[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Almon D. Hougas (1886)

HOUGAS, SIMONDS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/25/2007 at 14:26:42

Winterset Madisonian - May 27, 1886
Winterset, Iowa
page 8

OBITUARY

Almon D. Hougas died May 9th, 1886, at the residence of his father-in-law, James Simonds, with inflammatory rheumatism of the heart.

Mr. Hougas was born in Mills county, Iowa, on the 9th day of April, A.D., 1861, his father was a farmer and stock raiser. Almon D. was reared and educated as a farmer, received an education at Glenwood high school. He had a natural talent for music, and at the age of seventeen commenced teaching vocal and instrumental music in the vicinity of Carson, Iowa, among his old class and school mates, in the summer he continued to labor on the farm until of age after which he set up in the mercantile business with Horace Stratt at Henderson, Mills county.

He was married to Lida E. Simonds of Madison county on the first day of January, A.D. 1883, in August 1883 disposed of his interest in the store and took up his old profession teaching vocal and instrumental music in Carson, Iowa.

In the spring of 1884 he removed from Carson to a farm there he carried on farming and also teaching music and became a successful teacher of musical Normals.

Immediately after the death of James A. Garfield there was an offer made of a medal for the best composition upon the Funeral March at the burial of the honored hero. Mr. Hougas competed for it and won the medal and the tribute of praise for the best production.

In 1885 he moved to Madison county, where he again took up his musical profession and gained himself an envious position as master and teacher of instrumental and vocal music.

The brightest flower is the first one picked, for in the bloom of life he has been stricken down, admired by all that he formed an acquaintance with. He was twenty-five years and one month old, his remains were taken to Mills county and interred in his father's family buring lot; he leaves a father, mother, one brother, two sisters, a wife and daughter to mourn his loss.

James Simonds


 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]