John R. King 1863-1939

KING, ROSE, WHEELER, TATTERSON, DRENNEN, RADKE

Posted By: Cathy Joynt Labath (email)
Date: 12/31/2006 at 09:08:28

Ruthven Free Press; Ruthven, Palo Alto, IA; Wednesday, March 22, 1939

JOHN R. KING DIES
Funeral Sunday
Passed Away Thursday Morning After Long Illness:
Came to Ruthven in 1900.

John R. King, pioneer resident of this vicinity, passed away last Thursday afternoon at his home in Ruthven. He had been in failing health for some time and his death was not unexpected by his relatives and close friends.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Ruthven last Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the pastor, Rev. Belden Weikel, officiating. The pastor chose Acts 13:38 as the text for his funeral sermon: "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep" Mrs. Fred Grange sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," with Mrs. A.L. Bragg at the piano.

Burial took place in Crown Hill cemetery.

The pallbearers were: Oliver Lee, Ted Grange, Albert Hermansen, Will Rice, Nicholas Geelan, and Donald G. Logan.

John Rose King, son of Ezekiel and Julia Rose King, was born at Jamestown, New York, June 8, 1863, and died at Ruthven, Iowa, March 16, 1939, at the age of 75 years, 8 months and 23 days.

His father, who enlisted in the northern army during the Civil war, was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, on the edge of the fortifications of Richmond, Va., where it is said 10,000 Union soldiers fell in twenty minutes. John R. King was almost a year old when he lost his father, and when he was about 2 years old, his mother died. Then he found a home with his aunt Annie Wheeler, whose kindness and memory he always cherished.

When a boy he came to Iowa in a covered wagon with his aunt, Annie Wheeler, and her brother, Daniel Wheeler, and they settled on a farm near Aurelia, in Cherokee county. The deceased started farming when he was about 16 years of age. His aunt passed away when he was about 21 years of age. Then in company with a party by the name of Henry Rice, he came to Clay county with a herd of cattle to pasture, and the two located later on what is known as the Reeverts farm, southwest of Ruthven. Later, the deceased bought out the interests of his partner.

On November 8, 1891, he was united in marriage to Martha Tatterson and they began housekeeping on this old Reeverts farm. In 1900 they moved to Ruthven and entered the implement business, which he later sold to Charles Focum. Since then he spent his time looking after his farm properties in this locality.

Mr. King was a member of the city council for a number of years and at the time of his death he was president of the Farmers Elevator company of Ruthven.

The deceased is survived by his wife, one son, Arthur, two daughters, Mrs. Florence Drennen of Ruthven, and Mrs. Marion Radke of Houston, Minnesota, and five grandchildren.

Mr. King died as he had lived - at peace with the world and his fellowmen. He believed in doing unto others as he would that they should do unto him, and his name and his virtues will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him.

"He lived his busy life from year to year,

With forward face and reluctant soul,

Not hastening to nor turning from the goal,

Nor mourning for things that disappear

In the dim past, nor holding back in fear;

Thus he grew old, but never lost life's zest,

Knowing the road's last turn would be the best."

The Lightle Funeral Home of Ruthven had charge of funeral arrangements