Balmer, William James – 1855-1937

BALMER, HERRINGTON, KLING, RETTER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:37

W. J. Balmer, 84, Dies Early Today
Long-Time Resident of Jasper County Dies Following Long Illness
W. J. Balmer, 84, native of Ireland and long-time resident of Jasper county, died today at 4:00 a.m. at his farm five miles east of Newton.
Mr. Balmer had been in failing health for the last three years.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Morgan funeral home Saturday at 2:00 p.m., by the Rev. H. LeRoy Kinser, pastor of the First Christian church. Interment will be in the Hickory Grove cemetery near Newburg.
Mr. Balmer came to the United States from Ireland with his mother when he was a young man.
After retiring from farming a number of years ago, he lived in Newton for a while, but moved back to his farm three years ago. His son, Harry Balmer, farms the home place.
Surviving relatives are his wife; three daughters, Anna at home, and Mrs. Harry Herrington and Mrs. Roy Kling of Newton and the one son, Harry.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, September 2, 1937

Conduct Rites For W. J. Balmer
Funeral Services Held In Newton; Burial In Cemetery Near Newburg
Funeral services for William J. Balmer, 84, were conducted from the Morgan funeral home Saturday at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. H. LeRoy Kinser, pastor of the First Christian church.
Gail Smith furnished the music for the rites, singing, “Shall We Gather at the River,” “It Is Well With My Soul” and “God Will Take Care of You.” He was accompanied by Mrs. Smith.
Interment was in Hickory Grove cemetery near Newburg, with the following serving as pall bearers: Bert Schultz, Herman lanz, Vern Miller, Clifford Jacobs, Burr Hummel and Ed Guessford.
Mrs. Vern Miller and Iva Schultz were in charge of the floral arrangements.
Obituary
William James Balmer, son of James and Mary Balmer, was born in Tully Crawley, County Antrim, Ireland, April 30, 1855, and died Sept. 2, on his farm east of Newton, in Jasper county.
His father died when he was a child and he and his mother came from their native land to the United States in 1880. They located on a farm north of Kellogg, Ia., where they made their home until the mother’s death nine years later.
On March 14, 1889, he was united in marriage to Lena Retter, and to this union six children were born. All survive, but two – a son, William, who died at 12 years of age, and a daughter, Lucy, who died at 4.
Lived Near Kellogg
The family lived on the farm north of Kellogg, until they bought the present farm five miles east of Newton in 1910. Mr. Balmer retired from active farming in 1920 and moved to Newton.
When his health began to fail three years ago, he built a new house on his farm, where he and his wife and daughter, Anna, have made their home since. The farm is operated by a son, Harry, who lives in the old home.
Mr. Balmer was baptized in the Church of Ireland in his native land, but became a member of the Baptist church after coming to this country.
Surviving relatives are three daughters, Mrs. Harry Herington and Mrs. Roy Kling of Newton, and Anna, at home, a son, Harry Balmer, of near Newton, and six grandchildren, Margaret, Lavola, James and Janice Herrington and Roberta and Marjorie Kling.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, September 9, 1937
Balmer, William James; born: 30 Apr. 1855; in Ireland; died: 02 Sept. 1937; Mother’s maiden name: Wallace; Death Cert # H50-0114