Honeywell, George Washington, 1856-1931

HONEYWELL, VARDIMAN

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/26/2015 at 14:21:38

Born: December 26, 1856 Tama County, Iowa
Died: December 6, 1931 Hawarden, Iowa

George W. Honeywell, a resident of this community for over 30 years, died at his home last Sunday morning, Dec. 6. The cause of his death was gangrene which started in his right foot and spread to the rest of his body, affecting the vital organs. He has been in poor health for several years past.

Funeral services were held Tues. afternoon ini the Baptist Temple with evangelist J. R. Nelson officiating and assisted by Prof. M.N. Skadsheim. Interment was made in Grace Hill Cemetery.

George W. Honeywell, son of Isaiah and Minerva Honeywell, was born Dec. 26, 1856, in Tama County, Iowa. He died at his home in Hawarden Sunday morning Dec. 6 1931, at the age of 74 years, 11 months and 8 days.

On Jan. 9, 1876 in Worth County, Missouri, Mr. Honeywell was married to Miss Emma Vardiman. In 1884 he homesteaded a tract of land in Nebraska and went through all the privations of pioneer life including drought and resultant poverty. In 1899 they moved to Hawarden where they have made their home since with the exception of a few years spent in Hot Springs, S.D. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Honeywell. Three died in infancy; Mrs. Mable Hodgson died in 1922, and Mrs. Ada Birdsall in 1929. The seven children surviving are: Mrs. Louise Colburn, Flint, MI; Mrs. Grace Pearson, Hawarden; Mrs. Gladys Hemmingson, Mrs. Myrtle Jansen and Mrs. Hazel Schrichte, Hot Springs, S.D.; W.W. Honeywell, Missouri Valley, IA; and R.L. Honeywell, Clinton, IA. Besides these children there are left to mourn his passing, his wife, 39 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren besides many friends and neighbors. He was devoted husband, a highly respected father, and a well known citizen and neighbor. During his last illness his chief concern was for his wife who had been his faithful companion for nearly 56 years.

Mr. Honeywell suffered from physical handicaps and environmental limitations. His mother was burned to death when he was but 13 months of age. In his declining years he has endured ill health due in part to a paralytic stroke in 1926. The immediate cause of his death was gangrene which started in his right foot and spread through his body, finally affecting the vital organs.

Mr. Honeywell was a student of the Bible and had an urge to secure information and interpretations from various religious bodies, and would attempt to harmonize these with the Word of God. He was a firm believer in God, in the resurrection, and in life after death, and that He who knows all will forgive all. These sentiments and his willingness and readiness to die are expressed in the following lines from his own pen, written by his some little time ago;

I'm not in heaven as some would tell, Neither in that awful hell, But in the grave where Lazarus slept---The only place where Jesus wept. I'll be missed by my loving friends so dear, You'll miss my loving presence here, But death has claimed me for just now, and to his dread power I must bow. You'll miss me Mother and children dear, But I'll go into the grave without fear..For this is the promise he left for me, "Because I live thou shalt live too."
All in the grave shall hear His voice and then together we'll all rejoice, There to be and to remain, Until the Master comes again.

Source: Hawarden Independent 12/6/1931