John Hoskins (1943)

HOSKINS, COOK, THOMAS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 11/3/2005 at 22:28:33

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
April, 1943

John Hoskins, son of Moses and Mary Edwards Hoskins and youngest one in a family of ten children, was born in a log cabin at Pleasant Plain, Iowa, January 10, 1857. When only a few years later that same log cabin was used as a school house John attended school there and then in the local Friends Academy. He grew to manhood in that pioneer Quaker community--his parents having been charter members of the Friends Meeting there; hence their children were birthright members of the church.

On November 16, 1892 Mr. Hoskins was united in marriage with Miss Edith Cook, likewise of Quaker parentage, at Waukee, Iowa. Five children were born of this union, all of whom, with the wife and mother, are here for the funeral service today. The new Hoskins home was established on a farm near Wright, Iowa, and some years later they moved to a farm at Waukee. Twenty-two years ago the family moved to Madison county and their home has been in Earlham the past 16 years. One bright spot in memory for Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins, of recent date, was the celebration of their golden wedding anniversary last November 16, when their daughter, Carol and family had them in their home for the anniversary dinner.

Mr. Hoskins has lived an honest, industrious life. He has been a real homebuilder, always solicitous for the comfort and well being of his family, and much prefering never to remain away from his own home over night. Throughout life he has been blest with good health. However a few months ago it became necessary for him to go to a hospital for an operation from which he had recovered. Only last Monday morning about 8:30 he suffered a paralytic stroke while sitting on a chair and he passed away peacefully at home Friday, April 2, at 2:30 a.m., at the age of 86 years, two months and 22 days.

Surviving are his wife, Edith Hoskins, four sons: George, of Earlham, a veteran of World War I, Delbert of Des Moines, Wilbur of Pamona, California, and Russel, now serving in the Coast Artillery at Camp Pendleton, Virginia; and one daughter, Mrs. Wayne Thomas of Earlham. Also, there are nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held from the Friends church Sunday at 2:00 p.m., conducted by the pastor, Rev. W.H. Wilson. Mrs. Charles Maxwell and Fred Fry sang two songs, with Mrs. Fry as accompanist. Burial was in the family lot, Earlham cemetery, delayed till 4:30 on account of the late arrival of Wilbur, from Pamona, California.