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GOULD, Cromwell 1904-1924

GOULD

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/11/2010 at 15:23:38

THE OBITUARY OF
CROMWELL GOULD

Cromwell Merle Gould, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Gould, was born at St. Ansgar, Iowa, on June 27, 1904. He and his twin brother, Kermit, were baptized on September 4, 1904, Mrs. M. E. Waldeland and Mr. K. Williams acting as sponsors for Cromwell. He was confirmed October 24, 1920.

Cromwell was a member of the First Lutheran Sunday School at St. Ansgar until his confirmation and a member of the Bible Class of the same Sunday School after his confirmation. He was also a member of the First Lutheran Church Junior Choir which sang before 15,000 people at Story City, 2,000 people at Jewell, and 6,000 people at Mason City, Iowa. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of St. Ansgar.

Cromwell was born on the old Knud Williams homestead, north of St. Ansgar. In early childhood his parents moved to Osage, where the family lived about two years, after which they lived for a short time at Mason City. He also lived with his parents for shorter periods of time at Austin and at Missoula, Montana. Most of Cromwell's life however has been spent at St. Ansgar and he obtained almost his entire education at our public schools. After graduation from the high school in the spring of 1923 he continued his studies at the Iowa State University [SIC], Iowa City, Iowa.

He returned from Iowa City on June 2nd and for the first time this summer attended church at the First Lutheran Church on the 8th of June. The brothers celebrated their twentieth birthday on Friday the 27th of June. On Saturday, the 28th, he went to the river to swim. The story of this trip and its sad ending have been placed before our community by the St. Ansgar Enterprise in such detail that a mere mention of it is sufficient for this occasion. His death ocurred at about 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, the 28th of June, and his body was found at about 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, the 29th of June.

The funeral was conducted at the home and at the First Lutheran Church of St. Ansgar by his pastor, Rev. M.E. Waldeland, on Wednesday the 2nd of July, and was very largely attended, being one of the largest funerals ever held in St. Ansgar, not half the people being able to get into the church. Rev. Waldeland preached a very impressive sermon from Romans 1:16, "For I am Not Ashamed of The Gospel of Christ, for It Is the Power of God unto Salvation to Everyone That Believeth."

His remains were laid to rest at the Pleasant Hill Lutheran Cemetery south of Mona, Iowa, where he rests beside his uncle, John Gould, and his grandfather, Collin Gould.

The most beautiful wreath placed upon the casket of Cromwell Gould was that which was given by the members of his confirmation class. Instead of buying flowers that would wilt within a few days, they have donated a sum of money to be sent to the Foreign Mission field of the church and there to be used in keeping one of the Foreign Missionary children in a Mission school. These children always assume new names when, after instruction, they are baptized, and it has been suggested to the Foreign Mission Board of the Church that they suggest to our missionaries to have the child that will be supported by this money given the name of Cromwell Gould. In this way, Cromwell's memory will have a blessed influence abroad and the action of the confirmation class it is hoped will bring beautiful flowers of Christianity to bloom in the heart and life of some little heathen child.

Present at the funeral from away were: Mr. S.M. Gould, New Lexington, Ohio; Dr. and Mrs. George Gould, Conrad, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. E. Tostenson and son, Vernell, Jackson, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Frank, Rudd, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Springer, Charles City, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. James Palmer, Lyle, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hofland, Star Prairie, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Frank and family, Carpenter, Iowa.
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See Mitchell County Press story about Cromwell in the July 2, 1924 issue.

Complete Story of Cromwell's Death
 

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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