BALSLEY, Homer Horton 1853-1936

BALSLEY, SMITH, GLEASON

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 7/25/2011 at 11:11:33

Homer H. Balsley 1853-1936

#1:

HOMER BALSLEY, 83, OSAGE, DIES
MITCHELL COUNTY RESIDENT 80 YEARS SURVIVED BY FOUR CHILDREN

Osage – Homer Balsley, 83, died suddenly at his home here Saturday of a heart attack.

Born October 22, 1853, Mr. Balsley lived in Mitchell County 80 years. Since the death of his wife last January, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hatfield have kept house for him in his own home where he lived the past 22 years. Mrs. And Mrs. Balsley had been married 55 years.

Surviving are four children; Mrs. Emily Smith of Little Cedar; Melvin Balsley of Osage; Clarence Balsley of Charles City; and Carl Balsley of Duluth, Minn.

[ Mason City Globe Gazette, Monday, November 2, 1936 ]
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#2:

HOMER H. BALSLEY,
RESIDENT OF COUNTY
FOR 80 YEARS, DEAD

Homer H. Balsley, a resident of Mitchell county for eighty years, passed away suddenly last Saturday. He suffered a heart attack at 11:15 a.m., and died with a half hour.

The funeral service was held Monday at the Champion Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. John D. Kern, and interment was made in the Orchard Cemetery.

OBITUARY

Homer Horton Balsley, son of Alfred D. and Lucretia Balsley, was born in Onondagua county, N.Y., October 29, 1853. He came to Mitchell county, Iowa, with his parents in September, 1856, and settled in Lincoln township. The town of Osage had only six houses and one store when the family arrived. Often the pioneers would drive to McGregor for supplies or to sell their produce. Mr. Balsley grew up on the farm in Lincoln township and later purchased a farm near by which was his home until he moved to Osage in 1914, twenty-two years ago.

He was united in marriage to Laura Gleason on November 15, 1882. Mrs. Balsley passed away on the 11th of last January, after a wedded life of fifty-six years.

They were the parents of six children, four of whom survive: Mrs. Roy Smith, Little Cedar; Melvin, Osage; Clarence, Charles City; and Carl, Duluth, Minnesota. Two preceded their parents in death, Willie at the age of 13, and Dorothy, aged 17. Dorothy's death was a shock from which Mrs. Balsley never recovered. Mr. Balsley gave her loving and faithful care during the years of her invalidism.

Mr. Balsley is also survived by two brothers and one sister: Jasper Balsley, of Lincoln township; Arthur E. Balsley, Waverly; and Mrs. George Haffron, of Floyd county.

Mr. Balsley and his wife united with the Lincoln Baptist church in May, 1885, in a class with twenty-four others. He served as deacon and trustee of the church during his years of residence in this vicinity. He was an attendant of the Osage Baptist Church and was present when home conditions permitted. He attended the 75th anniversary of the church last Sunday.

We bid farewell to one who has been a resident of Mitchell county for 80 years. He saw this county change from primeval prairies to a land of farms and homes. He is among the last of the pioneers. He belonged to a generation of hard-working and thrifty builders of the community.

[ MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS, 5 NOV 1936 ]
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Photo of the Balsley family circa 1911.

Larger Version of Photo
 

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