Caleb Bailey Lothrop (1905)

KELLOGG, LOTHROP, WHEDON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 10/21/2007 at 15:55:13

The Winterset Madisonian
Thursday, September 7, 1905
Page 1, Column 1

WINTERSET PIONEER DEAD

Colonel Lothrop Passes Away At the Ripe Old Age of Ninety Years

Caleb Bailey Lothrop was born in the village of Milton, Vermont on July 10th 1815. He grew to manhood in his native state, marrying Miss Jane Hatch in 1842. They continued to reside in Vermont until 1852, when they joined the army of pioneers journeying westward and made Rock Island, Illinois their home until 1856. Then still further west, locating in Fort Des Moines. In 1862 a final move brought them to Winterset, then in it's infancy, which has been the family's home ever since.

Nine children were born to the Lothrops, but only four grew to maturity, and two daughters, Mrs. Charity Kellogg, of Charles City, Iowa and Mrs. Jennie Whedon, of this city, are the sole members left of the family. These two daughters, with the four children of Mrs. Whedon, who regarded their grandfather as a father, remain to mourn him, Mrs. Lothrop having passed away twenty-three years ago.

Colonel Lothrop received his title in the Vermont militia. Old and young knew him familiarly as "The Colonel", and although he was not in actual military service, his patriotism was of the most ardent type, an inheritance from his father, who was one of those brave heroes at Valley Forge, who suffered privation and physical tortures to gain liberty.

In 1859, Col. Lothrop secured his first mail contract from Des Moines to Fort Dodge. In 1862 he took the longer route from Oskaloosa to Council Bluffs. Later he ran a tri-weekly stage from Indianola to Lewis until the route was extended from Pella to Lewis, when this line was supplanted by the railroad.

In 1866, he pushed west into the Great American Desert, taking the contract from Council Bluffs to Forth Kearsey for five months. At the close of this contract he ran stages from De Soto to Winterset in connection with the Rock Island railroad. When the railroad between Des Moines and Winterset was completed, Col. Lothrop turned his stage line into an omnibus line and he continued it for thirty years, retiring at the age of eighty-seven.

His earliest political associations where with the Whig party. Owing to a change in residence in 1836, he lost his first vote, but in 1840, he cast his first vote for Harrison, and has always been rigidly allied with the Republican party, voting at every election. He was always counted an active worker for his party and was a diligent reader, being exceptionally well posted on current topics. His memory was marvelous, both on present subjects and events of long ago. He chose for his intimate companions, men of half his age, and to them he was as young as they. He liked to jest as well as discuss serious matters, and had many "yankee" expressions and droll speeches.

He left the city on Thursday, Aug 24th to visit his daughter, Mrs. Kellogg, at Charles City. On his way to the depot he was in his happiest mood, gayly bidding his friends on the streets good bye, and it was indeed good bye. He was taken ill in Des Moines, and on reaching his destination, was in serious condition. He weakened so swiftly that Mrs. Whedon left on Friday to attend him. He passed away on the afternoon of September 4th, at the age of ninety years. The body was brought here on Tuesday, the burial services being conducted at the family residence at four o'clock by Rev. R. W. Matheney.

As a tribute of honor to the memory of their esteemed fellow citizen, the merchants of Winterset closed their places of business during the funeral hour.

In the person of Col. Lothrop, one of the old sturdy pioneer type has passed away. Respected and revered by all he spent his life in active labor, and "having put his hand to the plow, he turned not back". His familiar figure will be sadly missed on our streets, but his sayings and sterling qualities will not be forgotten.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
September 8, 1905

At the close of continuous residence in Winterset, death has stricken from its roll of honored citizens, the name of Col. Lothrop. His parentage was of the old New England type and although his residence dated from 1856, he was always proud of his native state, Vermont. He Gloried in the fact that his grandfather's family were refugees from England, who sought Holland as a home until New England settlement was made, when they came over on the ship next after the famous "Mayflower." Caleb Baily Lothrop was born in Milton, Vermont, July 10, 1815. In 1842 he married Miss Jane Hatch, also a Vermonter. They left Illinois in 1856 moving to Fort Des Moines. In 1862, the family removed to Winterset, then a village. He passed away Sept. 4, 1905, at the age of 90 years. Mrs. Lothrop died in 1882 and of the 9 children born to them only four grew to maturity, two daughters remain of this family, Mrs. Charity Kellogg, of Charles City and Mrs. Jennie Whedon, of Winterset, who has lived with her father since her marriage.
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The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, September 7, 1905
Page 1

Caleb Bailey Lothrop

Caleb Bailey Lothrop was born in Milton, Vermont, on July 10th, 1815. His boyhood was spent in the state of his birth and in 1842 he married Miss Jane Hatch of the same state. In 1852, they moved west, locating in Rock Island, Illinois, until 1856, when they moved still further west to Fort Des Moines. Here they remained until 1862, when the little town of Winterset was chosen as their future residence and still remains the family home.

