Wing, David Eugene 1839-1901 & Frances Merritt Family

WING, MERRITT, SMITH, CULERS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/20/2023 at 06:40:58

Wing, David Eugene 1839-1901 & Frances Merritt Family

This story was taken from page 501 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

David Eugene Wing was born at Mount Morris, N.Y. June 14, 1839. In 1869 he was married to Frances Merritt at Marshalltown, Ia. When 21 years old, he moved To Ogle, Co., Il. and 2 years later in 1862, he enlisted in the 74th Illinois volunteer regiment and served his country faithfully to the end of the war. He enlisted for the third time before he succeeded in getting to the front, so persistent was he in serving his country. Near the close of the war he was captured and kept in the southern rebel prison of Cahaba, Al. for 4 months; was paroled just after the assassination of President Lincoln. In the fall of 1865 soon after returning from the war, he came to Tama Co., Ia. In the fall of 1882 he came to Ireton where he purchased a drug business and formed a partnership with Dr. Beckwith.

He was a great admirer of youth and for years he did much for building up the public schools. Fourteen years he was a member of the school board and a large part of the time served as president. He also served as councilman and mayor. He was a member in the Methodist Church and took an active part when the church was remodeled. He was a member of the B.A.R.; A.F. and A.M.; O.E.S.; I.O.O.F., and D. of R. In politics, he was an ardent Republican and lost no opportunity to aid his party.

Their 5 children were: Herbert Eugene, married Laura Shirk; Melissa, Mrs. W.O. Buck; Fred married Clara Cole; Lena; Harriett married Dr. Harry White. Mr. and Mrs. Wing are both buried at Ireton.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From Find A Grave and a family report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

David Eugene Wing born 14 Jan 1839 Mount Morris Livingston Co. New York, died 7 Apr 1901 Ireton IA. Buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery. His parents were David Swift Wing 1809-1888 and Melissa Amelia Smith 1812-1839. He married Frances Rebecca Merritt 1870 Highland, Tama IA, and children listed were Amelia Buck, Lena Marietta Mc Dowell, Herbert Eugene Wing, Fred Swift Wing and Harriet Laura Wing.

Frances Rebecca Merritt was born 10 May 1842 Livingston County New York died 14 Jan 1916 Sioux County IA. 1850 census of Livingston County NY had James Merrit 35, wife Laura 27, Frances 8, Margrette 6, Daniel 0. living with them Charlott Merritt born 1783 (his mother?)
Further found the family on ancestry.com. James B. Merritt born 5 Aug 1814 Orange Schuyler NY died 24 Feb 1897 Tama, IA. Wife Laura Culers 1822-1876. One of the eight children was France R. Merritt 1842-1916.

Children of David Wing and Frances Merritt:

1. Herbert Eugene Wing was born 2 Apr 1870 Gilman Marshall IA died 20 Jan 1931 Cherokee County IA. He married Laura Marora Shirk 1878-1962 They had children Mildred Iona Wing 1899-1993, Winifred Wing 1902-2001 and Harry Edmond Wing 1905-1991. See Herbert’s obit on this web page.

2. Amelia Wing was born 29 Oct 1871 Tama Co. IA died 4 Jan 1904 Ireton IA. She married William Oscar Buck 1869-1942. They had child listed Bernice Buck 1898.

3. Fred Wing born 3 Apr 1876 Gilman Marshall IA died 17 Jun 1953 Des Moines Polk IA. He married Clara Edna Cole 1879-1970 Two children listed Grace Cole Wing 1900-1975 and David Eugene Wing II 1902-1971.

4. Lena Marietta Wing born Aug 1879 Sioux County IA died 25 Feb 1927 Doon, Lyon Co. IA. She married Chauncey A. McDowell 12 Sep 1899 Ireton IA. Find A Grave reports children as Russell Wing McDowell, Marion Beth Hoon, Mary France McDowell.

5. Harriett Laura Wing born 12 Jan 1881 Tama Co. IA died 7 Jul 1962 Sioux City IA. Her husband was Harry Palmer White 1873-1960. Two children listed as Helen May White 1911-2001 and Carole Frances White 1914-1970.

