DESMARIAS, Anthony 1830-1905

DESMARIAS, COWIE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/4/2010 at 22:54:01

Anthony Desmarias died at his home southwest of town Monday morning, April 24, 1905. The funeral took place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home conducted by Rev. G. H. Kennedy.

Anthony Desmarias was born in Yamaska county, Province of Quebec, Canada, in March 1830. He died at his home near Grundy Center, Iowa, the morning of April 24, 1905.

Although in failing health for more than a year he was confined to his room only about three weeks. His death resulted from a complications of diseases, the principal of which were heart trouble and paralysis of the muscles of the throat.

He left his Canadian home when eighteen years of age and moved to Winnebago County, Illinois. Was married in Pecatonica, Ill. to Martha Cowie, January 19, 1865. In 1872 he moved his family to Grundy County, Iowa, and settled on the farm then virgin prairie which has been the family home continuously since that time. He was a pioneer both in Illinois and Iowa and did his full share in common with the early settlers of both states by the exercise of tireless energy and ceaseless industry in transforming the uncultivated prairies into fruitful farms and comfortable homes.

Mr. Desmarias was blessed with a cheerful disposition and looked on the bright side of things even under depressing circumstances. He rarely complained during his long sickness but bore his afflictions with cheerful patience. Being of a kind and sympathetic nature it was always a pleasure to him to give assistance to those in distress or less fortunate than himself.

He was a modest and unassuming man and his rugged honesty and integrity were well known throughout the range of his acquaintance. He was an upright citizen and a good neighbor, but it was in his own home that his best qualities were exemplified. While interested in all public questions having a hearing on good citizenship he always gave to his family his best thought and best work.

Mr. and Mrs. Desmarias became members of the M. E. church of Grundy Center in 1879, and both have ever been consistent and exemplary Christians.

He leaves to mourn his death and revere his memory a faithful and loving wife, four sons and two daughters. The children are Edmund P.; John C.; Alexander S. ; Edith L. (Mrs. Charles W. Wilhelm); Mary O.; and Charles K. All of the family were present at the funeral except Ed and Alex who are residents of Meade County, Kansas. These sons came at the call of their father when he felt that the end was near and remained with him as long as they could be absent from their home, returned to Kansas a short time before his death.

The loving husband and father, kind friend and neighbor has gone from among us and we mourn, but not as those without hope. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

--The Grundy Republican, 27 April 1905