Cessna, Thomas R. 1827-1911

CESSNA, KOERNER, BURNSIDE, VAN EVERA, ROBINSON, JACOBS, POAGE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/3/2010 at 09:24:10

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) March 31, 1911

THOMAS R. CESSNA

Thomas R. Cessna was of Huguenot ancestry, a descendant of John De Cessna, who came to America from southern France in 1690, after the battle of Boyne in which he participated. In Stapleton's memorials of the Huguenots, De Cessna is mentioned among the heroes of this battle.

He located near Shippensburg, Penn., and here his son John 2nd, was captured and killed by the indians, July 18, 1757, leaving four sons, one of whom, John 3rd, was a member of the Provincial Assembly and Constitutional Convention in 1775 which drafted the first constitution of the state of Pennsylvania. He was a colonel in the Revolutionary war.

Thomas R. Cessna, son of William and Rachel Cessna, the great great grand son of Colonel De Cessna, was born October 27, 1827, on the old Homestead in Bedford County, Penn., purhcased by his ancestors from Wm. Penn, and which is still retained by the family. Here he grew to manhood with few opportunities for education, but was strong of character and integrity of purpose. In April 1848 he was united in marriage to Sarah Koerner also of Bedford County, Penn.

In 1858 he, with his wife, two daughters and one son, left the home of his ancestors and located in Scott County, Iowa. Here he amassed a comfortable fortune and reared his family of seven children, Mrs. Samuel Burnside, Mrs. Van Evera, N.W. Cessna, Mrs. Weller Robinson, John T. Cessna, Mrs. A.D. Jacobs and Mrs. T.I. Poage, all of whom are living today.

In 1886 Mr. Cessna sold his interest in Scott County and followed his three older children to Grinnell.

He was not yet ready to settle down to a life of inactivity, but at once interested himself in real estate and did a thriving business for ten years.

He has been for many years a most faithful and untiring member of the Methodist Episcopal church being a Trustee or Deacon for all this time. His benefactions to his church were manifold, and his wise counsel was always to be depended upon. It was four years the first of September when is wife, the cherished companion and helpmeet for more than fifty-eight years, passed to the life beyond. From this time "father Cessna" like the bruised reed, has been bending under his inconsolable loss, and the weight of years.

His chief pleasure in these later years has been in kindly ministrations for those he loved. Visiting the sick and needy was counted a privlege, carrying his words of cheer, with a bit of fruit and flowers (????) substantial gift.

His familiar form will be missed on the streets, in his church and most of all in the homes of his children who rise up and call him blessed.