Bosworth, George 1828-1902

BOSWORTH, MARSH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/6/2010 at 09:39:17

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Aug. 22, 1902

IN MEMORIAM

George Bosworth was born in Champlain, N.Y., Sept. 11, 1828. He was educated there and in Bakersfield Academy, and took his college course in Middlebury and in Amherst Colleges, graduating at the latter in 1854. He entered upon his chosen work as teacher at once in an academy at Salem, Wis., where in 1855, he married Miss Sophia E. Marsh, his assistant teacher. After two years there he passed into a school for boys in Milwaukee. Ill health drove him to farming in 1859, and he became fairly well in about ten years.

His home has been in Grinnell since his arrival here in 1869. He entered very sympathetically into all the best work in and for the town. He had no occasion to employ a physician until some three weeks ago when attacked by hemiplegia because of overwork. The friends did all that could be done in hope and in fear. The last hour came on the 18th inst. He seemed to be doing well. Every organ appeared in good condition, but the doctor returned from the threshold because his patient was fainting. In a few moments he was gone. It was heart failure.

Those who knew him best had most to tell of his noble spirit. He had no complaints to make when embarrassments came or even when he was compelled to lay aside his chosen life work. Nature and christian grace enabled him to feel that somehow good must come from every seeming ill. Life's friendships were dear to him, especially all tokens of kindness in his final sickness. It was peculiarly touching when the little children, whose hearts he ahd won came with arms brimming with flowers to brighten his last hours.

At the memorial service conducted by Prof. Parker some of his favorite hymns were sung, and all his four living children were present. Three of them, Julia S. Bosworth, a music teacher, Walter M. and Harvey E., civil engineers, had come from Tacoma, Washington, and George F., a postal clerk, from Davenport. Love for such a husband and father crosses continents and abides through all the years. In him the Congregational church loses a valued member who loved the bible, found joy in the christian life, but had no pleasure in the new rather than in the true.