HENRY STANLEY

STANLEY, VANCE, LUNBECK, MCCONNELL, OTTO, BRIMMER, MORRISON, BAIR, BOWERMAN

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 5/9/2002 at 21:50:02

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, February 24, l92l

The death of HENRY STANLEY, a pioneer of Iowa, marks the passing of an early settler of Decatur County, who came to this state when it was only a vast expanse of prairie. In what marked contrast with the splendid improvement of today were the surroundings to which he came just about sixty-two years ago. When he and his brother, CHANCEY, emigrated from Pennsylvania in their covered wagon, they found this country abounding with prairie chickens, deer, wild turkeys, and Indians who came to sharpen their tomahawks on his grindstone. The smoke from their fire was the only one which rose against the sky, their only neighbors living three miles away. At one time he and his brother lived on potatoes for three weeks when they obtained a bushel of corn, which the subject of this sketch carried to the Funktown Mill, five miles away. Longing for a letter from home he walked many times to his nearest post office at what is known as the Blackamore corner.
In the pioneer days when the settlers sold their hogs they had to walk and drive them to Ottumwa to market. The buyers would hire the settlers to drive the hogs at the rate of forty cents each a day, allowing three days for the return trip. In the winter of l859-60, he and his brother worked in the timber the entire winter with the exception of three days splitting rails to fence forty acres of land. Then in a few years the fence was consumed by a prairie fire and had to be replaced.

HENRY STANLEY was born in Crawford County, Penna., Dec. 27th, l836, and died Feb. l8th, l92l, at the age of 84 years, one month and twenty-two days, at his home, where he settled about sixty-two years ago in Grand River Township, Decatur County, Iowa. He was married to HANNAH ELIZA VANCE, December l9th, l860. To this union were born nine children: MARY, who died in infancy; MRS. EMMA LUNBECK, who died in l896, and MRS. BERTHA MCCONNELL, who died in l909. The surviving children are L.W. STANLEY of DeBeque, Colo.; W.B. STANLEY, of Lamoni; MRS. WM. OTTO, of Beaconsfield; MRS. IDA BRIMMER, of Creston; MRS. J.B. MORRISON, of Des Moines and S.C. STANLEY, who resides on his father's farm. His wife preceded him in death, May 29th, l905. Besides his children he leaves two brothers, CHANCEY STANLEY, of Lacona; EUGENE STANLEY, of Venita, Oklahoma, two sisters, MRS. VIOLA BAIR, of Des Moines, and MRS. JULIA BOWERMAN, of Mitchell, South Dakota; fifteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

In l863 he became a member of the Masonic Order at Decatur City and later transferred his membership to the Masonic Order at Grand River. Firmly believing in the principles of Masonry, he lived true and faithful to its teachings, being an honored member, holding some of the important offices, and was always found at his post in the Lodge room. Many times he requested his children to have him buried by the Masonic Order. He has been an invalid in mind and body for eleven years.
During this time, he was tenderly cared for by his son, SELBY and wife, who did all that kind hands could do. Now his chair is vacant and he has gone to meet the loved ones gone before.

Short funeral services were held at the home, conducted by the Masonic Order and he was laid at rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery by the side of his wife.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
List Administrator; Decatur County, Iowa GenWeb
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu
May 9, 2002