ELDER, Thomas (1854-1936)

ELDER, BONSOLL, HEWITT, WHITE, FRY, WARD, JOHNSON

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society (email)
Date: 1/1/2019 at 17:10:00

Thomas Elder

Thomas Elder was born August 31, 1854 in Pennsylvania. He was the third of a family of four children born to George W. and Emily Bonsoll Elder. At the age of 10 he migrated with his parents to Hancock county, Iowa. This was in 1864, just after the Civil War. They were among the first settlers in this county and selected a farm in Avery Township near the river where they would be sure to have water to drink and where they had timber to build the log house and where there would be plenty of fuel. This farm is now occupied by the Harry Trumbell family near Goodell.

It was the next spring after Elders arrived, that a covered wagon with a family of emigrants camped for the night in their grove. The wife of this family took sick and died. There was no cemetery at that time in Hancock county, so they buried the young mother on a knoll on this Elder farm. The Elders planted a spray of "Live Forever" over her grave, which has for these 70 years grown green each spring to mark her resting place.

Here Mr. Elder grew to manhood. He attended such schools as the community provided and at the age of 21, became a teacher and taught in the schools of Hancock county for four winters.

In April 1874 Thomas Elder and Charlotte Hewitt, a daughter of Joseph Hewitt, one of the first two settlers of the Clear Lake territory were married. To this union were born four daughters, Ethel, Nora, Agnes and Evelyn.

In 1879 Mr. Elder purchased the General store in the Village of Amsterdam at that time known as Upper Grove. His store was located just east of the river bridge. He was also postmaster and his store was a busy place until the B. C. R. & N. railroad came through and missed his town. The family lived in the house now owned by F. A. Gee. He then moved to Belmond where he owned and operated a creamery for several years. In the spring of 1909 he purchased the Klemme hotel, which the family operated for five years. While living in Klemme he was a member of the school board. He was an intelligent man and kindhearted. In his school work was forward looking and progressive. He traded his hotel for a ranch in Bennett, Colo., living there the past 20 years. He was occupied there in buying and selling real estate.

He was a member of the Masonic lodge, having joined at Eagle Grove.

Mr. Elder died of heart failure, Monday, January 27, at the home in Bennett, having reached the age of 81 years, 4 month and 27 days.

He leaves to mourn his going, his wife and four daughters, Mrs. Ollie White of Goodell; Mrs. James Fry, Bennett, Colo.; Mrs. Frank Ward, Bennett, and Mrs. H. N. Johnson, Panama Canal Zone; seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, who are Loretta and Thomas White of near Goodell. Four brothers, Walter Elder, Renwick; James Elder, Madison Wis.; Newt Elder.

source: jbscrapbook