Laura (Spencer) Shannon

SHANNON, SPENCER, FOURT

Posted By: Constance, IAGenWeb Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/12/2016 at 16:05:26

The West Union Gazette
West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
December 30, 1904
Page 1, column five

WAUCOMA.
Death of Mrs. Shannon
Laura Spencer, wife of the late Janius W. Shannon, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Frank Fourt, in this city Sunday morning. Death came from pneumonia, after an illness of less than a week. Mrs. Shannon was born at Nunda, N.Y., Oct. 3, 1830, and came to Fayette county, Iowa, with her parents in 1854. She was married there in 1859 to J. W. Shannon , who died in this city in April, 1899. They were the parents of four children only two of whom are now living, E S. Shannon of Hawarden and Mrs. Frank Fourt of this city. Mrs. Shannon bad been a member of the Episcopal church since early womanhood . She was a woman of education and refinement and with literary tastes. During her residence in this city age and its infirmities had prevented a wide acquaintance, but those who knew her held her in high esteem. Funeral services were held in this city Monday afternoon, in charge of Rev . H. O. Spelman.

The Shannons were members of one of the well known newspaper families of Iowa. Mr. Shannon came to this state from Sterling, III., in 1857 and at once engaged in newspaper work. In I867, with O.H. Talmadge, he founded The West Union GAZETTE, one of the best known publications in northeastern Iowa. In the '70's he went to South Dakota and was engaged in newspaper work there for several years. He and his wife came to this city in 1897, near the close of a long and useful life, and made their home with Mrs. Fourt until death claimed both of them —Fairfield Ledger