Abner L. Newlin (1939)
BARNETT, BOWLES, BRADFIELD, LEWIS, NEWLIN, RAMSEY
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 2/27/2007 at 07:40:51
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 8, 1939ABNER L. NEWLIN OF EARLHAM DIED FRIDAY
Pioneer Resident Came to Iowa by Covered Wagon in Early Days
Earlham--(Special)--Abner L. Newlin, a pioneer resident of this community, died last Friday at his farm home. He was 87 years of age.
Mr. Newlin had come to Iowa in a covered wagon, in 1857. He was 6 years of age and made the trip with his parents from his birthplace near Plainfield, Ind.
They settled first near Stuart, and then moved to the farm north of Earlham where he lived the remainder of his life.
He leaves his wife and four children: Edith of Philadelphia, Pa., Mrs. Landis Bradfield of Cleveland, O., Roy Newlin on the home farm, and Jay Newlin of Grimes.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the Quaker meeting house north of Earlham.
________________________Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, February 9, 1939Abner Lewis Newlin, Pioneer Resident of Community Died Last Friday
A life of eighty-seven and a half years spans the time from Iowa pioneer days to the mechanized living to today. This was the experience of Abner Lewis Newlin who was born at Sugar Grove near Plainfield, Indiana, sixth month (June) 9, 1851. His life had its sunset at the close of a beautiful day second month (February) 3, 1939, 5:25 p.m. as the golden glow of the west shone through the window at his bedside.
In infancy he lost his father, Phineas Newlin, and was brought by his young mother, Ruth Lewis Newlin, together with an older brother Aquilla and two older sisters Ruhama Jane (Barnett) and Suzanna (Ramsey) to Iowa in 1857. They moved onto land now within the limits of Stuart, Iowa, before the town was there.
His children and grandchildren have often listened to his stories of those early days. One was of planting corn on land now the streets of Stuart through a hole in his pocket down his pant leg because a strong wind made straight rows otherwise impossible. He told of friendly Indians on the prairie, of a bad snow storm when his mother put the children to bed in the day time to temper the pangs of hunger and save fuel when supplies were scarce and she dared not send a fourteen year old son, nor leave the children to seek relief. He drew vivid word pictures of his boyhood, of the long hours he spent in finding their horses and cows on the fenceless prairie, and of going nine miles to borrow a “down plow” to break the sod on their land.
He knew well the work of Friends in their so called “Underground Railroad” by which folks said The Quakers spirited the Negroes to freedom in Canada. As a child he felt the seriousness of the situation and knew how to keep the secret. In recent years he would often point out places where were enacted dramatic incidents of this hazardous business.
In 1865 Ruth Newlin with her family moved from Stuart to a farm four miles north of Earlham. At the age of fourteen Abner became the male head of the home, responsible for the work on the farm. He could attend school only in the winter. He had a great desire for an education. Under the instruction of Darius Bowles, even though he could attend school only in the winter, he became proficient in rapid calculation and learned to enjoy history and good books. It was one of the great disappointments of his life that college was never possible for him.
He knew the prairie well and often on horseback piloted traveling Friends’ ministers or new settlers to the next community of Friends, some twelve or fifteen miles farther on where they would be made welcome till they took up their journey again.
When he grew older he broke prairie for hire with a down plow and two yoke of oxen, driving them skillfully with voice and whip. He could fleck a fly from the back of an ox with a ten foot lash without touching the animal.
In 1870, one short autumn day his sister Ruhama went with him to Adel with team and wagon to buy her wedding dress. They were belated so it was pitch dark as they followed the winding roads, full of stumps in the ‘Coon River valley on their return. Suddenly a scream as of a woman in distress, came from a distant hill. Ruhama demanded they stop, but Abner spoke to his team and kept his own counsel. The screaming came nearer and nearer till it was just above them on an over hanging bank. Only the rattle of the wagon apparently kept the hungry American panther from springing onto horse or person.
On First month (January) 6, 1881, at Stuart, Iowa, in the Friends Meeting there, he married Ella Bowles of that place. He brought his bride to their home and for many years she assisted him in caring for his invalid mother. Four children Roy L., Jay J., Edith and Mary Ella (Bradfield) made their family.
From 1906 to 1916 Abner and Ella lived in Earlham. In 1917 they built a little cottage near the Meeting House north of Earlham. Their they have resided since.
Abner was naturally of quick temper and ready wit. His sense of humor often saved friction in a tense moment. On some trying occasions even in youth he faced difficulties calmly. One day when a boy at school, a much larger boy of overbearing temperament hit him. He calmly did nothing. The other boys asked, “How can you stand it not to hit back?” He unconcernedly replied, “My mother taught me never to strike a fool or hit a cripple. Of course I wouldn’t hit him.” In maturity the gaining of greater forbearance was his desire and to an increasing frequency his achievement.
