Waterbury, Henry 1828-1900

WATERBURY, BROWER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/23/2011 at 20:38:20

Akron Tribune
January 3, 1901

DIED.
WATERBURY—At the family residence in Akron, Iowa, on Sunday morning,
December 23, 1900, Henry Waterbury, at the age of 72 years, 10 months and 27
days.

After an illness covering a period of six weeks, during which time the
tenderest care was bestowed by a devoted wife and children, the soul of this
revered pioneer citizen took its flight to the realms of peace. It is a
matter of consolation to relatives and friends that his last days were not
attended with severe suffering and that dissolution came very easily, with
consciousness until near the end.

Such a life as Henry Waterbury’s is deserving of the highest tribute—always
upright and industrious, and imbued with a keen spirit of patriotism, which
was not found lacking in time of his country’s need; a man with whom the
home ties and family welfare were ever first and foremost in his thoughts,
but from whose presence there never turned away unheeded the deserving
needy. In his breast the balm of human kindness was ever sweet and ready to
pour out in copious sympathy to the common brotherhood on mankind. Of such a
life were written these fitting lines:

“None knew him but to love him.
None named him but to praise.”

Henry Waterbury was born at Pound Ridge, Westchester county, New York, On
January 21, 1828. Residing there until January, 1845, he removed with his
parents and their family to Norwalk, Conn. He then took up his residence at
Westport, that state, where he became acquainted with and married Jane E.
Brower, October 29, 1848, who survives him. They then moved to Ansonia,
Conn., and, during the next year, resided at Bridgeport and Westport. In
September, 1850, they moved to Norwalk, where they became converted to the
Christian religion, uniting with the M.E. church From Norwalk they went to
the home of his boyhood, Pound Ridge, N. Y., in 1851, residing there four
years, when they returned to Connecticut, locating at New Canaan. Here they
made their home until the opening of the Civil War, when he enlisted in
Company H, Seventeenth regiment of Connecticut volunteers, serving until the
close of the war and participating in the grand review. His wife and
children remained at Westport during the rebellion, but after his return
they again made their home at New Canaan. On April 22, 1867, Mr. and Mrs.
Waterbury and children started for the great west. Upon arriving at Denison,
Iowa, then they terminus of the railroad, they purchased an ox team and
continued their westward course across the broad, sparsely settled prairies
of Iowa. They reached the Big Sioux Valley on the 16ty day of May, 1867, and
took a homestead in Sioux Valley township, Union county, S.D., about two
miles northwest of Akron, which still remains in the family’s possession.
After living on the farm until March, 1880, they came to Akron, and for
three years he operated a boot and shoe store here. They again returned to
the farm, and, except for a brief period, resided there until the fall of
1889, when, on account of Mrs. Waterbury’s ill health, they made a three
months’ visit to Missouri and northern Arkansas. Upon returning they again
made Akron their home and have since remained here. To Mr. and Mrs.
Waterbury were born nine children, one daughter, Mary E. who died in May,
1877, and nine sons, Geo. W., of Woodburn, Ore., S.A., H.L., C.E., A.B.,
F.E., J.F., and Robert of Akron, each of whom were present at the time of
their father’s death.

The funeral was held at 2:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, at the Akron M.E.
church, the services being conducted by Rev. Geo. Jones, of the Baptist
church, and Rev. L.A. McCaffree, a large number of friends attending. The
members of James Biddlecome post, G.A.R. and Plymouth lodge, No. 21,
I.O.O.F., to which orders deceased belonged, attended the services in a
body. Mr. Waterbury had been a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows for almost fifty-two years, and members of the two local lodges
marched in escort to the remains to the grave, where the impressive ritual
service of the order constituted the last rites for the departed brother.