Wakeman, Alsop 1845-1925

WAKEMAN, BELLWOOD

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/14/2006 at 12:13:04

LeMars Sentinel newspaper

Dated Tuesday, June 9, 1925

AKRON PIONEER CALLED

Alsop Wakeman Was Well Known by Early Settlers

Akron Register-Tribune: In the death of Alsop Wakeman at his home in this
city last Friday, this community lost one of its oldest and most highly
respected of the real pioneer settlers of the Big Sioux Valley. Alsop
Wakeman was born at Wilton, Connecticut, on May 29, 1845, and departed this
life at his home in Akron, Iowa, on this eightieth birthday, May 29, 1925.
He was the youngest of a family of eight children. One sister, aged 82, and
one brother, aged 87, survive. In 1867 he, with others, came to the Dakota
Territory and settle on a homestead in Union county, three miles northwest
of Akron. At that time Boone, Iowa, was the terminus of the railroad and
the journey from that point was continued by ox teams, over an unsettled and
trackless prairie. In common with the very few early settlers, he
experienced the hardships of pioneer life. Including the grasshopper plague
and the old-time blizzards. In 1874 he was united in marriage with Louise
Bellwood, and two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy.
He is survived by his faithful and devoted wife and her four children, who
were reared as his own. They are Mrs. Carrie Whitney, of Roseville, Kansas;
Edward Bellwood, of Chicago; Arthur Bellwood and Christian Bellwood, of
Akron. In 1917 owing to advancing age, he moved with his family to Akron
and has enjoyed his life here for the past eight years. Funeral services
were held in the Baptist church on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted
by Rev. A. W. Caul, field worker for the Iowa Baptist Convention. Many of
the old time friends were present to pay a last tribute of respect.
Interment was in Riverside cemetery.