William Lyon Roe (1856-1940)

ROE, CHITTY, HANKINS, BOSLEY, KNOWLTON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal September 23, 1940 (page 1)

"Bill" Roe Dead; Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon

William L. Roe, 84, pioneer citizen of the Nevada community died Saturday at 5 p. m., after an illness of about two weeks.

Funeral services for this resident who had lived in the community for over 34 years, will be held at the Methodist church here Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, with Rev. C. E. Lookingbill in charge and burial will be in the family lot in the Johnson Grove cemetery.

Mr. Roe leaves besides his wife, "Lizzie," who before her marriage was Elizabeth Chitty to whom he was married 60 years ago last Fourth of July the one daughter, Mrs. Jessie Hankins; a brother, Charles Roe, of Hot Springs, S. D.; two half-sisters, Mrs. Mattie Bosley of Fernald, and Mrs. Fred Knowlton, of Anita; half-brothers, Fred Roe and Frank Roe of Winnebago, Minn.; a foster son, Joe Smay, who was raised in the Roe home; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Four daughters have preceded him in death, a son Ray, died in 1919, and another son, Charles, died in Nevada about 11 years ago.

Mr. Roe was born in New York August 31, 1856, and came to Nevada with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Roe, when he was a boy of but 10 years. He was raised in Nevada, his father being a stage driver during the early days of this part of Iowa.

William or "Bill" as he was better known, worked as a teamster and at other jobs around Nevada and finally worked on a farm. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Chitty, daughter of a pioneer Richland township family, and they continued to make their home in that township and there they raised their family. After retiring from the farm they lived for a number of years in Fernald, leaving there only about two years ago when they came to Nevada and provided themselves with an apartment in the home of their only daughter, Mrs. Goldmer Hankins, and there they had spent the last years in peace and comfort.