John Garrett Van Rossum (1911)

BIXLER, CLOSE, SHULTZ, THOMPSON, VAN ROSSUM

Posted By: Cay Merryman
Date: 8/3/2004 at 01:51:32

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 12, 1911
Page 2, Column 4

Garrett Van Rossum was born in Holland, December 24, 1840, and died at his home three miles northeast of Truro, Iowa, January 4, 1911, aged 70 years and 12 days.

In 1854 his parents came to America and settled in Pella, Iowa, where young Garrett, who at that time was fourteen years of age, grew to a strong and vigorous manhood. On July 14, 1864, he was united in marriage to Cintha M. Shultz, of Leighton, Mahaska Co., Iowa, where they resided the first five years of their married life with his wife's mother. To this union was born nine children - four of whom died in early infancy, twin girls, Fanny Bell and Ida Mae, but a few weeks old and little George aged four years, all dying within two weeks, of typhoid fever and five years later another little daughter, Cintha Annaretta, two weeks old. Those who survive their father are John G., of Lismore, Minn., David W., of Truro, Mrs. Louisa J. Bixler, of Lismore, Minn., Mrs. Estella Close, of Colby, Kans., and Mrs. Ella Thompson, of Truro, Iowa.

All men and women of genuine worth to the communities in which they reside and who will be the comfort of the faithful wife and mother, who is left in the old home, and who for almost fifty years has shared the joys and sorrows and been the chief inspiration of her husband's life. He also leaves twelve grandchildren and one brother, Dirk Van Rossum, the sole survivor of a family of sixteen children. In 1871 he and his wife united with the Presbyterian church near Leighton, Iowa, the membership later on being changed to St. Charles and for the past nine years has been in the Christian church in Truro.

His life was a quiet adherence to christian principles and the faithful performance of all church obligations so far as health and circumstances allowed. In 1872 they moved to Madison county, purchasing the land on which they have ever since resided and which by honest toil and untiring energy has been converted into a home surrounded with the comforts of life. He was especially interested in the cultivation of fruits of all kinds and his orchard and vineyard was a source of pleasure and delight to him. He loved every tree and vine on his place and knew the qualities and character of each one and nothing gave him more pleasure than the displaying and sharing of his fine fruits with his neighbors and friends. His health for the past several years has not been good but he bore his suffering with patience and was able to comfort those around him to the last, giving them assuring evidence of having made his peace with God and his readiness for the Master's call.

His funeral was held Sunday, January 8th at 12 o'clock at the Methodist church in St. Charles, Iowa, conducted by Rev. D. M. He.....stein, and the remains laid to rest in the St. Charles cemetery.

Gravesite
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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