Pryor, David D. 1822-1907

PRYOR, MUSSER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 11/30/2011 at 10:59:01

Death of David D. Pryor

Pioneer Resident of 53 Years Joins the Great Majority

David D. Pryor, whose long suffering has elicited so much sympathy from a host of friends, quietly and peacefully sank to rest about 9:30 o’clock last Saturday morning, September 8, 1907, his age being a little over eighty-five years, over fifty-three years of which time he had been an honored and highly esteemed citizen of this city and vicinity.

Mr. Pryor was a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, where he was born August 14, 1822, , and where on the 11th day of February, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Musser, who shared with him in life’s joys and sorrows, successes and disappointments, for nearly a half century, until her death which occurred on the 6th day of January, 1903

In 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Pryor moved from Ohio to Iowa, settling first on a farm in Palo Alto Township, Jasper County, where they resided until 1863, when they moved to Newton, where Mr. Pryor was engaged in blacksmithing. In 1879, they moved onto the small farm one mile west of town which has always since been the family homestead, although for about five years he was engaged with his son, the late Wm. M. Pryor, in business in Iowa City. Last winter, on account of his feeble condition, having long been an invalid, he wanted a changed, and he and his daughter, Miss Emma, rented apartments and moved to town. But when spring came he insisted on going back to the little farm, which was still “Home, Sweet Home“ to him. For the seventeen weeks since the change was made, he had been a terrible sufferer, unable to lie down for a moment, day or night, constantly occupying his invalid chair where the final summons came to him.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pryor had been born six children, William M., Mary Ellen, Sylvester T., Emma L., Della C. and Homer all of whom are now deceased except Emma L. One by one her loved ones have passed away, until she alone is left of the once happy household. For the past eighteen years she has been the burden-bearer for the home, watching over and tenderly caring for her parents, both invalids a sister and an aged uncle until they were borne away to the silent city of the dead. She is one of the noblest, most unselfish and self-sacrificing women we have ever known. During all these years of faithful vigil at the bedside of her loved ones she has never been heard to utter a word of complaint, but with heroic patience and Christina fortitude bore u under the heavy cross that had been laid up on her thanking God that He had given her strength equal to the burden.

The funeral was held at the home at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. E. F. Gillis of the United Presbyterian Church, a large number of old friends and neighbors being present to pay the last tribute of love and respect to the memory of the good man.

Mr. Pryor had never identified himself with any religious denomination, for reasons of his own; yet he believed fully in the teachings of the Master, followed implicitly the precepts of the Golden Rule, and was ready and willing to go when the final summons came. ~ Newspaper name unknown, 1907.