Earley, George G. 1841-1914

EARLEY, BURKE, ASHING, VAN HOESEN, MCLAIN, HOLMES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/9/2010 at 09:15:57

Death of George G. Earley
Passed Away at Noon Sunday

A Veteran Soldier, an Honest Upright Citizen, Respected and Esteemed By all Who Knew Him

George G. Earley passed peacefully away, just about the noon hour of last Sunday, January 4, at the home of his son Ernest L. Earley-his age being 71 years and nearly 5 months. While the news of his death touched a tender chord in the hearts of hundreds of friends, throughout the county, there was no “moaning at the bar as he passed out to sea;” the old veteran had fought a good fight, and after a long illness which had slowly but surely worn his life away, he had but sank into a sweet sleep to open his eyes in the “Beautiful Morn,” to meet those of his loved ones, who had been waiting for him on the other bright shore.

George G. Earley was born in Franklin County, New York, October 11, 1841. His youth was spent in Morrow County, same state, where in response to Lincoln’s first call for troops in 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 3d Ohio Infantry, in which he participated in several of the greatest battles of the war, and was taken prisoner at Stone River in January, 1863, being in rebel prisons for several months. He afterward served for over a year in the 187th Ohio.

Soon after the war he came Iowa, ad in 1872 settled in Jasper County-on a farm in Palo Alto Township, where he remained until 1888, when he moved into Newton. For 4 years he was in the grocery business with J. W. McLaughlin, but afterward dealt in real estate, being associated with the late William Hill for several years, and afterward with his son, E. L. Earley.

Mr. Earley had been married twice, to Martha Burke in Ohio, in 1864; to them were born two children who, with their mother, died many years ago. In September, 1870, he was married to Laura P. Ashing, in Licking County, Ohio, 7 children being born to them, only 4 of whom survive-Ernest L. Earley, Mrs. Lettie Van Hoesen, George Earley Jr. all of this city, and Miss Mattie Earley now of Colorado Springs, whose health has prevented her being with her father during his long illness. Maude, a daughter, died in January, 1903; Mrs. Earley, the mother, passed away June, 1907; in August of the same year Carrie died, and just one year later, in August, 1908, followed the death of the third daughter Mamie. Thus within 5 years Mr. Earley had buried his companion and three daughters-all from the same dread disease-filling his cup of sorry to the very brim.

Of Mr. Earley’s family of 13 brothers and sisters only 3 survive; Peter Earley, who was with his brother during his final illness, Mrs. Maria McLain of New Sharon and Mrs. Harriett Holmes of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Mr. Early had enjoyed to the fullest the confidence of the community. He had served as mayor of our city, as member of the city council and as member of the school board-always with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people who trusted him. He was a splendid man in all the walks of life, and his children can well be proud of the life record of the father whom they now mourn, and who has just passed to his reward.

Funeral services were held in the First M. E. Church Tuesday afternoon, attended by a large number of kindred and friends. The sermon was by Dr. W. P. Stoddard of Grinnell, a former pastor, whose discourse is said to have been one of the most eloquent and beautiful funeral discourses ever delivered in Newton. Miss Carrie Miles sand two beautiful solos and the floral tributes were many and very beautiful.

The following splendid tribute is from the pen of an intimate fried for years, and which reflects the feelings of all who were ever intimately associated with the deceased:

George G. Earley-An Appreciation
By G. F. Rinehart

The last time I saw George Earley was on the day we celebrate our independence. Wearied with his malady he had lain down on the sofa in his daughter’s home to rest. Surrounded by those he loved and who loved him, his grandchild by his side, knowing his time was short at most, I left him. Although I did not let my voice betray my emotions, my heart was breaking when I said “good-bye” for I knew that I would never see my friend again.

We were friends in the fullest meaning of that term. We always found companionship a delight. For seventeen years we had been as close as brothers in all that make up the harmonies and amenities of life. I feel a profound personal loss in his passing. Nothing less could move me to ask your indulgence while I say as much.

