Alfonso Howard 1840 - 1928

HOWARD, KAPPES, ARMAGOST, CHAMBER, BOYER, BUSS

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 3/3/2011 at 14:41:13

Alfonso Howard, youngest son in a family of nine
children, son of Parker Howard and Louisa Boomer
Howard, was born at Lena, Illinois, January 8th, 1840
and died at the home of his daughters, Mrs. Charles
Kappes and Mrs. Valentine Kappes, 142 First Avenue,
N. W., Oelwein, Iowa, July 16, 1928 at the age of 88
years, 6 months and 8 days.
April 1st, 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss
Harriet Armagost. To this union were born four
daughters and one son. The son died in infancy. The
daughters are as follows, Mrs. Cora Chamber of
Chicago; Mrs. Edith Boyer, deceased March 12, 1918;
Mrs. Minnie Kappes and Mrs. Elta Kappes both of
Oelwein, Iowa.
Twenty-one years ago his wife preceeded him in death.
Following her death his daughter Edith returned to
the parental home and took care of him and proved to
a true companion to him. Following the daughter's
death her son continued the ministry of care and
comfort. But as old age came on and the infirmity of
practical blindness had been added to his years, last
years, last October he came to make his home with his
daughters and spend his closing days with them.
Apparently well on the day he died, he seemed slightly
indisposed and tired, he lay down to rest and when his
loved ones came to inquire about his comfort he had
passed on to the land beyond.
Mr. Howard spent his entire life in the place of his
birth and for 67 years lived on the same farm, part of
which his father had purchased from the government.
Mr. Howard was a man of inner integrity and honor.
He was of a jovial and kindly disposition. He had a
great love for boys and to more than one boy he
offered a home and a helping hand when in need. He
was a kind father and a good neighbor.
He leaves mourning his passing, the three daughters
mentioned above, four grandchildren, Mabel Buss of
Chicago, Howard Boyer of Lena, Ill., and Howard and
Harriet Kappes of Oelwein, Iowa, also two great grand-
children, T. C. Buss of Chicago and Robert Allen Boyer
of Lena, Ill., born since he came to Oelwein and whom
he longed to see, besides these a host of friends in his
old home he had gathered through the years.
Brief burial services were conducted at the home of his
daughters in Oelwein Tuesday, July 17th at 7:00 PM
by Rev. A. W. Henke, minister of Grace Methodist Church
and at his old home, Lena, Ill., Wednesday, July 18th
at 2:30 by Rev. Grenoble, pastor of the Lutheran Church.
Interment was made in the Louisa Cemetery near Lena,
Ill.

Oelwein Daily Register - 19 July 1928