Redmon, Neville 1828-1913

REDMON, PICKERELL

Posted By: Viv Reeves, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/21/2006 at 19:11:58

From the LeMars Sentinel, LeMars, (Plymouth), Iowa, Tuesday, October 28, 1913, Page 1, Column 5:
WAS AN EARLY PIONEER
NEVILLE REDMON DIES AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD
HAD LIVED THERE FORTY YEARS
The Decedent Was One of the First Settlers in America Township and
Built the First School House There--Leaves Many Descendants

Neville Redmon, one of the oldest and best known of the early pioneers of Plymouth county, died at his home in America township on Thursday night at half past ten at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. Mr. Redmon had been in feeble health for the past few months and had not been off the farm since last spring. His death was due to the infirmities of old age.

The passing of Mr. Redmon marks the removal of another sturdy pioneer from the ranks of the old timers who are fast disappearing. He lived for forty-five years on the place which he homesteaded and the Redmon place and school house are landmarks in the county.

Neville Redmon was born in Jackson township, Brown county, Ohio, on November 30, 1828 and was a son of Alfred and Mary Pickerell Redmon. His grandfather, Alfred Redmon, was of English descent. When Neville was a boy of five years old his parents moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, and there he received a common school education. When a youth he learned the carpenter trade which he followed for a number of years. Mr. Redmon was married in April, 1849 to Nancy Jane Keyst, who died five years later, leaving two sons who are Alfred, of Omaha, and Lafayette D., of Avoca, Neb. He was united in marriage with Lucretia L. Stanton March 31, 1857, who was the mother of nine children, who are Mrs. Henry Liesinger, of America township, George Redmon, of Pipestone, Mrs. A. Demaray, of Jackson, Neb., Will of Bonesteel, J. G. Redmon, LeMars, Douglas, residing on the home place, Mrs. Etta Corkins, Woodstock, N. Y., Mrs. Bertha Fowler, of LeMars, Mrs. Archie Tucker, of this county. He also leaves twenty-four grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. On June 29, 1886, his second wife departed this life, aged forty-nine years. On August 27, 1887, Mr. Redmon was united in marriage with Mary B. Robinson, who survives him.

From Indiana Mr. Redmon went to Fillmore county, Minnesota in 1856. He came to Plymouth county in the spring of 1868 and homesteaded land in section thirty-two, where he resided until his death. Mr. Redmon lived in the rough and ready days of the pioneers and underwent the hardships and vicissitudes which befell the early settlers. He was wont to recall the times when winter blizzards raged and the wolf howled at the door and it was no small job to procure enough for a large and growing family. While homesteading Mr. Redmon worked at his trade of carpenter and built many of the houses in those days. He built the first school in America township. Mr. Redmon and his family prospered when the country began to be developed and settled up and he reaped the reward of his labors and lived to a good old age in affluence and surrounded by his sons and daughters, his chiefest pleasure being in the family gatherings for which his hospitable house was noted.

Mr. Redmon was a good citizen, neighbor and friend, a loving father and husband and enjoyed the respect of a large circle of acquaintances in the community in which he has been a central figure for so many years.

Mr. Redmon was a member of the Masonic order. In politics he was an independent republican. In early days he filled the offices of justice of the peace and township trustee.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at the First Congregational church, Rev. J. L. Blanehard, of Cherokee, officiating.