Souter, John 1837-1924

SOUTER, COUTTS, MCMEEKIN, GREGSON, WRIGHT

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/15/2010 at 15:26:01

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) April 4, 1924

A CHRISTIAN PIONEER

John Souter's Life One of Uprightness, Thrift and Integrity.

John Souter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Souter, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, August 4, 1837.

His early years were spent on his father's farm. He received his education at the schools of Ashland and afterward took a course at Oberlin College. After leaving college he taught school for several years in his native state. Reaching the age of twenty-five years he decided to come west and located at Deep River, Poweshiek County, Iowa in 1862. After coming to Iowa he learned the carpenter trade which he followed for a number of years during the summer season and taught school during the winter months. In 1868 he removed to Pleasant Township shortly after which he purchased a farm, one and one-half miles south of Ewart, which has been the family home ever since and which he still owned at the time of his death.

Mr. Souter was twice married, first on Feb. 11, 1874, at Savannah, Ohio, to Miss Annie G. Coutts, and to this union, on May 14, 1875, was born a daughter. Five days later the young wife and mother was called away leaving a widowed husband and motherless child and eleven days later the child followed the mother.

Mr. Souter was again married to Miss Agnes McMeekin at Ewart, Iowa, and to this union were born two sons and one daughter. The daughter, who later became the wife of Leo Gregson, departed this life Jan. 12, 1917. The two sons, Dr. J.W. Souter of Grinnell, and Robert Souter of Ewart, are left to mourn the loss of an affectionate and model father.

In early life Mr. Souter was converted and united with the Christian Church and to the support and best interests of that church no man has ever been more loyal. He recognized the church as a large part of his own existence and was always ready to support with his money, his time and his influence, any movement or project that had for its end the welfare of the church. The itinerant preacher of that denomination never failed to find an open door and a real home under his hospitable roof. His religion went even further than that. He was a strong believer in the precepts enunciated by the Apostle James and really delighted to let his faith be seen by his works of benevolence for wherever sickness or poverty came to his attention he always was ready to respond by furnishing relief to the best of his ability. No man in the community in which he has lived so many years will be missed more than he. He never allowed bad roads or rough weather to keep him away from the regular services of the sanctuary until failing health interfered. He retained, however, that keen entertainment of all the interests and affairs of the church that had been a part of himself all these years.

In public life Mr. Souter held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years and in 1876 was elected Township Assessor which office he held consecutively for a number of years.

Since the death of Mrs. Souter, which occurred in 1911, he has made his home with his children, part of the time with his youngest son on the farm, but most of the time with his elder son, Dr. J.W. Souter, of this city, at whose home he passed away March 30, 1924, after a brief illness, and at the age of 86 years, 7 months and 26 days.

In the passing of John Souter the world has lost a splendid man, the church a most earnest adherent and supporter and the country a most loyal citizen.

He leaves to mourn his loss one sister, Mrs. J.D. Wright of Oklahoma, two sons and eleven grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Christian Church of this city, Rev. J.M. Hoffman, pastor of the church officiating. Pallbearers were: George Hays, J.C. Pimlott, August Shrader, Austin Fleming, Jay Parrott and Dave Haines. Mr. and Mrs. George Hall sang two duets.

The body was taken to Montezuma Wednesday morning and a further service was held there in the afternoon at one o'clock, Rev. Mr. Hoffman conducting. Interment was in the Montezuma cemetery.