I never had a friend whose association was more congenial. His was indeed a rare soul, such are all too few. Intellectually acute and morally clean, he was a citizen worth much to his community. Utterly without guile wearing his heart upon his sleeve, integrity was his staff and shield. His sincerity was native. It was grounded in every fiber of his being.

I never knew a man in whom intuition was more profound. His instincts were unerring. While others reached the goal by circumlocution, George Earley struck straight home. He was infallible in the detection of shams, the unmasking of hypocrisy, the exposure of pretense, the unveiling of fraud and delusion. He knew men and motives. He knew the hidden springs of action, the limitation of life, and he had charity for the honestly deluded and misled. While he was a lover of his fellows he had no use for the man who goes through life under false colors.

Although George Earley never went to school a year in his life, he was a learned and educated man. College graduates could sit at his feet with profit. He had a keen and analytical mind and was a perpetual source of inspiration to one who knew enough to make use of it. He thought on direct lines. He grasped essential principles. He stuck closely to his text, and when he got through dissecting a proposition he had arrived closely at the basic truth.

Although George Early had suffered all the pangs and heart-breakings that can fall to the lot of mortals, it never embittered his life. It did not sour him. He had no quarrel with fate. He was always sunshine after storm. He died rich in all that makes a man, and left to his children a legacy that will grow the greater the move lavishly it is spent.

Politically he was always the patriot and never the partisan. He recognized no political ties except those of fidelity to a cause. He served his country in time of war, but he believed in peace. In tense, earnest, logical and convincing, he was a power in the community when civic duty called.

Religiously, he believed in honesty. He believed in conduct instead of creed, in the religion of doing instead of pretending to believe. The forms and ceremonies and mummeries and palaver of ritualism did not appear to him. He believed in one world at a time and the best preparation for another world is to make the most of this. He lived the faith that was in him, and, if there are rewards to bestow for deeds done in the body, Geo. G. Earley will wear a crown.

Tucson, Arizona.

(Written by Jesse Winger, a close personal friend of the deceased.)

George G. Earley died at the home of his son, Earnest L. Earley, at twelve o’clock, noon, Sunday, Jan. 4, 1914, after a lingering illness.

Mr. Earley was born in Franklin County, New York, October 11, 1841. At the age of ten years he moved with his parents to Morrow County, Ohio. He responded to his country’s first call for troops, enlisting April 19, 1861, in the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the close of his first enlistment he immediately re-enlisted in the same company and regiment and served three. He was in the Battle of Rich Mountain, West Virginia, under General McClellan, the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, under General Buell, and the great battle of Stone River, under General Rosecrans, and was there taken prisoner January 1, 1863. He was in prison for about a month and soon the entire regiment was taken on the General Streight raid at Rome, Georgia and were sent to Libby Prison, and there they were later paroled and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, except the officers, who were not paroled. They were then exchanged and returned to the Army of the Cumberland Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the non-commissioned officers commanded the company. Mr. Earley being in command of Co. I, which position he held until discharged on June 21, 1864, the commissioned officers having been continuously held as prisoners.

Mr. Earley then returned to his home at Mt. Gilead, Ohio, but in a few months he again enlisted in the 187th Ohio Vol. Inf., where he served faithfully until January, 1866. His regiment went as far south as Macon, Georgia, where he received a commission as second lieutenant, and he was the first commissioned officer put in command at the Andersonville post and he had the distinction of building the first fence around that place, having entire charge of the work. He performed his duties with a faithfulness that elicited the praise of his superior officers.

When his war services were finally ended he returned to his Ohio home but soon came to Mahaska County, Iowa, where he remained for a short time, when he again returned to Ohio, coming again to Iowa in 1869, coming to Jasper County in March, 1872.

In his earlier years Mr. Earley learned shoemaking, at which trade he worked part of the time, and at other times he was engage in selling merchandise. When he came to Jasper County he settled on a farm in Palo Alto, where he remained until 1888, when he removed to Newton. He was for four years employed in the grocery business with J. W. McLaughlin of this city, but of late years was engaged exclusively in the real estate business, in which he was very successful. He was associated for several years with the late William Hill and finally with his son, E. L. Earley.

