James Russell Phoenix

PHOENIX, RICHARDS

Posted By: Ann Bowler (email)
Date: 10/30/2011 at 12:08:28

Palo Alto Reporter” May 14, 1929, p 4.
“Ruthven Mourns Death of Pioneer”
“J. R. Phoenix died Monday. Was 82 years of age. Took up homestead near Ayrshire in 1870. Civil war veteran. Held various responsible offices in Ruthven. Other Ruthven news items.”

“Ruthven, Iowa, May 28.

“J. R. Phoenix, pioneer of Palo Alto county passed away Monday, May 27th, 1929, at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, after several months of illness. He was not bedfast but a few days and his death came as a shock to his friends and relatives.

Mr. Phoenix celebrated his 82nd birthday Jan. 12th, 1929. He was married in Wisconsin in 1866. In 1870 he and his wife came to Iowa, well equipped with two wagon loads of goods, one wagon drawn by horses and the other by oxen. Their homestead was in Palo Alto county, near Ayrshire. Mr. Phoenix was one of the 15 remaining members of Annett Post G. A. R. in Spencer. He entered the army at the age of 17, enlisting in Company E, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin infantry. He served more than two years. He came to Ruthven in 1881 and has been in business the greater part of that time. He has been deputy postmaster, justice of the peace, mayor and trustee of the township for many years. December 30th there was a family reunion at the home in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Phoenix’ 62 wedding anniversary. Two daughters were born to this union. Mrs. Gene Cope and Minnie Phoenix both of Ruthven.
Funeral arrangement awaits the arrival of two grandsons from the west.”