John Oliver Blagg 1868-1954

BLAGG, COLE, HAYWOOD, DUNMIRE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/17/2010 at 22:14:25

John Blagg, Well-Known Farmer, Dies
John Blagg, 86, well known Emmet county farmer of the Gruver vicinity, died at about 11 a.m. today at Holy Family hospital. He had been in poor health for some time.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 3 p.m. at the Methodist church with Rev. Harrison G. Dawes officiating.

A more complete obituary will be published in Monday’s Daily News. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 31, 1954)

Rites for John Blagg Held Today
Funeral services were held this afternoon for John Blagg, 86, prominent Center township farmer, who died Thursday morning. Last rites were held at the Methodist church with the Rev. Harrison G. Dawes officiating. Pallbearers were Hogan Hoganson, Carl Ahrens, William Ramsey, George Chipman, Jens Christensen, and Jno. Greig.

Mr. Blagg, the son of John and Fanny Blagg, was born May 16, 1868 at Clarborough, near Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. He attended English public schools and was confirmed in the Episcopal church.

Shortly before he was 19 he arrived in the United States, having worked for his passage by caring for horses. He found work in Winona, Ill., in the stables of horse importers. He was married at Winona, Ill., in March, 1892, to Miss Kate Cole of South Moulton, Devonshire, England. That spring they moved to a farm near Libertyville, Ia.

Mr. Blagg came to Emmet county in 1896 and lived on the same farm in Center township until 1922 when he moved to his own farm. However, he continued to manage the farm until a few years ago.

Mr. Blagg was a charter member of the Emmet County Farm Bureau, a longtime member of the First Methodist church in Estherville and a faithful attendant at Rotary so long as his health permitted.

He is survived by one son, Walter Blagg, and one daughter, Mrs. Howard Haywood, both of near Estherville; four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one brother, Tom, in Grimsley, England.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1931, a daughter, Mrs. Maurice Dunmire in 1935; his parents, three brothers and one sister, all of whom lived in England except for one brother, George, who for many years was a Methodist minister in the Ottumwa district.

Mr. Blagg was always greatly interested in affairs of his community and took active part in them. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 3, 1955)