OBITUARY OF DAVID EUGENE WING
Sioux County Herald of Apr 10, 1901 p. 1 Ireton News
D. E. Wing, one of Ireton's leading business men and citizens, died Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks. The funeral was held Tuesday. Mr. Wing served through the rebellion and has held numerous positions of trust and honor in civic and political circles. For some years he was mayor of the city and also served as councilman and president of the school board. He leaves property to the value of about $40,000, and made a will some time ago. The funeral was held from the M. E. church Tuesday afternoon.
Rev. McCaffry of Paullina, a former pastor, officiating. The church was very beautifully decorated and a large number of floral emblems from the different fraternal orders, of which Mr. Wing was a member, were offered. The Hawarden drum corps was in attendance; services were in charge of the G. A. R. The entire community extends to Mrs. Wing and family their deepest sympathy.
(David Eugene Wing was born 14 Jan 1839 New York died 7 Apr 1901 Ireton IA, his wife was Frances Rebecca Merrill b. 1842-1916 married 1869 Marshall county IA. He had at least one daughter Harriet Laura Wing 1881.)

OBITUARY OF FRANCES WING
Hawarden Independent, Hawarden, Sioux, Iowa Thursday, January 20, 1916
The death of Mrs. D E. Wing occurred Saturday, the 15th. at home of her daughter. Mrs. H P. White in Sioux City. The remains were brought to Ireton on the evening train and the funeral held Monday from the M. E. Church. The church was filled with the friends and neighbors of this excellent woman and many beautiful floral offerings testified to the love and esteem in which she was held. Rev. Gilbert of LeMars, the former pastor of the M. E. church in Ireton, preached the funeral sermon and gave a feeling and sympathetic address.
Frances R Merritt waft born in Horsehead, N. Y., in 1842. J. B. Merritt, her father, emigrated with his family to Tama county, Iowa, in 1855 and built the first house in Highland township. The nearest neighbor was at a little settlement called Indiantown, now Butlerville, about eight miles away. There were many Indians near and the life was practically that of the early pioneer. While the Indians were not turbulent or warlike, the loneliness and nearness of savages could not have been very soothing to the newcomers and kept them in a state of suppressed alarm until neighbors came nearer and gave them the confidence that the nearness of friends inspires.
She was married to D. E. Wing in Marshalltown in January 1869 and came to Ireton with her husband and family in 1888. Since this time Mr. and Mrs. Wing and their sons and daughters have been closely associated with the life and history of Ireton. Mr. Wing was as admirable in character as his wife and was universally loved and respected by everybody her. He was every man's friend and the helper of everyone who needs her help and sympathetic and kind to all, and Mrs. Wing no less than he showed forth the same good qualities. The building now occupied by the drug store and 0ld Fellows hall was put up and drug store started in company with Dr. L.C. Beckwith. He was always closely in touch with the public and political life of the town and county and was one of the most influential men here in the early days. His death occurred in 1901 and since then Mrs. Wing passed the lonely years of her widowhood, sometimes in the old home here and again with one or the other of her children. For the last year and a half, she has been a great sufferer and increasingly so until her death. With 1918all she was patient and hopeful and uncomplaining. She was always quiet and unassuming, devoted to home and family, one of those good souls who caused her friends to rise up and call her blessed, a worthy mother of good children. Long may her grave be kept green and her virtues embalmed in the hearts of her family and friends. She was a charter member of the O. E.S., a member of the W R.C. and the D. R. lodge and a useful member of each one. The W. R. C. came in a body to the funeral service.
Four brothers came to follow her to her last resting place. J.A. Merritt of Des Moines, E A. Merritt of Chillicothe, Iowa, Arthur Merritt of Montour, and Walter Merritt of Marshalltown. Of her own family, there were H. E. Wing of Ireton, Fred Wing of Marshall, Mrs. H. P. White of Sioux City and Mrs. C. R. McDowell of Doon.

This picture is from the 1908 Atlas of Sioux County Part IV Section 3 page 6

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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