John M. Inman 1817-1902

INMAN, LAWRENCE, HIBBARD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/27/2011 at 19:29:00

J. M. Inman Dead
Died at the Home of His Son, Geo. W. Inman
Mr. J. M. Inman was born in Delaware county, New York, March 8, 1817, and died at the home of his son, Geo. W. Inman, October 11, 1902, aged 85 years, 7 months and 3 days.

In 1830 he was married to Malvina Lawrence, who died in June 1848. He was married again in 1851 to Mrs. Susan Hibbard who died December 13, 1892.

Mr. Inman moved from New York to Freeport, Illinois, in 1841, and to Vinton, Iowa, in 1854. In 1879 he moved to Worth county to live with his son Geo. W. Inman, with whom he has resided until the present, with the exception of four years, spent with Mr. and Mrs. E. Hibbard in Estherville.

He has been a member of the Methodist and other churches, for fifty-eight years and of the Masonic order since 1869. He took to his bed in November, 1900, having left it but once during the long years of his illness. Through all his suffering he was most patient never uttering a word of complaint. Loved and honored by all who knew him, he passed to be with Jesus, who was his friend through life.

He leaves three sons, Charles Inman, of Cedar Rapids, Henry Inman, of Olympia, Washington, and George Inman, of Estherville.

He was a prominent figure in the early history of Benton county having been appointed commissioner to organize the township of Eden in said county. He also held high country offices which he filled with faithfulness and great acceptability. “Diligent in business,” he acquired large properties in different parts of Iowa and California. He never forgot God’s cause which is the cause of humanity and in the early days of Iowa, when money meant so much to the incoming settlers, he gave the land for a church and furnished most of the money for its building. He and the Vinton Eagle began business in Iowa in 1853, the same year, and he has taken that paper to the day of his death.

Nearly all of the notable characters of eastern Iowa early history, with whom he was identified, have passed on before him, and he stood like some giant oak of the forest, battling the storms along, its companions having fallen.

He rests in peace and the good influences set in motion by him in his life will increase, and “The being dead will yet speak.”

Short funeral services were conducted at the home by Rev. Ginn and the body was taken to Vinton, where the interment will take place. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, October 15, 1902)