McKeever, William Henry – 1857-1938

BEARD, DOOLEY, HARMON, MCKEEVER, OSWALT

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 5/26/2023 at 11:14:03

Wm. McKeever Pioneer Resident Died on Sunday
Funeral Services Held Tuesday Afternoon From the Home
Wm. McKeever, 80, pioneer resident of the Oswalt neighborhood, died Sunday following a short sickness at his home. While able to be about most of the time, Mr. McKeever has been in failing health for the past several years.
William Henry McKeever son of William and Juliann Miller McKeever, was born at the old McKeever homestead near the McKeever cemetery in Poweshiek Township, Jasper County, November 19th, 1857 and passed away at his home west of Colfax June 26th, 1938 at the age of 80 years, 7 months and 6 days, having been a life-time resident of Jasper County.
On June 6th, 1871, he was married to Henrietta Oswalt. Four children were born to this union, one of whom, M. W. McKeever of Mitchellville, is still living. Two died in infancy and the son Milo, passed away September 2, 1935. When thirty-four years of age, the mother died, and he married her sister, Rose Minerva, who passed away June 5th, 1935. Two children were born to this union, J. N., living near, and Mrs. Ellen Dooley, who has remained in the home with her father and together with her husband, Richard Dooley, tenderly cared for him during his failing health and serious illness of the past week.
Although having lived longer than the average span of life, and exceeded three score and ten years by more than ten, he was still intensely interested in the affairs of his county and had a vivid memory of his father the three uncles, who went away to war and all but one whose burial place is unknown were returned and placed side by side in a burial plot near the farm home, which was given by his grandfather, Reuben McKeever and is now known as the McKeever cemetery.
Beside the three children above mentioned, there are nine grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Byron Beard and three half-brothers, Allen and Doc Harmon of Adel and Mid Harmon of Des Moines with several nieces and nephews and a host of neighbors and friends to mourn his passing.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the home at Oswalt with the Rev. Russell G. Nye, pastor of the Methodist church officiating.
Burial was had in the McKeever cemetery.
Music was furnished by Mrs. Earl Plummer and Mrs. Geo. Rinker.
Mrs. E. S. Calhoon had charge of the flowers.
Pall bearers were Willard McKeever, Wayne McKeever, Ted McKeever, Clifford Donaldson, Jess Beard and Roy Beard.
Source: Colfax (IA) Tribune; June 30, 1938, page 1

W. H. McKeever, a lifelong resident of this community, passed away at his home Sunday night, after an illness of a week’s duration. Mr. McKeever had been in failing health for a number of years, but was not considered seriously ill until the past week. He was very devoted to his home and always took a keen interest in any good for the community. Since the death of his wife a few years ago, he has made his home with his daughter and husband.
Relatives from a distance attending the McKeever funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Al Harmon and Mr. and Mrs. Mid Harmon of Adel; Mr. and Mrs. Bill McKeever, Mary Sheffer, Mr. and Mrs. George Stout and boys, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Heyden, Mr. and Mrs. Carl McKeever, Mrs. J. C. Dawson and Henry McKeever of Des Moines.
Source: Colfax (IA) Tribune; June 30, 1938, page 3 (extracted from Plummer Grove news)