Ira G.Willey 1857-1937

WILLEY, WILEY, TRIMBLE, MOORE, GEDDES, DAVIS, TAYLOR, ORRIS, HENDRICKSON, RANDALL, MCKEE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/21/2012 at 13:05:36

I.G. Willey of Gruver is Called
Well Known Farmer and Grain Dealer Had Been in Declining Health for Number of Years
Gruver mourns the passing of her best beloved and most substantial citizen, Ira G. Willey, Friday night, July 23. Mr. Wiley who was past 80 years old had been in declining health for about a year but was bedfast but five weeks. He was well known not only in his home town but in Estherville and over a large part of Emmet county having been in the grain business in Gruver and Estherville for 30 yars and previously had farmed in Ellsworth township since 1891. He retired from business ten years ago.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at two o’clock from the home at Gruver and at two thirty from the M.E. church in Estherville of which congregation the deceased man had been an active member. Rev. F.W. Ortmeyer of the local church was in charge assisted by Rev. R. Chandler Burton of the Gruver Community church.

Pall bearers were Andrew Brown, Chas. Higginbotham, John Blom, John Goldsberry, John Irwin and George Kenline. Interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Mr. Wiley was born Feb. 25, 1857 at Crawfordsville, Iowa, the oldest of fifteen children born to Wm. W. and Elisa Geddes Willey. Of the brothers and sisters eight survive, two sisters Mrs. Nell Orris of Long Beach, Calif. and Mrs. C.W. Hendrickson of Ainsworth, and six brothers, Frank of Long Beach, John W. of Omaha, O.S. of Cotter, Walter B. of Sibley, Charles and J. Harlan of Estherville.

On Jan. 30, 1884, Mr. Wiley was married to Miss Lillie Trimble at Ainsworth. Two daughters were born to them, Mrs. Pearl Davis of Albion, Wyo. and Mrs. Clayton Taylor of Hayfield.

In October 1891, the family moved to Ellsworth township, Emmet county, where a farm had been purchased. Mrs. Willey died there in June 1898. It was this time that Mr. Willey moved from the farm in to Gruver and entered the grain business. He was married in April 1910 to Mrs. Jennie Moore who passed away in August 1927 at Gruver.

Mr. Willey was cared for all during his last illness by his daughters.

Out of town relatives attending the funeral services Sunday were Mrs. C.W. Hendrickson of Ainsworth, J.W. Willey and son Earl of Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Wiley of Sibley, Duane Willey of Primghar, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Randall, and Mr. and Mrs. John McKee of Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Willey of Dunnell, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Guy Geddes, and Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Taylor of Hayfield. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, July 27, 1937)

County [Pioneer Dies]
Ira G. Willey was born at Crawfordsville, Ia., February 25th, 1857 and died at his home in Gruver July 23rd, 1937 at the age of 80 years and six months. He was the oldest child of William W. Willey and Ellen Geddes Willey, there being 13 children, three of whom died in infancy. One sister passed away when a young woman. Six brothers and two sisters survive.

He was married January 30th, 1884 to Miss Lillie Trimble at Ainsworth and their home was established in that locality. The family moved to their newly purchased farm in Ellsworth township in October, 1891 and Mr. Willey has since been a resident of this community. After leaving the farm he engaged in the grain business in Estherville and Gruver for 30 years, retiring to private life ten years ago.

Two Daughters
Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Willey and they were both with their father during the last week of his illness and did all that willing hands and loving care could do to make his last days free from pain. They are Mrs. Pearl Davis of Albin, Wyoming and Mrs. Clayton Trainor of Hayfield, Ia. The home was broken by the death of Mrs. Willey in June, 1898. Mr. Willey was married April 6th, 1910 to Mrs. Jennie Moore, she passing away August 25th, 1927 at their Gruver home.

Mr. Willey was a life long member of the Methodist church and was honorable in his dealings, many times giving financial aid to needy people.

He leaves to mourn his loss his two daughters, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Taylor, three grandsons, one granddaughter and one great grand daughter, his brothers John of Omaha, Neb., Sherman of Ainsworth, Ia., Frank of Long Beach, Calif., Walter of Sibley, Charles and Harlan of Estherville. The sisters are Mrs. Nellie Orvis of Long Beach, Calif., and Mrs. Charles Hendrickson of Ainsworth, Ia.

Funeral Services
The services were held in the Methodist church in Estherville Sunday afternoon, Rev. F. Ortmeyer and Rev. T.C. Burton of Gruver officiating. Burial was made in Oakhill cemetery in Estherville.

Among those present for the funeral were John W. Willey and son Earl of Omaha, Neb., Mrs. C.H. Hendrickson of Ainsworth, Ia., Mr. and Mr. Walter Willey of Sibley, Duane Willey of Primghar, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. James Willey of Dunnell, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Randall and Mr. and Mrs. John McKee of Spencer, Mrs. Rose Poole of Wells, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Guy Geddes, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Taylor and Maynard Taylor of Hayfield. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, July 29, 1937)