Joseph Short, 1810-1891

ARMSTRONG, CHANDLER, HARSHBARGER, SHORT

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 4/30/2008 at 19:53:31

PASSED ON.

Joseph Short was born in Mifflin Co., Pennsylvania, November 23, 1810, and died in Mt. Pleasant Iowa, February 19, 1891, in the 81st year of his age.

The experiences of his early life were such as proved the qualities of the man in later life. His father's family moving to Ohio when he was ten years of age the life was essentially a pioneer one. One of a large family, at the age of sixteen he started out with a sixpence in his pocket, one pair of tow and linen home made pants, and a change of the same kind of material in shirts, to begin life for himself driving a canal boat, literally a barefooted boy. His first money was spent for shoes; his succeeding earnings except what was necessary expenses, along with his brothers, were devoted to paying for the home farm and adding to its comforts.

In 1840 having secured by steady industry and economy, a start for the then long, perilous and trying pioneer journey, he came to Iowa and located near Lowell in this county, where he lived two years, when he moved to the farm near Oakland Mills which he occupied from that time until his death.

He was married to Lydia M. Chandler July 2, 1844. Three children were born to them. The oldest, as son, dying in infancy; the two remaining being daughters; the elder, Lou, the wife of Marcellus Armstrong and Clara, the wife of Wm. Harshbarger.

Truly "an honest man is the noblest work of God." Joseph Short was not only an honest man, and true, but was a loving husband, tender father, faithful friend, good neighbor and an intelligent and upright citizen. During his sickness his wide circle of friends and neighbors did all that friends can do to express sympathy and appreciation.

During the last years of his life he was a great sufferer from a variety of physical infirmities, but he bore all with the fortitude of which human nature is capable.

The last few days were days of extra-ordinary suffering; but those in attendance will long remember the oft repeated words, "It is all right yes it is all right, I am anxious to go, for there is something better for me on the spiritual side of life."

He was perfectly conscious that his last earthly hour was at hand and welcomed death as deliverance from pain and freedom to know more and more of spiritual things.

To him, there was in belief, no separateness in spirit from loved ones because of dissolution. To him love was immortal and divine; to him death was not leaving life, only changing, preceding, going before, into the realm of that Invisible Presence which is the only Life.

Seldom do "those walking through the valley of the shadow" "fear" so little "evil". "Surely goodness and mercy followed" him for he believed that he should "dwell in the house of the Lord forever".

The funeral on Saturday was largely attended by friends and neighbors. His remains were laid to rest in Forest Home Cemetery near this city.

"Free Press", Thursday, 26 February 1891, Page 3.