Storrs, Andrew 1816-1899

STORRS, HYDE, GAMBERTON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/2/2011 at 14:22:17

From the Hawarden Independent of Jan 19, 1899
Gone to his reward.
Andrew Storrs, one of the early residents of Hawarden, died at his home in this city last Sunday afternoon at the advanced age of 82 years. He was sick about five weeks. La Grippe was followed by convalescence, when pneumonia set in and carried him away. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Galt at the Presbyterian church, Monday-afternoon, and
the remains were tenderly laid to rest in Grace Hill cemetery.
Andrew Storrs -was born Oct. 17, 1816, in Lebanon, Graf ton county, New Hampshire, and died Jan. 15, 1899, at his home in Hawarden. He came of pure New England ancestry. On his mother's side he was a direct descendent of Gov. Bradford, the first governor of Plymouth Colony. His parents, in his childhood, moved to central New York, where he resided the most of the lime, when he removed to eastern Iowa in 1849. At that time there was only forty miles of railway in the state of Illinois and none in Iowa. He fully shared with others of the early settlers the trials and triumphs of the pioneers of our great state. In all his mature years he took an active interest in political affairs, but never sought public office. During the Mexican war in 1847 he was commissioned major of a New York regiment of volunteers but peace negotiations were entered into soon after and his regiment was mustered out without seeing any service. He was a good student; not only of history, but of current events, and during a long life he kept up a systematic course of reading. , A "few months before his death some one" asked, him, 'Why do you read so much, at “he replied: "It is not only a pleasure to me, but I consider it my duty to acquire all knowledge. I can, as I expect to continue right on in an after world." He always had the courage of his convictions. He looked for the right or wrong of public questions and not for what was policy or party expediency only. Thus early he became an abolitionist, and for three years cast the only abolition vote in the county
Ho-joined-the republican party and voted for all of its candidates for the presidency from
Fremont to Bcnj, Harrison, and. refused to vote for Me Klinley on account of the silver issue, voting for Bryan.
He united with the Presbyterian church when 24years of age, and from then until his death lived the life of a Christian. He was conscious until a few minutes before his death, and in
his last hour bore testimony of the saving power of Christ, and of His everlasting love. Of his
five children only one survives him. Mr. Storrs and his aged wife had been married at the time of his death nearly 58 years. Of the thirty guests at their wedding his widow only is living . A sister, 92 years of age, still survives him. (The only surviving son was Andrew born 1857 New York died 1929 Iowa, the children that were deceased were Mary Storrs 1841-1843, James Boone Storrs 1846-1872, Hannah Louisa storrs 1848-1851, Frances Elizabeth Storrs 1853-1862.)