Alfonzo Allen Wilcox 1846-1911

WILCOX, STAUFFER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/9/2011 at 00:16:44

Rev. A. A. Wilcox Passed Away Here Last Friday at 2 P.M.
Funeral Services Held Sunday
A.A. Wilcox passed away at his home in this city Friday [June 2, 1911] afternoon after an illness of a few days. Sunday preceding his death he was taken with a chill. Uremia set in and was the cause of his death. The funeral service was held from the M.E. church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Rev. W. J. Todd of Spirit Lake came over especially to assist in the funeral service. Rev. T. S. Bassett of Morningside College, Sioux City, rendering a fitting tribute. Rev. G. F. Whitfield preached the funeral sermon, and in his pleasing way told of the life service of Rev. Wilcox. Burial was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Alfonzo Allen Wilcox was born December 3, 1846 in Portland, Maine, and there he spent his early life. When seven years of age the family moved to Boston, where he lived until coming to Iowa in 1880. He was united in marriage to Miss Lavina Stauffer, October 4, 1883 at Hampton, Iowa. Ten children were born to this union; three died in infancy. The living children are Vashti, Rose, Earl, Millie, Harold, George and Beulah.

Mr. Wilcox was a veteran of the Civil War, having entered the U.S. Navy at Boston, February 28, 1864, and remaining until the close of the war, when he received an honorable discharge. He took great pride in his part in that war and was an enthusiastic member of the local G.A.R.

Mr. Wilcox became a minister after coming to Iowa, and was pastor at Whittemore, Wesley, Homer, Early and Rockwell City, becoming a Supernumerary in 1889 and a Superannuated in 1891. He was conscientious in the performance of every duty until death called him. The past few years he has been farming on the old home farm south of town. Last fall he embarked in the dray business and enjoyed an excellent business. He took special pride in satisfying his customers. In all Mr. Wilcox was a good man, and lived a life of usefulness.

The Enterprise joins in sympathy to the sorrowing wife and children. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, June 7, 1911)

Rev. A. A. Wilcox Dead
Rev. A. A. Wilcox died at his home on East Lincoln street Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock of uremic poison after an illness of only a few days. Funeral was held from the Methodist church Sunday afternoon and interment made in Oak Hill cemetery. Deceased was an old soldier of the civil war being in the navy department. He had lived in Emmet county for about fifteen years and until a few years ago was preaching the gospel under the Methodist denomination. He was an honest old gentleman, a hard worker and lived a Christian life the best he could. A wife, two sons and three daughters survive him. Suspicious circumstances leading up to his death caused an investigation and coroner’s inquest to be held over the body Sunday forenoon. The jury, however, which was made of A. A. Halleck, Norman Maine and Edwin Broms, brought in a verdict that deceased came to his death by natural causes and did not come to his death feloniously. The witnesses examined H. W. Mahlum, E. Rice , Dr. A. Anderson, C. I. Haynes, Jessie Biglow, Vashti Wilcox and Earl C. Wilcox. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 7, 1911)