Waterbury, Squire "Alexander" 1854-1912

WATERBURY, MUDGETT

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/8/2012 at 17:18:33

Akron lost one of its best known citizens, S. A. Waterbury, Saturday.

For more than a year past he had been an intense sufferer, and after consulting the best medical authorities was advised that his affliction was cancer of the bladder. He submitted to an operation at the Samaritan hospital, Sioux City, March 5th, 1912. For a time he gained rapidly and was building hopes of ultimate recovery, when he took a sudden turn for the worse, and, as his wish was to come home, he was brought home April 30th; but he only lasted a few days and death relieved his suffering Saturday morning, May 4, 1912, at the age of 57 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Squire Alexander Waterbury was born near New Canaan, Connecticut, May 16, 1854. At nearly 13 years of age Mr. Waterbury, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Waterbury, left New Canaan on April 22, 1867, to make a home in the far west. Arriving at Denison, la., then the terminus of the railroads, they purchased an ox-team and equipment and continued their westward course across the broad, sparsely-settled prairies of Iowa, arriving in Sioux Valley township, Union county, S. D., May 16, 1867.

Here he grew to manhood, and on July 9, 1875, was united in marriage to Abbie E. Mudgett. The first three years after his marriage he conducted a shoe shop at Elk Point, S. D. About the year 1878 he filed and, with his family, moved onto a claim about three miles west of Hawarden, Iowa. There they made their home until about twenty-seven years ago, when they exchanged their claim for the farm adjoining the town of Akron, Iowa, which has since been the family home almost continuously. He experienced the trying times of pioneer days in Dakota, passing through many of the hardships to which the early settlers were subjected, and it was with pride that he watched the development of the country. He was always at the front for anything that was for the advancement of the town of Akron or the surrounding country.

Rather aggressive in temperament, he was yet a man of kindly nature, and no worthy cause or person approached him without receiving from him a generous, charitable response. Devotion to the family circle was also one of his admirable characteristics.

A host of friends join in sincere sympathy to those left to mourn his demise, consisting of his faithful wife, one. son, D. L., of this city, three daughters, Mrs. Mamie E. Edgar of Twin Falls, Idaho, Mrs. Daisy Bertrand of Sioux City, Iowa, and Mrs. Fern Greenleaf of this city; an aged mother, Mrs. Jane Waterbury, now at Woodburn, Oregon; five brothers, George of Woodburn, Ore., Ed. of Sioux City, Fred, Frank
and Robert of Akron's vicinity.

The funeral was held today in the Baptist church, following a brief service at the home, and was largely attended. Rev. R. L. Stuart, the M. E. pastor, read from the Scripture and offered prayer, and Dr. R. F. Killgore, of the Baptist church, delivered a fine sermon. A. mixed quartet sang. Interment was made in Riverside cemetery.

The business houses here closed, as a tribute of respect, during the funeral services.

Relatives present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Bertrand, Mrs. C. E. Waterbury and daughters, Florence and Verna, of Sioux City, Roy Waterbury, of Platte, S. D.; Andrew J. Waterbury and Robt. Schaber, of Hudson, S. D.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, May 9, 1912
Akron, Iowa
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Alton Democrat, May 18, 1912
News From All Sources:

Akron has lost one of its most respected pioneer citizens, S. A. Waterbury, who died on May 4th, of cancer of the bladder.
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