James W. WOODMANSEE

WOODMANSEE, MILLSAP, MCLAUGHLIN, GRAYSON, HAMMER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/4/2009 at 17:20:06

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
May 19, 1898

OBITUARY - JAMES W. WOODMANSEE

James W. WOODMANSEE died Monday morning, about 9 o'clock, at the residence of his son, John WOODMANSEE, in this city, aged 81 years, 4 months and 15 days. Though a man endowed with a strong constitution he had suffered the extremity of ill health for many months. He is survived by six children--Mrs. Ann MILLSAP of Hamilton County, Kansas; John WOODMANSEE of Leon, Mrs. Mary McLAUGHLIN of Decatur Township, Reuben S., of Indianola, George of Mount Ayr, and Mrs. Susan GRAYSON of Ringgold County.

Mr. WOODMANSEE was born in Clermont County, Ohio, December 31, 1816, the youngest of six children of James and Agnes (HAMMER) WOODMANSEE, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Ohio. In 1820 they moved to Jackson County, Indiana, where the mother died in 1829 and the father in 1847. The deceased was married October 29, 1835, to Miss Rachel HAMMER, who was born November 14, 1819 in Jackson County, Indiana. In 1849 he came to Iowa and entered 160 acres of land on section 31, Decatur Township, and built a house 18 x 30. In March of the following year he occupied the house with his family and thus became the first permanent settler in Decatur Township. In 1853 he built a grist mill and as it was the only one in this section of the State, it was patronized by settlers within a radius of fifty miles.

The deceased was an industrious and frugal citizen and had accumulated considerable property during his life time. He was a good neighbor and noted for his honesty. His departure has left us the example of a well spent life and a good name. The funeral exercises were conducted at the residence yesterday forenoon at 10 o'clock by Elder STEVENS, after which interment occurred in Woodmansee Cemetery, Decatur Township.

Transciption by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2008