Walter A. Richmond, 1871-1950

RICHMOND

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/10/2009 at 06:43:34

Services Held For Pioneer Resident Last Friday [JMR: 24 November 1950]

Funeral services were held for Walter A. Richmond Friday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m., from the First Presbyterian church with the Rev. Russell Nelson officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. C.I. Smith pianist, and Mrs. Clifford Henrikson and Harold Horswell, vocalists. Interment was in Armstrong Grove cemetery.

Walter Adam Richmond was born in a log cabin on the old Richmond farm southeast of Armstrong, on April 25, 1871, the second son of Matthew and Margaret Cavers Richmond. At the time of his death he was 79 years, 6 months, and 27 days of age.

His parents came from Galt, Ontario, in Canada to this community in October, 1868 and established their home along the Des Moines river in the southeast corner of Armstrong Grove township.

It was here that he grew to manhood and lived for 70 years of a well spent lifetime, before moving to his Bonnie Brae farm south of Armstrong. He retired from active farming in the spring of 1948 and moved to his home here in Armstrong. But his heart was always attached to the farm and hardly a day passed by that he didn't drive out to see his sons and help them with their farming operations. It can be truly said that he was a "born farmer".

In early boyhood he united with the Presbyterian church.

He attended the old district school which was located on the old Hackerson homestead southeast of town, finishing his schooling at the old Algona Normal in Algona, before teaching one year at the Burt district school three miles southeast of Armstrong. When the railroad was built into Armstrong in the summer of 1892, he started a general merchandise store in this booming new town, the the same building now occupied by Snyder's grocery. He remained in business until 1895 when he took over the farming on the old home farm.

On March 31, 1897, he was united in marriage with Grace Clark of Armstrong. Three sons were born to this happy union, Wallace, Wayne and Wilbert, all of Armstrong. It was their rare privilege to celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary on March 31, 1947.

Besides his wife and three sons he is survived by his brother, John, of Portland, Ore., 12 grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. His parents, three sisters, Jeanette Richmond Gibbs, Anna Richmond Dows and Robina and his oldest brother, William have preceded him in death.

He was a kind and loving husband and father, always having the welfare of his family foremost in his thoughts. Always a man of fine character and integrity, his passing leaves a place in his home and community which can never be filled.

Those from out-of-town attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Champine, Mrs. Rena Follett, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pruell, Sr., Dick Pruell and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Maday, Ceylon; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Intlekofer and Mrs. and Mrs. C.H. Pruell, Granada, Minn; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Intlekofer, Fairmont; Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Shoen, Truman; and Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Blanchard, Lone Rock.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Knudson and Mrs. Kenneth Knudson, Williams; Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bieber, Strawberry Point; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Bieber, New Hampton; Mrs. William Tully, Lansing; Mrs. Blanche Clark and Beverly, Miss Dorothy Fear: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Smith, Mrs. Maude Law and William S. Johnston, Estherville; Mrs. Alvena Whitted and Miss Hazel Tice, Monroe, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nelsen, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Godfredsen and Mr. Christensen, Ringsted.

Contributed by: James Richmond. Source: Unknown, but probably the Armstrong Journal, Armstrong, Iowa, November 1950.