TRACY, Rev. R. M., died 1901

TRACY, MANDLE, TRACEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/24/2012 at 17:19:56

"The Fairfield Ledger"
February 6, 1901
Page 3, Column 3

AN AGED MINISTER. Rev. R. M. TRACY, a Baptist minister who was known throughout all this portion of Iowa, died at Hedrick the 24th last. He was in the 81st year of his age and was born in Belmond County, O. He was married to Rebecca MANDLE at Wellsburg, W.Va., July 29th 1841, Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Christian Church, being the officiatin clergyman. The aged wife survives the husband. Mr. and Mrs. TRACY came to Iowa, locating at Brighton, in 1851, and removed to Oskaloosa two years later. There the husband, who was a working carpenter, found time to devote to church work, and for some time was Superintendent of two Sunday Schools in the country and walked six miles every Sabbath to perform his duties. For three years after this he was with the American Tract society, engaged in house-to-house work and the organization of Sunday Schools in out of the way places. While living in Oskaloosa he changed his membership from the Christian church, in which he had been reared, to the Baptist church, and soon engaged in the ministry of that denomination. He was located at Brookville for a number of years erected the church at that place and had a large congregation. He was also active in the organization of societies at Abingdon, Competine, Hedrick, Talleyrand, Keota and other places in this section of Iowa. He was engaged in this work almost up to the time of his death. Mr. TRACY was a noble man and seemed especially fitted for the labors in which so much of his life was spent. His death will be very generally regretted, for he had many warm friends in every locality in which he had lived or labored. He has a son living at Brookville, this county, Marion TRACY, the well known farmer.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Also posted to the Keokuk County Obituaries Board.

Note: Rev. TRACY is buried in Brooks Cemetery, Hedrick Twp., Keokuk Co., IA, with wife Rebecca who died in 1903. The surname has also been spelled TRACEY.