FONDA, Edmund Stephen 1839-1919

FONDA, HARWOOD, TOWNER, MCCOOK, CREGO

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/2/2011 at 21:07:43

E. S. FONDA DIED
AT HIS HOME IN
OSAGE SATURDAY

CAME TO THIS CITY FROM STATE
OF VERMOND ABOUT FIFTY YEARS AGO

WAS PROMINENT MAN IN COUNTY

Connected With Many Movements Which Tended Toward the Betterment and Growth of Mitchell County - One of the Organizers of Farmers National Bank of Osage

When E. S. Fonda passed away at his home in this city last Saturday the life of one of the most prominent men of the county came to a close.

He was one of the early settlers of the county and especially in the earlier days of the town and county was instrumental in starting many of the things which have tended to the betterment of the county. After a very active life his later years were spent in the enjoyment of the fruits of his earlier labors and good judgement in business matters and the association of his relatives and friends.

Edmund Stephen Fonda was born June 8, 1839 and died at his home in this city Saturday, January 25, 1919, at 1 p.m., having reached the age of 79 years, 7 months and 22 days. His parents were Stephen H. and Julia Harwood Fonda. They were the parents of five children - two sons and three daughters.

Mr. Fonda was brought up as a farm boy, receiving his education in the common schools and at Fort Edward Institute in New York.

In the fall of 1860 he turned his face westward and settled in St. Joseph County, Michigan. He he became acquainted with and married Loretta E. Crego.

In the spring of 1869 he came to Osage and engaged in the real estate business. In 1875 he established an implement business which he conducted for twenty-two years. He took an active interest in agricultural affairs, was a member of board of directors of the State Agricultural society, was a member of the finance committee of that society and served as president of the Mitchell County Agricultural Society for several years.

He was one of the prime movers in the Mitchell County Fire Insurance Co., and was its first secretary. Mr. Fonda served as chairman of the railway committee of the Osage Board of Trade for five years during the prospecting and building of the Winona & Southwestern Railway and was largely instrumental in getting the company to build in Osage.

In 1889 he was elected mayor of the city of Osage and was reelected in 1891. In 1893 Mr. Fonda obtained a charter for himself and associated to organize the Farmers National Bank of Osage. In educational matters he took an active part. He was vice president of the Cedar Valley Seminary and was president of the city school board.

He held many positions of trust and always took an active part in all public moves and matters, until failing health prevented it the past few years.

The deceased is survived by his widow and three daughters, Lottie J. Towner and Kate B. Fonda of Osage and Fanny L. McCook of Sumner, Iowa; also six grandchildren, all of whom were permitted to be present at the funeral.

Funeral services were conducted at the home Monday morning by Reverend Lemon. That afternoon the remains were accompanied to Des Moines by Mr. and Mrs. Nelson McCook and Miss Kate Fonda and were to be cremated, after which the ashes will be taken to Rupert, Vermont, and placed in the cemetery of the town of his birth.

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Photo of Edmund from STANDARD HISTORICAL ATLAS OF MITCHELL COUNTY, IOWA, 1911.

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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