Dean, Albert S., 1844-1926

DEAN, GOFF, STACY

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

From the Alton Democrat, January 29, 1926:

Albert Dean, Civil War Veteran, Called
(Boyden, Iowa.—Special)

The community was grieved Saturday morning to learn that Mr. Albert Dean had passed away at a Sheldon hospital at about two o’clock that morning. He had been a patient there for several weeks and seemed to be making fair progress until a week ago when his strength began failing and it then became apparent that the shock of the operation performed two weeks previous was too great for his weakened condition. His children were summoned Friday evening and were all with him to the last…. Mr. Dean will be remembered as a kind, loving father, a respected citizen and a thoughtful considerate neighbor and friend….

[Other information presented in this news note is repeated in the longer obituaries from the Alton Democrat and Boyden Reporter, below.

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From the Alton Democrat, February 5, 1926:

Albert S. Dean, Sioux County pioneer and last of the Civil War veterans at Boyden, was born at Worcester Mass., on August 5, 1844 and died at Sheldon on January 23, 1926 at the age of 81 years, five months and 18 days. At 17 years he enlisted in the 26th Iowa Regiment, Company D, in which he served for three years.

He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Goff in the year 1866 and came to Sioux County in 1870 and established a home for his family on the farm one mile south out town which had been in his possession since that time.

One son, Alex, died Sept 5, 1895 and his wife April 25, 1905. Six children survive their father as follows: George, Herbert, Clara and Evelyn, all of Boyden, Mrs. Charles Hoffa of Hawarden, Mrs. J. Veenschoten of Des Moines.

Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church Tuesday afternoon and interment was made in the Boyden cemetery, Rev. Stewart officiating. The local Post, American Legion, had charge of the military services at the grave. Sincerest sympathy of many life long friends is extended to the children and grand children.

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From the Boyden Reporter, January 28, 1926:

CIVIL WAR VETERAN CALLED BY DEATH

Mr. Albert S. Dean, last of the Civil War veterans of this community [and] one of the pioneers of Sioux County, Iowa, who for the past several weeks has been a patient in the Myers hospital at Sheldon, died on Saturday, Jan. 23rd at 2:10 a.m. at the age of 81 years, 5 months and 18 days. Funeral services for the deceased were held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 in the home, and at 2:00 o’clock at the United Presbyterian church with Rev. Neil Stewart officiating. Interment was made in the family lot at the Boyden cemetery.

Deceased was born at Worcester, Mass. on the 5th day of August, 1844. When he was but 7 years of age, the family moved to DeWitt, Iowa and it was at DeWitt, at the age of 17 years that he joined the army and served for three years, in the 26th Iowa Regiment, of Co. D, 15th Army Corps. He stood the hardships of the Civil War and remembered clearly and retold many stories of those strenuous days.

He was married to Mary Ann Goff at DeWitt, Iowa, on August 8th, 1866. Then they moved to Elgin, Ill., living there for one year, after which they returned to DeWitt, and resided for four years. While at DeWitt he heard of the good land in this country, and he together with his father and another gentleman came thru and remained here till the fall of 1870. He moved his family here in the spring of 1871, and settled on a farm 1 mile south of Boyden, where he lived until 14 years ago, when he moved to Boyden, living here until his death.

To this union seven children were born, three boys and four girls. His wife died on April 25th, 1905, and his eldest son Alex died on Sept. 5th, 1895; the other children are all living. They are Clara, George, Herbert and Alice Evelyn, all of Boyden, Mrs. Nellie Veenschoten, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Mrs. Sadie Hoff, of Hawarden, Iowa. There are also 15 living grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

Deceased came to this country the first time on foot, and the second time they came in a covered wagon. Logs were brought here from the Rock River to build the first cabin, and while these logs were being brought here, they lived in their covered wagon with sods piled up on the sides to break the wind. They suffered with other pioneers thru the grasshopper times. The nearest place that they could get their mail and groceries was LeMars, and thought nothing of driving there for the necessities of life. When flour was needed they were forced to go to Sioux City to get their wheat ground.

Mr. Dean was a devout Christian man, a beloved husband and father, in short was not only a Christian but an honorable gentleman. He commanded the respect of all, as the attendance of his funeral fully verified. But he has gone home. another name is stricken from the ever lessening roll of our old settlers and Civil War veterans. Let us crown his grave with garlands; few of us will live as long or as well.

The local post of the American Legion assisted in the funeral services. Many from out-of-town were present at the services, besides the immediate family. The Reporter joins the many friends and acquaintances in expressing our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family and relatives.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Dean, Albert S., d. 26 Jan 1926, husb of Mary A, GAR CO D 26 IA Inf, Sheridan Twp Cem Boyden.

His death certificate (informant Clara Dean) confirms his birth date as August 5, 1844 and adds his parents’ names, William Dean, born Massachusetts, and Vesta Stacy, born Massachusetts or Vermont; died January 23, 1926 at 2 a.m.; cause, hypertrophy of prostate gland, duration 3 years; death was preceded by operations on December 20 and January 8.

The Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion shows him enlisting 11 Aug 1862 at the age of 18; mustered into Company D, Iowa 26th Infantry Regiment on 11 Sept 1862 as a private; mustered out on 6 June 1865 at Washington, D.C.

FindaGrave.com shows him as Albert Stacy Dean (with an erroneous birth date of Aug. 5, 1836, not on his headstone), spouse Mary Ann Goff Dean (1844-1905); children Alexander G. Dean (1868-1895), Clara Bell Dean (1869-1950), Herbert Dean (1873-1948), George Albert Dean (1876-1952), Sadie Vesta Dean Hoffa (1884-1966), Nellie F. Dean Veenschoten (1886-1966), and Evelyn Alice Dean (1888-1972).