John Wesley (J.W.) Carr (1923)

CARR, OVERHOLT

Posted By: Kate Hite (email)
Date: 3/4/2013 at 15:13:18

Former Resident Passes Away

J.W. Carr, Twice Mayor of New Sharon, Died at the Home of His Son, W.T. Carr in Clarion.

J.W. Carr, a former resident of new Sharon and twice Mayor of our little City in time past, was called to this eternal reward at the home of his son in Clarion, Iowa.
After funeral services at Clarion his body was brought here for burial on Tuesday.
The following obituary prepared by his pastor in Clarion, gives a rather full setting of his life:
John Wesley Carr was born in Richland County, Ohio on the 31st of October, 1831. At his passing in (this our home) Saturday evening, June 2nd, he lacked but 5 months of being 92 years of age.
He grew to manhood in Indiana where his parents moved when he was a small child.
He was married to his life companion, Sarah Elizabeth Overholt on May 13, 1860. They had trudged along life’s pathway for more than 59 years when his companion slipped on ahead of him to her reward on January 14, 1920.
Father Carr and family came to Iowa in 1874, settling in New Sharon, Mahaska County. Twice he was mayor of his home town while he served as Justice of the Peace for 16 years. In 1904 they removed to Oskaloosa, where they made their home until Mrs. Carr’s death in 1920. Since that time Mr. Carr has found a home and most loving and thoughtful attention with his oldest son, W.T. Carr and wife of this place. Never was attention more beautifully bestowed and it was accepted in the same high spirit.
Eight children had been granted Mr. and Mrs. Carr, four boys and four girls, but only two survive the father, W.T. Carr, the eldest and Edwin A. of Des Moines; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren likewise survive.
When a young man Mr. Carr united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a faithful and consistent member for 65 years. Since coming to Clarion his age and infirmity did not often permit him to be in the church services. The few times he was enabled to be present were a real delight.
To father Carr religion was a part of his life, he loved his Lord and Saviour. No part of my pastoral visits were so welcome as the Scripture reading and prayer. He had long been waiting for his Lord. Willing to remain, as he said, he was anxious to complete his journey and be with dear ones. He was always so happy and contented. “Why shouldn’t I be,” he would exclaim, “I am free from pain, my dear ones meet my every need, I am comfortable and the Lord is so good.”
When he came to Clarion he suprised me by the vigor of his mental facilities. He read the “Daily” without glasses and kept abreast of the movements of the times. For 17 months he had been bed-fast, though not helpless by any means. He said he was slowly running down like an old clock. “Of no distemper, of no blast he died,
But fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long,
Even wondered at because he dropt no sooner;
Fate seemed to wind him up for four-score years,
Yet freshly ran he on twelve winters more,
Till, like a clock worn out with eating time,
The wheels of weary life at last stood still.”
Seldom is it granted one of his extreme age to bear testimony:
“How blessed it is to be old! And to sit near the sun-set gate
Ready to enter the portals, But willing with patience to wait;
Knowing that safely governed Are all the sheaves of the years
That head are the glad reunions And behind, all the struggles And tears.
Full well knew he the poets experiences,
Time has laid his hand
Up on my heart, gently, not smitting it,
But as a harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp to deaden its vibrations.”
Father Carr was a patriot. He earned the right to wear the bronze button and the suit of blue. During the Civil War he enlisted with Co. I Indiana Infantry Volunteers and saw service of 18 months when he was honorably discharged for cause growing out of a sunstroke which he sustained. He was a member of Phil Kerney Post No. 40, G.A.R., Oskaloosa, Iowa. He did not transfer to the local post because of inability to take any active part.
For some time there had been evidence that the end might come in the near future. Saturday evening at 9:55 in great quietness he slept the sleep whose waking was glorious.
Final services were also held at the Osborne and Gipe Undertaking parlors at New Sharon, Tuesday afternoon, June 5th and his weary body will be laid to rest beside his companion of the years and his children in Highland cemetery.
“Good night, dear comrade. As we Part
Not idle praise nor tears we bring;
But see, our hearts stand ‘round your heart
Like warriors ‘round a king.”
Card of Thanks
To our Friends in New Sharon:
It is only fair that we deeply appreciate the kindness shown us at the funeral and laying to rest of our dear father and take this means of publicly thanking you all for your acts of kindness and words of sympathy, and assure you they were not in vain.
W.T. and Edwin Carr