DELASHMUTT, Esther (1823-1914)

DELASHMUTT, STARBUCK, BALLARD, MOORE, DEAN, RECORD, DAVIDSON, DONELAN, HAYNIE, HUNT

Posted By: Elaine Harrington (email)
Date: 10/24/2006 at 13:30:00

MILLS COUNTY TRIBUNE
PAGE 1 COL 4
JANUARY 22, 1914:

Grandma DeLashmutt, as she was lovingly called , after several weeks of gradual failing, on Tuesday evening at the hour of eight, passed into that dreamless sleep that, on earth, knows no waking.

Had she remained with us less than a month longer, she would have reached her 91st birthday. Lovingly was she cared for , her every wish gratified. Sons and daughters, she, like the Royal mother, could point to as her jewels. These have become the substantial citizens of whatever community they call their home.

Verily, as the wisest man has said, “She looketh well to her household and her children rise up and call her blessed.”

For seventy-seven years she has been a resident on Iowa soil, coming to this state a decade before Congress had decreed it to be a constitutional commonwealth.

Six sons and two daughters, with above three score grandchildren and great-grandchildren hold her in loving remembrance.

The funeral services are being conducted from he home of her son, W. C. Delashmutt this Thursday afternoon, by Rev. I. D. Stone of the Congregational church. The deceased had often mentioned certain men she desired as pall bearers, and as far as could be done, her wish is complied with. They were W. M. Moore, B. B. Dean, James Record, John Davidson, Wm. Donelan and Paul Haynie.

Music was furnished by members of the Congregational choir.

Mrs. DeLashmutt was a daughter of John Bert Hunt of Burlington, Iowa. She was born February 18, 1823, at Greenville, Brown County, Illinois. At the age of nine her parents moved to McDonough County and in 1837, when she was fourteen her family moved to Burlington.

In 1839 she was married to Peter L. DeLashmutt and they took up their residence in Jefferson County, Iowa. They soon after moved to Eddyville, at the opening up to settlement of that part of the Territory, and resided there until 1860, when they came to Mills County and settled at Pacific City. A year later they moved upon a farm five miles south of Pacific Junction, and lived there twenty-five years. They then took up their residence in Pacific City, and lived there until the time of Mr. DeLashmutts death in 1897. Soon after this Mrs. DeLashmutt made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Starbuck, and continued to live with her until the past few months.

A on onlooker goes back over lies such as have been theirs, he cannot but admire the sturdy stock, and pay tribute to the excellent manhood and womanhood which characterized such lives. By braving the trials and dangers of pioneer life, they made possible the advance and perfect civilization which has dotted our hills with farm houses and strewn the valleys with schools. By their influence, life, and character, they have given to the world in their descendants of four generations of men and women, whose tendencies are always upwards.

Mrs. DeLashmutt had the advantages and influence of early Christian training. The gentle influence of her modest, humble, pure life will ever remain with, not only those near and dear to her, but to all who knew her as well.

The children are W. C. DeLashmutt and E. Starbuck of Glenwood; J. L. DeLashmutt of Decatur, Neb.; E. N. DeLashmutt and W. G. Ballard of Whiting, Iowa; D. W. DeLashmutt of Denver, Colo.; W. E. DeLashmutt of Lyons Township; and J. V. DeLashmutt of Burwell, Neb.