Of the nine children born to them, three died in infancy and one in early girlhood, and of the five children who grew to maturity only two daughters survive. These together with four grandchildren are left to mourn the death of the beloved head of the family. Mrs. Lothrop having passed away twenty-three years ago.

Colonel Lothrop, as he was familiarly known to all here, received his title in the Vermont Militia and although not a soldier, yet his patriotism was of the highest order. He was a well known character in Des Moines and vicinity, from his prominence as owner of stage lines to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, and to Council Bluffs, in the early days. His was the last stage coach driven out of Des Moines.

His ninety years, over sixty of which was active business life, was terminated by an illness of a little more than a week. Leaving here on August 24th to visit his daughter, Mrs. Charity Kellogg, in Charles City, Iowa, he became ill on his journey and passed away on September 4th, attended by Mrs. Kellogg and his other daughter, Mrs. Jennie Whedon, of this city.

A long useful life, of the utmost simplicity, a character above reproach and a mind remarkable for its vigor to the day of his taking away will be to his friends a cherished memory.

The remains were shipped to Winterset Monday and were to have reached here Tuesday noon, but by an oversight they were left behind at Waterloo and delayed one train. This caused a misconnection with our train at Des Moines, but they were forwarded over the Great Western to Peru from whence they were brought across country and arrived here about two hours before the time set for the funeral which was Tuesday afternoon at four o’clock.

The funeral was a large one. The businessmen around the square did the beautiful thing in closing their places of business during the services. This was a fitting tribute to one who had lived a long and honored life in the community. There has never lived in Winterset a man who had more warm friends than Col. Lothrop. He was esteemed and greatly respected by all who knew him, and although his four score and ten years was a constant reminder that we could not have him with us much longer, all were loathe to give him up and all alike mourn his loss.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, September 8, 1905
Page 1, Column 1

COL. LOTHROP DIES

Pioneer Citizen of Winterset Passes Away Monday

WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AT DEATH

Had Lived in Winterset Forty-three Years Continuously. Active in Business Until Three Years Ago. Remarkable Career of Honored Citizen

At the close of forty-three years of continuous residence in Winterset, death has stricken from its role of honored citizens, the name of Col. Lothrop. His alert, active figure and often been remarked with pride by his many friends, as he walked among them, for until two years ago, when a prolonged attack of stomach trouble somewhat sapped his strength, he was possessed of the physical vigor of a man of sixty.

Added to this remarkable vitality, where mental powers which were undulled by the flight of years - and a thorough knowledge of the world’s affairs, both political and historical, made him a welcome guest among his friends, who were all men much younger than he.

His parentage was of the old New England type, and although his residence dated from 1856, he was always proud of his native state, Vermont. He gloried in the fact that his grandfather’s family were refugees from England, who sought Howland as a home until the New England settlement was made, when they came over on the ship next after the famous “Mayflower”.

Caleb Bailey Lothrop was born in Milton, Vermont, July 10th, 1815. He lived in that state until 1852, accepting a short residence in Boston, when he moved to Rock Island, Illinois. In 1842 he married Miss Jane Hatch, also Vermonter. They left Illinois in 1856, moving to Fort Des Moines. In 1859 he secured his first mail contract, the route running from Des Moines to Fort Dodge. In 1862 the family removed again to Winterset, then a village, where the family has always lived.

In the same year Col. Lothrop ran stagecoaches and carried government mails from Oskaloosa to Council Bluffs, and later from Pella to Lewis, until the railroads were completed. He then contracted for the lines from Council Bluffs to Fort Kearney for five months; then put on coaches between De Soto and Winterset, in connection with the railroad. After the completion of the railroad to Winterset in 1872, he became proprietor of the bus line which business he conducted for thirty years, retiring at the advanced age of eighty-seven.

He never sought notoriety and although he was always a leader in politics, that not care for office or preferment. A plain man of simple tastes, great willpower, quick mind and sound judgment, he was known, not only in our city and County, but had a wide acquaintance with the traveling public and with the old settlers in Des Moines. He was a member of the Polk County Octogenarian Association.

He left his home on August 24th to make a short visit with his daughter in Charles City, Iowa. On his way to the trainee made calls on his intimate business acquaintances, bidding them goodbye, seemingly in the best of health. Taken ill on the train, he gradually grew worse and on reaching Charles City was in a serious condition. Although he wakened and very fast, yet his wonderful vitality still enabled him to resist the disease, but his other daughter, Mrs. Jennie Whedon was called to attend him. He passed away on the afternoon of September 4th, at the age of ninety years.

Mrs. Lothrop died in 1882 and of the nine children born to them only for grew to maturity. 2 daughters only remain of this family, Mrs. Charity Kellogg, of Charles City and Mrs. Jennie Whedon, of Winterset, who has lived with her father since her marriage. Her four children mourn him as a father rather than a grandfather, while to him they were as own children.

The burial services were conducted at the residence here on Tuesday at four o’clock by Rev. Matheny. A large gathering of friends fill the large home in the business houses closed at the funeral power as a tribute honor to one who had had business relations with them for many years.

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