George W. Canon, 1865-1929

CANON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/27/2009 at 15:35:22

Resident of County Fifty-six Years Dies

George W. Canon, who has been a resident of this community for more than 56 years, passed away at his home in Armstrong early Sunday morning. Mr. Canon had been ill from influenza and heart trouble for a few weeks and about two weeks ago suffered a paralytic stroke. His condition from that time grew gradually weaker until death came. Mr. Canon has been active in local affairs and at the time of his death held the position of town assessor, secretary of the Farmers Elevator, secretary of the school board, secretary of the Masonic Lodge and was driver of one of the school busses.

George W. Canon was born in the village of Fremont, Sullivan County, New York, June 30, 1865. He was of a family of ten children born to Cornelius and Ruth Wood Canon. When about two years of age he moved with his parents to Illinois where the family resided until he was about seven years of age, when they moved to Iowa and settled on a farm a short distance east of where the town of Armstrong now is. Here he spent his childhood days and attended the country schools, later attending and graduating from Estherville High School.

On July 4, 1890 he was married to Victoria Horswell who survives him. With the exception of one year when they lived near Woodstock, Minnesota they have spent their entire married life in this community.

Coming here in an early day Mr. Canon shared the experience common to all the pioneers, and has seen the country develop from the time it was nothing but a prairie with here and there a small settlement to what it is today. He has been interested in the growth of both the farming community and the town. He spent several years on farms near here and was the manager for Smith Wright & Son in the town of Armstrong for six or seven years. About fifteen years ago he built the house where he and his wife have since made their home and during that time has been engaged in various lines of work.

Mr. Canon was a member of the board of education several years. He was a member of the board at the time the present school building was erected. He was an active member of Emmet Lodge No. 533 A.F. & A.M. and held many of the offices, being Worshipful Master in 1916 and secretary for the last twelve years.

He passed away at his home in Armstrong on January 20, 1929, at the age of 63 years, 6 months and 20 days. Surviving him are his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Glen Finger, of St. Paul, Minn.; one grandson, one sister, Mrs. Winifred Clark, of Holyoke, Colo.; two brothers, Rev. Cornelius Canon, of Browerville, Minn. and Aura Canon, of Armstrong, besides many other relatives and friends. He was a kindly neighbor and loyal friend and will be greatly missed both in the home and by those with whom he came in contact.

Funeral services were held in the opera house in charge of the Rev. C.D. Mitchell of the M.E. Church, a large audience attending to pay their respects to his memory. The brothers of the Masonic fraternity had charge of the interment services at the grave in the Armstrong cemetery.

Relatives from out of town attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Glen Finger and son, St. Paul, Minn.; Mrs. Ben Canon, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mrs. Chas. Murtagh, Algona, Ia.; R.I. Cratty, Ames, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Horswell and family, of Graettinger, Ia.

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT

In memory of Brother George W. Canon who died January 20, 1929.

Once again a Brother Mason, having completed the designs written for him on life's trestle board, has passed through the portals of Eternity and entered the Grand Lodge of the New Jerusalem and hath received as his reward, the white stone with the new name written thereon.

And whereas, the all-wise and merciful Master of the universe has called from labor to refreshment our beloved and respected brother, and he having been a true and faithful member of our beloved order, therefore be it

Resolved, that Emmet Lodge, No. 533, F. & A. M. of Armstrong, Ia., in testimony of her loss, be draped in mourning for thirty days, and that we tender to the family of our deceased brother our sincere condolence in their deep affliction and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family. --Wallace Richmond, Otto Severson, Toy E. Haworth, committee.

Contributed by: Sue Olson. Source: unknown, probably Armstrong newspaper.