Ohmart, Francis Marion 1842-1919

OHMART, CHARLES, JOHNSON, BECHTEL, BINGHAM, SCHMIDT, HUMPHREY, LANE, VAN VALIN, HUBER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/14/2012 at 11:18:07

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

OLD VETERAN PASSES
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Frank Ohmart Dies Sunday night at
His Home in Washington
Township.
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WAS MEMBER OF FAMOUS
IOWA CROCKER BRIGADE
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Had Been a Resident of Poweshiek
Since 1875--Forty-four
Years.
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Francis Marion Ohmart, veteran of the 13th Iowa, and an old timer in Washington township, passed away at his home, resting peacefully in the arms of his wife, at 11:30 o'clock Sunday night, August 24, at the age of 77 years, 7 months, 12 days.

Mr. Ohmart had been in poor health about four years, but notwithstanding this fact he retained a lively interest in current events, and was a regular attendant at church service and local gatherings. Tho weak physically, he attended the Old Settlers' and Old Soldiers' reunions Thursday and Friday at Lynnville, and enjoyed every minute of the two days. Sunday morning he was taken worse, but no fear was entertained until evening, when he became worse, passing away just before midnight.

Mr. Ohmart was born at Enid, Clark county, Ohio, January 12, 1842. His parents moved to Pleasant Plain, Ia., in 1854, when he was twelve years of age and here he grew to manhood, enlisting in 1861 in Co. K, 13th Iowa, at Washington. He served till the close of the war, a trusty and valiant soldier of the Crocker Brigade, and was honorabley discharged at Davenport.

The same year, July 4, 1865, at Pleasant Plain he was united in marriage with Martha Charles, a cousin of Mrs. Henry Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Ohmart lived seven years in Van Buren county, and at Pleasant Plain three years, moving to Washington township, this county, in 1875, to the farm where Mr. Ohmart died. Two children were born to this union, Charles who still lives at the old home, and Bertha who died at the age of 23. Mrs. Ohmart passed away in 1878.

November 10, 1883, Mr. Ohmart was married to Miss Ella Bechtel of Birmingham, Iowa, a talented artist and teacher whom he had been acquainted with when a resident of Pleasant Plain, having sung in the same church choir.

For nearly 36 years they have journeyed life's pathway together, happy, contented, cheerful and prosperous. Mr. and Mrs. Ohmart and son, Charles, have made the farm a place of beauty and fertility and the home an attractive and lovely one.

Perhaps the most striking characteristic of Mr. Ohmart was his ever-abiding cheerfulness. No one could be other than happy in his presence. All who knew him were friends and the added cheer of his faithful wife made them welcome everywhere. In early youth he was a member of the Christian church, and since his removal to this county he regularly attended the Friends Church. He joined no organization and when asked his affiliations always jocularly replied:"Oh, I'm just a member of Crocker's Brigade," a fact in which he took just pride. The home has been a delightful one and all three members of it, Mr. and Mrs. Ohmart and Charles Ohmart, have joined in making it one of unusual comfort and cheer.

The funeral was held Wednesday at three o'clock, at the home, conducted by Pastor Alberry of the Friends Church. There was a veritable out-pouring of friends and neighbors who gathered to show their appreciation of the loving character of the deceased man and their sympathy for the bereaved wife and son. The text of the service consisted of a few passages from the 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians, designed to show the immortality of man and the renewal of the inward man day by day, even after the frail body had returned to its earth.

The music was by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Russell, Mr. and Mrs. John Russell, Miss Alice White, Mrs. A.D. Rayl, A.T. Gifford and Arthur Cope. Bearers were: Jervis Johnson, Leland Johnson, Roy White, James Livesey, Oscar Thompson and Geo. Renaud. Burial was in the cemetery northeast of Lynnville.

Relatives who came from away were: Geo. Ohmart, only broher of the deceased, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; Mrs. Flora Bingham, an only sister of Galt, Mo.; Mrs. Belle Schmidt, a niece, of Keokuk, Iowa; Mrs. Rose Ohmart, a sister-in-law, of Ft. Madison; Thos. Humphrey, brother-in-law, of Pleasant Plain; Walter Lane, a nephew, of Ft. Madison; Mrs. Laura Van Valin, a niece, of Monte Vista, Col.; Lloyd Bechtel of Lake Forest, Ill.; Walter Bechtel, of Des Moines, and Pearl Bechtel of Ottumwa, relatives of Mrs. Ohmart, and David S. Huber and daughter, friends, of Pella, Iowa.

Dr. D.J. Eichelberger and wife of Sawtelle, Calif., had already started for Grinnell, to visit at the Ohmart home, but could receive no knowledge of Mr. Ohmart's death, nor could they reach home in time to attend the funeral. The Doctor is also a member of the Crocker Brigade and was coming to enjoy a reunion with Mr. Ohmart and C.E.S. Cooper of Toledo, Iowa, who was also a member, and the three had been looking forward to a joyous time together. But it was not to be. While the two living ones can meet and recount the events of other days, the third friend sleeps peacefully in the grave.

CARD OF THANKS.

We wish to thank the dear friends and neighbors who have been so kind to us the past few days and by their assistance and sympathy and floral offerings have made our grief easier to bear.
MRS. FRANK OHMART.
CHARLES OHMART.