Byron N. Whitworth

WHITWORTH, MERRITT

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 6/21/2006 at 11:41:17

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
July 15, 1953

BYRON WHITWORTH Is Found Dead

Byron N. Whitworth, member of a pioneer family in the Macksburg community, died Thursday, July 9, 1953, at the age of 80 years. His body was found Friday morning at his home in Macksburg, where he lived alone during the summer months. In recent years he had been spending the winters in Winterset. A coroner's report indicated that his death resulted from natural causes.

Mr. Whitworth was born near Macksburg, May 15, 1873, a son of Robert and Philinda (Merritt) Whitworth. His father was a native of England, who came to Des Moines on the first passenger train ever to enter that city, enroute to settle at Macksburg.

Mr. Whiworth had spent his entire life in Madison county, with the exception of eight years in Union county. He was active in the Macksburg Methodist church, and had earned the title of poet laureate of Macksburg, as result of the many hours he had spent in composing poetry in recent years.

He was the last surviving member of a family of six children, and left no immediate relatives.

(Note: Burial was at the Moon Cemetery)