Eyer, David (1827-1920)

EYER, HELLEN, ROSSITER, COUNTS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 9/22/2016 at 11:25:33

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Wednesday, June 2, 1920

DAVID EYER PASSED AWAY

Aged Pioneer Resident of Webster City Dies in Des Moines at Daughter's Home.

WAS 93 YEARS OLD

Funeral Services at the Congregational Church in This City.

David Eyer, aged 93 years, and a widely known pioneer settler of Webster City, died last evening at 5:30 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C.D. Hellen and husband, in Des Moines. Mr. Eyer came to Webster City in 1858 and lived here until five and a half years ago when he and his wife moved to Des Moines to live with their daughter and husband. Troubles incident to old age caused his passing. The body will be brought here and the funeral held at the Congregational church tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Metcalf.

Mr. Eyer is survived by his wife, aged 86, and the one daughter, Mrs. Hellen. Mrs. Eyer is very feeble, so feeble that last night she did not even know of the death of her husband. Her passing would not be unexpected at any time, Miss Bessie Counts, a granddaughter of Mr. Eyer, also lives at the Hellen home and she and Mrs. Hellen have been untiring in the care given both Mr. and Mrs. Eyer.

For many years Mr. Eyer was in the grocery business here with H. A. Crandall. In the city's pioneer days he was one of its most active citizens and took a large part in its upbuilding and the early settlement of the country hereabouts. Likewise he was prominent in the Congregational church, devout in his belief and very regular in his attendance upon all its functions. He will be widely remembered, especially by the city's older residents.

It was during the pioneer epoch of Hamilton county, away back in 1858, that David Eyer made his way to this state. He found a region wild and unimproved. The prairie stretched away for miles and miles and the traveler could ride in any direction, his progress unimpeded by fence or building. The land, however, was rich and the country afforded excellent opportunities to the agriculturist. In time, this became recognized by men who sought home in the west for their families. Great transformation has been wrought, the great prairie has been made to bloom and blossom as the rose, the whole district is now peopled by a happy and prosperous population, and in the cities and towns are all the industries and commercial interests which contribute to business activity and prosperity. All this has been the work of an energetic, enterprising citizenship. Mr. Eyer must always be counted among those who contributed his full share to the general improvement and the upbuilding of this community in the days when it was young. He arrived in Iowa in 1857, settling at Ottumwa, where he remained a year. In 1858 he came to Webster City and he and his wife lived here continuously from that time until some five and a half years ago when they moved to Des Moines to make their home with their daughter, Mrs. C. D. Hellen and husband.

Mr. Eyer was born in Miami county, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1827, and comes of good revolutionary stock, his grandfather having been one of the heroes who fought for the independence of the nation when the yoke of British tyranny became unendurable. He was one of a family of nine children.

The common school system of his native state afforded to David Eyer the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth, and which fitted him for the practical and responsible duties of life. He early learned the carpenter's trade and followed it continuously for thirty years. In 1877 he engaged in the grocery business, and continued in that business for twenty-four years, retiring in 1901.

In his early manhood he sought a companion and helpmeet for life's journey, being married in Ohio on Jan. 15, 1857, to Mary A. Rossiter, whose birth occurred in Miami county, Ohio, in 1835.

In the same year of his marriage, Mr. Eyer started with his bride in a party of four and drove by team from Ohio to Ottumwa, Iowa, the trip consuming twenty-one days, and during that period the sun shone but one day. At length they reached their destination, and from that time until the present have been honored and valued residents of the Hawkeye state.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Eyer belonged to the Congregational church and for many years he served as deacon. Both were active church workers, doing everything in their power to promote the cause of Christianity among their fellow men. Mrs. Eyer has been a life member of the home missionary society through a long period, being one of the organizers of it, and for forty years has been a teacher in the Sunday school. As a supporter of the Republican party, Mr. Eyer was equally loyal, and for a number of years he served as a member of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. No history of Hamilton county would be complete without mention of this worthy couple, who are so closely associated with all that lends to the upbuilding and development of this portion of the state.

Mr. Eyer became the owner of considerable land, but had disposed of much of his property so that he need not have the care of it in his declining years. A career honorable and upright made him respected wherever known.