Mr. Earley was first married to Martha Burke, of Knox County, Ohio, in 1864. Two children were born to this union. A daughter, Martha, died in infancy. Wilbur L. died at Helena, Montana, in 1891, at the age of twenty-five. He is remembered as a brilliant young man, whose death was deeply mourned as very untimely. Mrs. Earley passed away within a very few years and in September, 1870, Mr. Earley was again married to Laura P. Ashing of Licking County, Ohio. To this union seven children were born; Earnest L., Martha, Lettie, Mamie, Carrie, Maude and George.

Earnest is engaged in the real estate and insurance business, having a very responsible position with one of the larger insurance companies of the country. Lettie, now Mrs. Harry Van Housen, lives in this city. She was for several years dean of the music department of Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan, but removed here that she might be near her father in his decline. George is a successful young farmer living near Newton. Martha is an invalid and has been compelled to reside away from Newton for the past few years, being at Colorado Springs.

Mention of the remainder of the family is a sad task. That “The King of shadows loves a shining mark” has surely been exemplified in connection with the Earley Family.

Maude died in January, 1903, at the age of twenty years. She was one of the sweetest, brightest girls Newton has ever known. She gave every promise of a brilliant career. Her death was a severe blow and the home circle was never again complete.

Mrs. Earley passed away June 20, 1907. She was a noble woman, devoted to her family. She was less than sixty-three years of age and undoubtedly deep grief largely influenced her early death.

Carrie died August 24, 1907. She had taught in our public schools for several years and was a writer of considerable note. She was a deep student and had a firm, broad grasp of the problems of the day. Following her death it was found that she had written a great many poems and these were published in a book of eighty pages, making a work that was truly surprising to many, who had not known of her achievement along this line. Her writings showed that she had keen discernment as well as a very sympathetic temperament. Her death was a distinct loss. Her influence, however, will not pass away.

A year later, August 11, 1908, Mamie also passed away. She too, was a teacher in our schools, a splendid teacher held in high esteem by the school authorities and deeply beloved by her many pupils. She was of very quiet, retiring disposition and a charming personality.

Thus it is seen that the past few years have been full of sorrow for Mr. Earley. Yet he has maintained a cheerful disposition and seemed never to be cast down. He had much for which to be thankful.

Mr. Earley enjoyed the fullest confidence and esteem of all the people. He was recognized as a man of the highest integrity. His influence in the community was always given to every good cause. Although his early education advantages had been limited, he had become one of the best posted men in the country. He was a great reader and a student of men and affairs. He was well informed on all the current topics of the day and never hesitated in taking a definite stand and had the inclination and ability to defend his position.

He had been mayor of the city, a member of the city council, and also a member of the school board. No man in Newton took a greater interest or pride in our public schools or would do more to advance the cause of education. He was a friend of children and loved to associate with young people. He had a smile and a cheery word for all. No man in Newton had more friends. And Mr. Earley’s friendship was genuine. There was no pretension or shoddy about it. He disliked shams.

Mr. Earley had for many years taken an active interest in matters pertaining to governmental affairs. He was a student of political affairs. His voice has been heard in nearly every school house in Jasper County in public discussion. And it was a source of great satisfaction and pleasure to him that he lived to see adopted many policies for which he had contended while they were yet new and unpopular.

Mr. Earley leaves to his children a rich heritage-a name unsullied. He leaves to his friends only the brightest and pleasantest memories. He leaves to the community the influence of a splendid life, ad a family of upright, noble attributes. He leaves to his country a record of duty well performed and faithfully discharged.

He died at peace with God and man, and had surely an abundant entrance into the perfect rest for which he had been longing.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. W. P. Stoddard of Grinnell, officiating. ~ Newspaper unknown.

Transcriber note: Death date taken from Newton Union Cemetery Burial List.