Hadley, Irvee 1845-1905

HADLEY, JESSUP

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/28/2012 at 15:44:21

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; April 18, 1905

OBITUARY.

I.S. HADLEY

Irvee Hadley was born at Richland, Keokuk Co. Ia., Feb. 7, 1845, and died near Grinnell, Iowa, April 11, 1905, aged 60 years, 2 months, and 4 days. He grew up to young manhood at his early home. His name is found as a student in Iowa College in the preparatory department in the Catalogues of 1865-5, '66, and '67, three successive years. After leaving college he taught school several years at his home and afterward in Hardin Co. In Oct., 1869, he was married to Miss Julia A. Jessup of Bangor.

Five children were born to this union, four sons and one daughter. The family lived for a short time at Richland but soon removed to Union in Hardin Co., where they lived eighteen years. At the latter part of their stay there Mrs. Hadley was not in good health and they decided to move to Nebraska to see if the climate at Indianola in that state would be favorable to her recovery.

They left a comfortable home in a place where they had secured a snug little fortune to go to a new country and suffer many privations.

It seemed a very unfortunate enterprise. They reached the field in time to lose the crops on account of dry weather and just as a financial reverse overtook the country. They suffered the loss of most of their fortune and also found that no relief was realized by the invalid wife and mother. After living there seven years they went to California and settled at Whittier, expecting that the mild climate would certainly be beneficial. Here too they were disappointed and after lingering two years, Mrs. Hadley died Aug. 19, 1902.

While living at Whittier, Mr. Hadley served in the office of Commissariat as the purchaser of supplies for the State Reform School located there. This work he continued for a time after the death of his wife. His own health had now become impaired. Suffering both in body and mind he finally returned to this place about a year ago. After long absence he found that the friends of his youth were gone or dead and he felt like a stranger at his early home. His nearest friends soon became aware that his mind had suffered as well as his body. His physician pronounced his disorder a serious brain trouble, incurable, what is called softening of the brain. He often spoke of a severe pain in his head. It is very probable that in one of these paroxysms of suffering which made him irresponsible for his acts the deed was committed which we all deplore and for which we may well conclude that he was not accountable. While living at Union he was widely known as a man of strictest integrity and honesty. He would not take advantage of another in his dealings. So careful was he in these matters that others often profited at his expense. In his early youth he became a member of the Society of Friends, a connection he retained all through his life. While his friends had full confidence in his Christian integrity, he had times when he became very desponent and almost hopeless. These seasons of despair probably caused by ill health undoubtedly aggravated both his mental and bodily disorder.

His four sons and the daughter were present at his funeral service which was conducted by Prof. S.J. Buck, who was the Prin. of the preparatory department of Iowa College while he was a student. The four stalwart sons served as pall-bearers and one of them went with the body to Whittier, Calif., to deposit it by the side of the mother there.

Excellent music was furnished by a quartette of College singers, Director D.L. Smith of the Conservatory of music assisted by Mr. Ralph H. Lyman, Miss Helen M. Thomson and Miss Ada Zane.

Kind neighbors and sympathizing friends in a goodly number were present at the home of the son where he spent his last days, to show their regard for the bereaved family circle.