Efnor, Henry S. b. 1839

EFNOR, BUTIN, TALBOT, MINOR, HENRY, BROWN, SWANK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/3/2010 at 16:03:33

Death Takes Old Resident

Henry S. Efnor, Jasper County Pioneer and Prominent Business Man, Dies Wednesday Night

Henry S. Efnor, well known business and public official of Jasper County and Civil War veteran died at his home on South Third Avenue East at 11 o’clock last evening after an illness of only three days. Tuesday morning Mr. Efnor went to the G. A. R. room in the Court House and he was taken sick there. Too ill to call for assistance he lay in the G. A. R. room for nearly five hours before he was found. He was then taken to his home where he received the tenderest of care but he did not rally from his illness, passing away a few minutes before 11 o’clock last night. He would have been 80 years old May 4th.

Mr. Efnor was born May 4, 1839 in Saratoga County, New York. His grandfather came from Germany with two brothers locating in the United States during the Revolutionary war and they fought in the famous battle of Saratoga, one brother being killed there. His father was a lumberman. He came west and located in Jasper County in 1853 securing eighty acres of raw land in Elk Creek Township. He made his home there until his death in 1868. Henry S. was the only son of a family of seven children, three of whom are now living; Mrs. Electa Butin of near Reasnor, Mrs. Fannie Talbot of Fargo, N. D. and Mrs. Ella Minor of Omaha.

Mr. Efnor was united in marriage to Esther M. Henry of Pennsylvania, April 5, 1860 and this union resulted in the birth of seven children, five of whom are living: Edwin of Newton; Robert, Webster, S. D. Georga of Newton, Frank of Near Monroe and Mrs. Ella Brown of Denver, Colo.

In the winter of 1860, Mr. Efnor came to Jasper County and began farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry under Capt. John Meyer. The regiment was sent to Helena, Ark., and then to Oakland, Miss., then was sent on the While River expedition to Duval’s Bluff, Ark., and later took part in the famous siege of Vicksburg. Mr. Efnor took part in the bitter engagements of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Edward’s station, Baker’s creek and Champion Hills, having been severely wounded in the lat named engagement. He was shot through the right thigh and being unable to walk was captured. His wounds were not dressed for days after the battle, the wounded prisoners being placed in lines of twenty-five each and receiving very little attention. In Mr. Efnor’s group of twenty-five men he was the only one who survived.

Two weeks later he was exchanged and placed on a boat bound for Memphis and taken to the Union Hospital where he remained for three weeks after which he was sent to Indianapolis. He then received a thirty day furlough which he spent with his family in this county. He was still using a crutch and cane when he returned to his regiment at Opaloosa, La., reaching there just as it was going into battle. Later he participated in the Red River expedition and fought at the battle of the Sabine cross roads. He was then transferred to the Eastern army with which he marched over a large part of the south. He was in the battles of Winchester, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek and he saw Sheridan make his famous ride. All told, Mr. Efnor was in fourteen general engagements besides numerous skirmishes in all of which he acquitted himself creditably.

After being honorably discharged at Davenport he returned home and resumed farming, which he continued until 1887 when he began contracting county bridges. This work he continued for fourteen years, building bridges all over the county. Beginning in 1882 he served a term of three years as county supervisor. In 1890 he retired and moved to Newton.

Mr. Efnor’s first wife died in 1900 and he was married to Anna Swank of Jasper County. She survives him. Fraternally Mr. Efnor was a member of the Masons and Knights of Pythias. He was also a member of Garrett Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic and he served as commander of that organization for several terms. He was a member of the Congregational Church and he had held several offices in the church.

No arrangements for the funeral have been made as yet.
Comrades to Attend Commander’s Funeral

Members of Gharrett Post are invited to attend the funeral of the late Commander, Henry S. Efnor, which will be held at the home on South Third Avenue East at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Comrades will assemble at the Efnor residence.

Funeral Services for Henry S. Efnor at the Residence Tomorrow

Funeral services for Henry S. Efnor will be held at the residence on south Third Avenue East Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The local Masonic order and the lodge at Galesburg will have charge of the services, assisted by Rev. R. F. Lavendar, Members of the G. A. R. will act as escorts. Burial will be made in the Mt. Zion Cemetery. ~ Newspaper unknown