ALVERSON, Joseph Henry 1844 - 1943

ALVERSON, CLOVERDALE, ALLEN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 1/29/2006 at 16:18:17

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, September 29, 1943
Page 1, Column 6, and
Page 5, Column 2

CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIES AT HOME
Ninety-nine year old county man passes away early this morning

Joseph Henry ALVERSON, 99 year old Civil War Veteran, died this morning at 6:00 a.m. at his home four and one-half miles northeast of Batavia.

The nonagenarian who had lived just one year short of a century, was seriously ill for only the past few days.

He celebrated his last birthday September 16 quietly at his home near Batavia where he has resided with his son Roy for the past 42 years.

The aged veteran was born September 16, 1844 in Gerard (sic - Garrard) county, Kentucky, came to Iowa when he was four years old, and has lived on farms near Batavia ever since, exceptw hen (sic) serving in the United States Army.

He was the son of the late Benjamin and Celista ALVERSON.

ALVERSON was preceded in death by his wife in 1923 and by four children. He is survived by two children, Mrs. Lizzie CLOVERDALE, of Bagley, Iowa and Roy ALVERSON at home, and by one grandson, Max ALVERSON who is in the Army stationed at Camp Barkeley, Texas.

ALVERSON served under Capt. Ben F. Crail of Fairfield in the Civil War in Company F, Third Iowa Cavalry, enlisting February 26, 1864. His honorable discharge came October 9, 1865.

Both his son and grandson have followed in the military footsteps of veteran ALVERSON, Roy ALVERSON serving in World War I, and Max ALVERSON who was inducted in the United States Army July 1, 1942.

Plans for the funeral services will be completed upon word from the grandson in Texas.

The body has been taken to the Community Funeral Parlor in Ottumwa, and services will be held in the Bladensburg church possibly Friday afternoon.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Monday, October 18, 1943
Page 4, Column 6

OBITUARY

Joseph Henry ALVERSON, son of Benjamin and Celista ALVERSON, was born Sept. 16, 1844, near Lancaster, Gerard (sic Garrard) county, Kentucky and departed this life Wednesday morning, Sept 27 1943 at his home, 4½ miles northeast of Batavia, aged 99 years and 11 days.

He came with his parents to Iowa when four years old and located on a farm northwest of Batavia near where the Hazel Dell school now stands and has resided within a radius of 10 miles of Batavia his entire life, with the exception of the time spent in the U. S. army.

He spent the last 43 years on the home farm.

Mr. ALVERSON confessed Christ as his Savior early in life, uniting with the Christian church of Batavia and transferring his membership in 1900 to the Abingdon Christian church where it remained at the time of his departure.

He enlisted in the service of the U. S. army at Fairfield, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1864, and served under the late Capt Benjanim F. Crail in Co. F, 3rd Iowa Cavalry and was honorably discharged Oct. 9, 1865 at Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. ALVERSON was a great lover of children and the Hickory Ridge school remained closed during the services.

He was united in marriage to Sarah Louisa ALLEN of Bladensburg April 30th, 1883 (1888?) who preceded him in death Sept 22, 1923. To this union were born the following children, Lizzie E., James E., Walter Lee, Anna C., Roy F., and Floyd A. James, Lee, Anna and Floyd have preceded their father in death.

Those surviving are Mrs. Lizzie E. COVERDALE, Bagley Iowa, and Roy T. ALVERSON, at home, a grandson Max ALVERSON of the U. S. Army at Camp Barkeley, Texas and one brother James H. ALVERSON, Batavia, Iowa.

He was a member at large, to the Grand Army of the Republic and an honorary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The high esteem in which Mr. ALVERSON was held in his community was manifested by the beautiful floral offerings and huge attendance at the funeral services which were conducted by J. Q. Utterback, formerly of Batavia and now of the Hedrick Christian church on Friday, Oct. 15 at the Bladensburg Christian church.

The remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Bladensburg cemetery 11 (?) miles west of the church, with the American Legion in charge, firing the final salute and at Mr. ALVERSON's earlier request, Charles Wilhoit sounded taps from the bugle.

Pallbearers were ex-service men of the war with Germany, including Charles Wilhoit, Leo Hu____ (Hunter? film scratched), Ralph Augustine, Verle Smith, Dorsey Hill and Roy Lawson. Honorary pallbearers were old neighbors, Omar Danels, Ed Hudson, Virgil Webb, Verne Hummell, Frank Kesselring and Sanford Fetters.

*Transcribed for genealogical purposes; I have no relation to the person(s).

Note: Joseph's wife Sarah Louisa ALLEN was born March 6, 1859, near Bladensburg, and died Sept. 22, 1923 near Batavia.