Gilbert Decator Torrey, 1847-1928

TORREY, TURNER, SCHEMEL, CRAUMER, ADAMS

Posted By: Constance Diamond (email)
Date: 9/4/2015 at 11:15:28

The Oelwein Daily Register
Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa
Friday, 19 April 1928
Page 6, column one-three

RANDALIA NEWS.

Obituary -- Gilbert Decator Torrey was born in Rubicon, near Hartford, Dodge Co., Wisconsin, Sept. 5th, 1847. Here he grew to manhood. His occupation was, a farmer. In 1854 though not yet seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Civil war in the third Wisconsin Infantry, joining his regiment at Atlanta, Ga., and was with General Sherman in his memorable march to the sea. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, and joined his father's family on a farm in Auburn, Fondulac Co., Wisconsin, where his father had moved. Later they moved to Fayette County, Iowa, settling on a farm near West Union, Ia. On March 2nd 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Sara Turner of Randalia, Ia. Soon after their marriage they homesteaded a farm in the north west part of Iowa but the grasshoppers were so numerous and destructive, taking five crops out of eight; that he became discouraged and moved back to Fayette county, and purchasing a farm about one mile north of Randalia, Ia., where with the exception of seven years spent in Texas, he has resided in or near Randalia until his death. After a brief illness of hardening of the arteries he passed away April 9th, 1928, aged eighty years, seven months and four days.

He was one of the oldest members of the I.O.O.F No. 177 of Randalia, also of the G.A.R. as long as the post kept up. When the post disbanded he joined the department and continued a member until his death, then answered the roll call in heaven. He also was a member of the local M.E. church.

He leaves to mourn his loss his aged wife by whose side for more than fifty-five years he has walked and toiled and saved. Also three nieces, Mrs. Della Schemel of Eddy, Okla., Mrs. Belle Craumer of Wakita, Okla., and Miss Hattie Adams of Green City, Mo., besides a host of friends and neighbors who will miss he genile smile. But our loss is Heaven's gain. Funeral services were held at the church Wednesday at two o'clock conducted by the pastor Rev. Chas. E. Dunlevy. A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Herman Hospfuer, Mrs. N.D. Holmes, Ralph Pearson and John Schmidt sang "Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown", "Garden of God and Rock" and "Rock of Ages" with Mrs. F.D. Turner pianist. The flowers were cared for by Mrs.D.J. Knight and Mrs. Harry Bennett.

The town and school flags floated at half mast throughout the day Wednesday, in honor of the aged veteran. The Woman's Relief Corps, American Legion and Auxiliary attended the funeral in a body. School was dismissed and the facility and entire student body, with flags, marched to the church, and formed ranks out side, through which the basket was borne by the bearers D.N. Holmes, C.B. Heyer, W.C. Wells, S. W. Rubyor, and Dan Pritchard, all brother Odd-Fellows. Burial was made in the Dunham Grove cemetery.