STIRLING, Robert 1835-1898

STIRLING, STERLING, FELMLEY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2010 at 21:53:24

Obituary

Robert Stirling, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Beaver township, died at Independence, Iowa, July 1, 1898, his death being the result of a fall from a wagon onto the frozen ground Christmas, 1897. For some time after the injury he complained of severe pain in the head, and a few weeks before his death it became evident that his mind was affected. July 24 he was brought before the insane commissioners and was taken to the hospital at Independence for treatment, but died in less than one week. The postmortem showed that the membranous covering of the brain was ruptured and the brain grown fast to the skull, leaving no doubt that the injury alluded to was the cause of his trouble.

Robert Stirling was born in Kempsey, a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, and now a part of that city, December 25, 1835. His father died when Robert was six weeks of age. He moved with his mother to Lower Canada, near Montreal, in 1843. In 1849 he moved to Stephenson county, Ill., making his home with John Berry and after his death with his son, Samuel Berry, now of Blackhawk county, Iowa. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Co. F, 142nd Reg. Ill. Vol. infantry and was a faithful soldier in the service of his country. He came to Grundy county, Iowa, in 1865, and was married to Ellen Felmley June 12, 1869.

Deceased leaves a widow and eleven children, five sons and six daughters. One daughter died in infancy.

Mr. Stirling was an active, upright citizen, always interested in that pertaining to the welfare of the community. He held nearly all the township offices in succession and was school treasurer of the township for twenty-five years, holding that position at the time of his death, a silent tribute to his well-known honesty and integrity. He was a man of positive opinions and took a decided stand on all public questions. He was a very active supporter of prohibition and an ardent advocate of temperance. He took great pride in his ancestry and no doubt inherited many of his prominent characteristics from his sturdy Scotch forefathers. He was greatly respected by all who knew him and will be greatly missed by the few early settlers left behind.

The funeral services were held at 11 o'clock a.m. Sunday, July 3, at the Advent church, conducted by Rev. W. E. Ross, pastor of the M.E. church of New Hartford and Dairyville. The text was chosen from Isaiah 41:14 and the choir sang favorite pieces of the deceased. The body was laid at rest in the Fairfield cemetery, the services at the grave being conducted by the G.A.R. A large number of people gathered to pay their last respects to a kind friend and neighbor.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 July 1898, pg 5

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Robert Sterling, one of the old and respected farmers of Grundy county, near Dairyville, died on the 1st at the asylum at Independence, says the Cedar Falls Gazette. Last winter Mr. Sterling fell from a load of hay and injured his spine. More recently his mind became affected as a result of his injuries and he was taken to the asylum where he grew worse. He was one of the most worthy and reliable farmers in that part of Grundy county. His body was brought to the home and funeral services were held on Sabbath July 3d at the Advent church three miles southwest of New Hartford, conducted by Elder Stewart of Waterloo. A large number of his neighbors and friends attended.

--Waterloo Semi-Weekly Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 8 July 1898