Amy Barber Rewey 1841-1923

REWEY, BARBER, OSBORNE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/10/2010 at 22:34:35

TWO DEATHS IN ONE FAMILY IN TWO DAYS
Brother and Sister Both Pass Away Suddenly
PIONEERS OF THIS COUNTY
George J. Barber and Mrs. Amy Rewey Are Called By Death to That Great Beyond
Two of the saddest deaths we have been called upon to chronicle for some time are those of George J. Barber and his sister, Mrs. Amy Rewey, who passed away in the same house on east Main street the first of the week. Mr. Barber died at 8:30 Sunday [February 18, 1923] morning and Mrs. Amy Rewey at 12:30 yesterday afternoon [February 20, 1923]. They were sick only about ten days, both dying of pneumonia. They were pioneer residents of Emmet County, coming here in 1862 and their residence here has been continuous since that time. They were children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barber and brother and sister of Chas. S. Barber, Elizabeth Barber and Albert Barber, now living in this city, and John, Warren and Milton Barber and Mrs. George Osborne, now deceased. They were two of the most highly respected citizens of this county and will be greatly missed by relatives and friends. They came here when it took courage and perseverance to remain in this country. It was when the Indians were massacring the settlers and they often related interesting happenings of frontier life In this community.

Double funeral services will be held in the Baptist church at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon when their pastor, Rev. J. R. Hurley, will preach the funeral sermon of these two beloved citizens. The remains will be placed side by side in Oak Hill cemetery. May they rest in peace. Geo. J. Barber was seventy-two years of age at the time of his death and Mrs. Rewey eighty-two years old.
(Estherville Democrat, Estherville, Iowa, February 23, 1923)

Pioneers Are Buried Same Hour
George Barber and Sister Pass to Their Reward
Homesteaded in Emmet
Came to This County with Parents in the Year 1982 [s/b 1862] From Wisconsin

George J. Barber, an aged pioneer of this county, passed away on Sunday [February 18, 1923] at the home of his sister, Mrs. Amy Rewey, who at the time was each hour not expected to live. She survived him only two days giving up the struggle in the unequal fight against pneumonia on Tuesday [February 20, 1923] afternoon. Both were aged, Mrs. Rewey being eighty-two years old, having been born at Barberville, Rhode Island on May 29, 1841, and the brother seventy-one years of age. He was born in Richmond, Wis., on June 7, 1852. Mrs. Rewey moved to this city about six years ago and made her home on East Main street. For about three years the brother had been staying with her. Two weeks ago both seemed to be in excellent health but were attacked by the flu, contracting pneumonia.

Joint funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at the Union Baptist church, of which both were members. Rev. Arthur Hurley will be in charge assisted by Rev. G. Voorhies of the Presbyterian church.

Both of these good people were among the homesteaders of the county. They came here with their father, Henry Barber, from Richmond, Wis., in 1862, and lived upon his homestead near Eagle Lake. In 1866, Miss Barber was united in marriage to Mr. Chester Rewey and they lived on a homestead in Emmet township that is now across the road from the Emmet Consolidated school, until Mr. Rewey’s death. Mrs. Rewey remained there six years longer before coming to this city. There were no children born to this union.

The brother George took a homestead in Emmet township just east of the river near the Emmet bridge and there made his home until coming here to make his last home with his sister. Mr. Barber was married but had no children.

Two brothers, Charles and Bert Barber both of Estherville, brothers of the deceased, are now the only surviving children of this pioneer family. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 28, 1923)

Two Pioneers Pass Away

Two pioneer residents, Geo. J. Barber and his sister, Mrs. Chester Rewey, passed away, the former on last Sunday between eight and nine o’clock and the latter Tuesday at noon. It was a strange and sad incident, the two passing away practically at the same time. Both are from one of the oldest and highly respected families in the county. Both were born in Richmond, Wis., the former on June 17, 1852 and the latter on May 29, 1841. They both came with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barber, from Richmond, Wis., to Emmet county and lived here on what is known as the old Ellis farm near Emmet bridge. Mr. Barber took the homestead still known as the Henry Barber place on the banks of Eagle Lake. They lived on the Ellis place for two years while they were building the home on the Homestead. In 1865 Miss Barber was united in marriage to Chester Rewey, and they also took up their abode here, and have been one of our pioneer families. Geo. Barber retired some time ago and resided with the Rewey family. Shortly after Mrs. Rewey became sick, Mr. Barber became ill, and he passed away first.

The funeral services will be held from the Mahlum and Anderson undertaking parlors at two o’clock Thursday and from the church at two thirty, the Rev. Hurley officiating. The remains will be laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, February 28, 1923)