Alonzo Follingsbee Littlefield (1902)

EDWARDS, KILWORTH, LITTLEFIELD, MARTIN, RUMELHART

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:53

Audubon County Journal
Exira, Iowa
Thursday, May 15, 1902
Page 1, Column 4

Alonzo Follingsbee Littlefield was born in Randolph, Massachusetts, on April 25, 1837, and died at Exira, Iowa, on May 9, 1902, aged sixty-five years and fourteen days. He came of a literary and scientific family, having five brothers, four being Professors in colleges of high renown and one being a civil engineer in the far west for many years under pay of the government. Only one of the brothers survived him. He also had one sister who died several years ago.

When a young man he went to California and spent a few years in mining in that country; returned to his native state and in 1867 emigrated to Madison county, this state, and in the fall of 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Edwards, of Warren county, where they resided until 1876, when they removed to this county and purchased a farm over in Audubon township where they have since resided.

There were twelve children born of this union, eleven of whom survive him; and one girl who died in infancy. The surviving children are Thomas, now at some point in Washington, and was not present at the funeral; Charles, John, Will, A. F., Junior, and Roy who, with their sisters Sarah E. and Nellie, reside with their mother. The married daughters are Mrs. Nels Rumelhart; Mrs. John H. Kilworth and Mrs. John W. Martin, all residing within a few miles of the home place and were present at the last sad parting.

Mr. Littlefield was a man well known in the south half of the county and was universally respected. He acquired a farm of several hundred acres by unceasing toil and industry, and was recognized as one of the leading men of the county in the fine stock industry. He filled the office of township school treasurer for a period of twenty-three years continuously, and until the time of his death, and all who had business relations with him speak in the highest terms of the kindness with which all were received. He never failed to render aid where needed and his purse was always open to the needy and distressed and it was always done quietly and unostentatiously.

His health was always of the best until about one year ago when he was taken ill of kidney trouble or Bright’s disease which needed constant care and watchfulness and in order to be constantly within reach of a medical attendance he was brought to this city and kept for several weeks, until it seemed the patient would recuperate and once more regain his wonted health and strength. He returned to his home, resumed the management of the lighter duties about the farm and all was apparently well until three weeks ago when the disease broke out with renewed vigor, baffling all efforts put forth to combat it. A consultation of physicians was held and the end foretold. This came swiftly, speedily and without pain. A watcher at the final dissolution said his last moments were peaceful and quiet, the spirit passing from its tenement of clay before the watchers were really aware that dissolution had taken place.

The funeral obsequies were held from the house and were conducted by his long time friend and neighbor, Rev. Charles Walker, who in well chosen words, coming from the heart, preached to the living, rather than to extol the dead.

The interment took place, last Sunday, at the beautiful Exira cemetery, on the site of which a beautiful lot, sloping to the south, was chosen for the last resting place of the body, which was followed by a procession, consisting of one hundred and two teams and the vehicles being filled with sympathizing friends, who came for miles around to express their sympathy and show their respect for the deceased. The burial service was read by the pastor in charge, followed by a prayer and thanks to the friends and neighbors present for their expressions of good-will, the benediction was pronounced and the throng dispersed to their homes with saddened hearts and sorrowing countenances bidding adieu to the mortal part of him whose remains shall repose in their tomb until that last great day when all shall arise and be judged for the deeds done in the body.
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Coordinator's note: Although the obituary reads as though they lived in Warren County after marriage, the 1870 census as well as the birthplace of several children indicates they resided in Madison County.

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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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