on the Board of Trustees and has been one of its most
dependable workers. His special interest has always been the upkeep of the church property,
sparing neither pains nor gifts for this end.

Into Brother HEWLETT's home came three children: WILLIAM, ARTHUR E., and ANNA
BELLE, the two youngest dying in infancy. After an illness very brief, but intensely severe, he
passed into the presence of his Master, Sunday evening, Nov. 5th at the very moment when
the congregation of the church he loved was singing the opening hymn of the evening service.