Waterbury, Robert 1877-1926

WATERBURY, FOWLER, BROWN

Posted By: Janet Brown, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/5/2013 at 15:06:33

From the Tuesday, October 26, 1926 Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel:

LARGEST MAN IN THE STATE

ROBERT WATERBURY, MEMBER OF AKRON PIONEER FAMILY, DIES OF APOPLEXY

Robert Waterbury, said to have been one of Iowa's largest men, died of a stroke of apoplexy Sunday afternoon at his home, 611 Eleventh street in Sioux City. He was 49 years old.

Mr. Waterbury claimed the distinction of wearing one of the largest, if not the largest, suit of clothes in the state. He weighed 486 pounds.

The deceased had lived in Sioux City for the past two years, going there in 1924 from Akron where he had resided for 47 years. He was born at Akron in 1877.

Mr. Waterbury was a member of the Baptist church at Akron. He belonged to the Sioux City Consistory and the Masonic lodge, of Alcester, S. D. He also was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge at Akron. Mr. Waterbury was a retired farmer.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Jane E. Waterbury, of Sioux City: three sons, Oliver and Robert, Jr., of Sioux City, and Archie, of Omaha; three daughters, Mrs. Hazel Manning, of Akron; Mrs. Ruth Williams, of Akron, and Marion, of Sioux City; four brothers, Frank, of Sioux City; Ed, of Hudson, S. Dak., Fred, of Akron; and George, of Woodburn, Ore., and two grandchildren.

From the Thursday, October 28, 1926 Akron Register-Tribune:

DEATH CALLS R. WATERBURY

This community was shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden death of a former well-known resident, Robert Waterbury, at his home In Sioux City, Sunday afternoon, October 24, 1926. He had apparently been in his usual health previous to the final summons. For some time he had been employed In a grocery store near his home in the city and had an unusually busy day Saturday, not getting away from his work until considerably after midnight. His children came to Akron Sunday to spend the day with their sister, Mrs. Fred Manning, west of town.

Fred Waterbury, south of town, was in Sioux City Sunday and called at the home of his brother, Robert, shortly after noon. His brother was still sleeping soundly after his hard work of the previous day, but he aroused him, and they arranged to take dinner at the home of their brother; Frank, in Sioux City, where their mother, 94 years of age, resides. He appeared to be feeling all right after he awoke, but when he did not appear at dinner, relatives went to his home and found him in bed, but his spirit had taken its departure. The end, had evidently come peacefully, due to a stroke of apoplexy or heart failure.

Robert Waterbury was born February 19, 1877, on the old homestead in Union couhty, South Dakota, about two and one-half miles north of Akron, Iowa, and slept peacefully away at his home in Sioux City, Iowa, October 24, 1926, aged 49 yearn, 8 months and 5 days. Most of his life was spent on the old farm where he was born, which had been homesteaded by his father, Henry Waterbury, a sturdy pioneer of the Big Sioux valley, and in Akron, Iowa. In the autumn of 1924 he, with his family, moved to Davenport, Iowa, and, after a short residence there, moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he resided until his death. After completing his work in the public school at Akron, Iowa, he took a business course in the Business college at Sioux City, and after completing the course he took a position in the general merchandised store owned by his brothers at Akron. While attending college he became acquainted with Jennie L. Fowler and on October 26, 1898, they were married. To this union was born six children — three boys, Oliver and Robert, of Sioux City, and Archie, of Omaha, and three daughters, Mrs. Hazel Manning, of Akron; Mrs. Ruth Williams and Miss Marion, of Sioux City. On July 11, 1913, his wife, Jennie L., died following an operation, and, during the long days of intense suffering which she endured, Robert was always a faithful companion, rendering the best of care and attention.

Left alone with a family of small children, he shouldered the burden of responsibility left for him and proved his splendid qualities by keeping his family together and rearing them to Christian manhood and womanhood.

Robert Waterbury was known as the largest man in the northwest but in physical stature he was no larger than in the big, kind, heart which he possessed, and his friends were numbered by his acquaintances. He is survived by his six children, two grandchildren, his aged mother, now nearly 94 years of age, and four brothers, George W. of Woodburn, Ore.; C. E. of Hudson, S. D.; Fred E. of Akron, and J. F. of Sioux City, besides other relatives and a host of friends, who will miss his genial smile.

Mr. Waterbury was a member of Freedom lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Modern Woodmen of America, of Akron, and Sioux City Consistory No. 5, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the First Baptist church of Akron of which Mr. Waterbury was a member. The service was conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. D. MacMillan. It was one of the most largely attended funerals ever held in Akron. More than seventy-five autos were parked on the streets adjacent to the church during the funeral. Relatives and friends were present from many miles around to pay a final tribute of respect. The beautiful and impressive Masonic ritualistic service was exemplified at the burial in Riverside cemetery. The Masonic brethren attended the funeral in a body.

Poster's Note: According to the 1925 Iowa Census for Woodbury County, Robert Waterbury was the son of Jane (Brown) and Henry Waterbury.