Abner had three major concerns. One was for the widow and orphans, the old and helpless, the indigent and unjustly treated, and those who had become prisoners.
He made long trips on cold days to haul coal or take food and give care to those in need. He never wavered in his devotion be the person foreign or native, saint or sinner, wise or foolish. To him they all were children of one Father who needed care and understanding sympathy. He gave freely of his experience and time to prevent a widow or an orphan from losing property through the dishonest dealing of one who sought to take advantage of their helplessness.
He often visited those he knew in the Dallas County Home and was instrumental in arousing public opinion through the county which resulted in new buildings for the inmates. He twice visited civil prisoners, and some he thought were unjustly imprisoned at The Federal Prison, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Ever after he used his influence to help those there whom he felt suffered injustice.
He was always interested in the cause of peace. During the World War the conscious objectors had his full sympathy and help.
His second interest was for the improvement of the community and for the development of right living and right thinking. The advancement of education often claimed his time. He helped to found the small Friends’ school, first kept in a small house build on his farm, and for forty years he gave it his help. Other educational institutions in the state also had his support.
He always believed in mechanical progress. He said in his youth before airplanes were invented that his grandchildren would be able to fly where they pleased. In his boyhood the railroad was no nearer than St. Louis, Missouri. In his declining years the daily transit of the huge planes over his little home never lost their thrill for him. He twice rode in a plane and only the infirmities of age and lack of opportunity prevented his being a frequent passenger.
He believed strongly in cooperative movements. He was one who promoted the first rural delivery mail route and the first mutual telephone line in his community.
His third and greatest interest was the work of the cause of Christ. In early boyhood he drove his mother who was a minister to meetings in different communities. In 1873 and ’74 he accompanied her as she traveled in Ohio and Indiana in religious work.
Long years of invalidism of Ruth Newlin kept Abner and his wife closely at home. After the mother’s death in 1898 he assumed the responsibility of companion to his wife who traveled in the ministry in Europe and America.
He was ever faithful in his attendance of Friends Meetings. In later years he often went to meeting when his family felt he was too frail to stand the strain. Only once the last meeting day before he died did he decide he was too ill to attend.
He knew his Bible well and could repeat much of it from memory. In recent years he often asked to have it read to him. During the last few weeks of his life he would become quiet despite his discomfort if the Bible was being read aloud. One of his last conscious requests was for a grandson to read St. John the 14th chapter to him.
He always had implicit faith in the happiness of the redeemed after death.
The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Second month (February) 5th in the Friends Meeting house three miles north of Earlham. It was largely attended by relatives and friends from many parts of Iowa. He was laid beside his mother in Bear Creek cemetery. Five grandsons and a great nephew were pall bearers.
His four children Roy L. of Earlham, Jay J. of Grimes, Iowa, Edith of Philadelphia, Pa. and Mary E. Bradfield of Cleveland; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren were at his bedside.
Relatives who attended the funeral from a distance included: Arthur G. Newlin and family, Primghar, Iowa; Edward and Ruth J. Newlin, Paullina, Iowa; Ruth S. (Newlin) Williams, Cleveland, Ohio; Welmer Newlin, Grimes, Iowa; Levi Bowles, West Branch, Iowa; Paul and Bessie Bowles, New Sharon, Iowa; Peter, Eunice and Elma Louise Thompson, LeGrand, Iowa; John and Mary Bowles Lischer, Greenfield, Iowa; Homer Buckmaster and sister Mabel, Stuart, Iowa; Robert and Amy Kipping, Archie and Clara Trotter, Redfield, Iowa; John White, What Cheer, Iowa.
Others from a distance included: Linden Larson, West Branch, Iowa; Malinda Thompson, LeGrand, Iowa; Walter Mott, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Jesse Mott, Jesse Standing, Springville, Iowa; Archibald, Anna, Arthur and Sadie Henderson, Alethea Eyer, Agnes Watson, William Workman, Paullina, Iowa; Jessie Jones, West Branch, Iowa; Curtis and Edith Smith, Clarkson; Mary, Abel, Ellen Marie Moffitt, Jay Whitson, Molly Owen and Marie Owen Gill, Ackworth, Iowa; Charles Thomas, Dr. Roberts, Ruth F. Kirk, Ernest and Minnie and Ivan Zelliot and wife, Des Moines; Norris Thomas, Fontanelle, Iowa; Earl Kellogg, Des Moines.
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