John Van Waldron (1840-1910)

WALDRON, LETSON, GARABRANT, BARCLAY, LANE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/21/2017 at 13:20:51

From Nevada Representative December 20, 1910 (front page)

OBITUARY

DEATH OF J. V. WALDRON

John V. Waldron died at home in this city about four o'clock in the morning. His death follows a serious illness of about two weeks, during which he has made only small and occasional gains, and the end is not a surprise. He was past seventy years of age and native of New Jersey. He had been a resident of Nevada for more than forty years and was a much esteemed citizen. He is survived by his wife, formerly Dilla Letson, and by collateral relatives. More extended notice will be given later. His funeral will be conducted from this late residence next Thursday afternoon.

From Nevada Representative December 23, 1910 (front page)

OBITUARY

JOHN V. WALDRON

John V. Waldron, whose death was reported in Tuesday's paper, was buried Thursday afternoon, the funeral being conducted from his late residence by Rev. Dr. Hunter. Dr. Hunter gave an appropriate scriptural and biographical address; and Mrs. L. B. Child accompanied by Mrs. Richards with the violin, sang by request, "I'm a pilgrim" and "O, rest in the Lord" from Elijah, and interment was in the Nevada cemetery.

John Van Waldron was sprung from the old Dutch settlers of Manhattan and vicinity, and he was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, September 2, 1840. He died at Nevada, Iowa, December 20, 1910 aged 70 years, 3 months and 16 days. His father was a blacksmith and while John was a child moved to New Germantown in the same state, where John grew up, and when he was of suitable age became a book-keeper in the machine works of an uncle at New Brunswick. He held this position until he was ready to come west, which he did in 1872, going first to Pella, and coming the next year to Nevada, where W. S. Waldron a distant relative was located as a merchant. Here he remained for the rest of his life. He clerked here for a time but soon bought a farm; and though he always lived in or on the edge of town, farming was his lifework, and at it he prospered, in spite of none too rugged health He was married in Nevada on July 1, 1879, to Miss Dilla Letson, then a teacher in the city schools and from her girlhood a resident of the village. They visited his New Jersey relatives for their wedding trip and upon their return established their home in the place across the creek. There they lived until 1903 when, following the death of Mrs. Waldron's mother, they took the Letson homestead in town, which has since been their home. Never especially robust he had two or three times very severe spells of illness, from which his recovery seemed problematical; but always rallied well, until his last illness in the course of which his condition afforded very little encouragement, and on Saturday last he remarked to Mrs. Waldron that "It would be only two or three days more." Mr. Waldron is survived by his wife, three sisters and one brother, all of the latter still residing in the old neighborhood in New Jersey, but all of them visitors at one time or another in his home in Nevada. These are Mrs. Peter Garabrant, Mrs. Elizabeth Barclay, Mrs. Abbie Lane and William Waldron.

Mr. Waldron was a man of much personal worth, thrifty and kindly. His blood relatives are mostly far away; but numerous relatives of his wife and unnumbered friends are sincere mourners at his bier and will pay just tribute to his memory. Among the friends from out of town who were her for the funeral are: Mrs. Helen Balliet and daughter Christine from Des Moines, Mrs. Rachel Miller of Cedar Rapids, Miss Helen Letson from the State University and Howard Garabrant from the State College at Ames.