Mudgett, John J. 1805-1895

MUDGETT, SMITH, PHILLIPS, DEARINGER

Posted By: Barb Hoover (email)
Date: 7/29/2006 at 19:41:16

Newton (IA) Daily News, August 1895

John J. Mudgett was born in the state of Maine, Oct. 2, 1805. He moved to New York when thirteen years of age. He was married to Harriett Smith Aug. 12, 1832. The come to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi at Ft. Madison, in 1839, and settled in Jasper County in 1844. Since Mrs. Mudgett’s death, ten years ago, he has lived with his children. He was a member of the United Brethren church for a number of years and later of the Evangelical church. He died August 1, at his son’s near Galesburg, at the ripe old age of 90 years and ten months. He said before he died, “Why should I want to live, I have lived longer than my allotted time.”

About two months ago, he came from Hull, Sioux county, where he had been with his daughter, Mrs. Eliza Dearinger, traveling alone on the home journey. He has failed rapidly, but had only been worse since the Sunday before his death. It seemed he came home to die.

His funeral was preached at Mt. Zion by Rev. D. Phillips, to a large congregation of friends and neighbors. He was laid beside his wife in the Mt. Zion cemetery.