William G. Dickey (1842-1899)

DICKEY, SHERMAN, FLETCHER

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/29/2005 at 10:43:18

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 1899, page 1, column 1. "OBITUARY - DICKEY - Wm. G. Dickey was born at Elba, Genesee County, New York, Oct. 8, 1842. He came to Delaware County, Iowa, April 14, 1861. He was married to Miss Hattie H. Sherman, of Brunswick, Ohio, Dec. 3, 1867. He was township trustee and postmaster in Delaware County for about twelve years. They came to Story County in April, 1882, and resided in Maxwell until the time of his death, which occurred April 20, 1899. For several months Mr. Dickey had been in poor health. During last December he was quite sick for sometime, but seemed to recover from it, and yet his friends were pained to observe that his strength did not seem to return as they had hoped. He continued to attend to business until only a few days before his death, when he was prostrated with a very severe attack of pneumonia. All that could be done for him was done, but without avail. He continued to fail until about 6 p. m. on the 20th, when he quietly passed away. Their son Winfred G. Dickey, who had been from home, was expected on the train at 5:45, but missing connection, failed to come on that train. Mr. Dickey seemed to want to hold up until his son could arrive, but when informed that he had not come, he seemed to give up, and was soon gone. The funeral was held on Saturday at 11 a. m., in the christian church, and the large building was taxed to its utmost capacity. The Masonic order marched from their hall to the residence, and in single file they passed, one by one, through the house and by the casket, and looked for the last time at the face of their departed brother. The remains were then escorted to the church. The choirs of the three churches united in furnishing the music, with Mrs. Fr. Scott at the organ, it being his request that all unite. He also requested that the ministers unite in the service: so Rev. Lint read the scriptures, Rev. Howe offered prayer, Rev. Ferguson delivered a short discourse from 1st Cor. 15:58, Rev. Mowry made some closing remarks, after which Rev. Scull offered the closing prayer. Father Doty was on the platform, but was too feeble to take part in the services. The Masonic order then took charge, and the remains were laid to rest according to their ritual service, read by Dr. Joor, as W. M., J. W. Maxwell being Marshal of the day. Mr. Dickey was a man held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. Time and again he had been elected assessor for the town, and always discharged the duties to the satisfaction of all. He was a very kind-hearted man. They had but one son of their own, but their adopted daughter, now Mrs. Samuel Fletcher, of Des Moines, was the same to them as their own daughter. His loss to the community is great; to his own family it is irrepairable. His bereaved companion had with her at the funeral, to share her sorrow, their son, Winfred G. Dickey and family, their adopted daughter, Mrs. Kate Fletcher, of Des Moines; her brother, Dr. Sherman, of Manchester, Iowa; Frank Dickey, of Delaware County, and C. H. Dickey, (brothers of the deceased) and family of this place. CARD OF THANKS - Mrs. Wm. G. Dickey and family are profoundly grateful to all their neighbors, friends and Masonic fraternity for the sympathy and kindness shown them in their late sore bereavement. They invoke Heaven's richest benedictions on all."
THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 1899, page 1, column 2. "Sam'l Fletcher and wife, of Des Moines, are visiting old friends in this neighborhood having been called her by the death of the latter's father, W. G. Dickey."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 1899, page 5, column 4.
"CITY ASSESSOR DICKEY DEAD. The sudden death of city assessor W. G. Dickey, Thursday evening, April 20, 1899, caused a feeling of gloom and sorrow to pervade our city. Mr. Dickey was ill with pneumonia only about five days and is many friends were hardly aware of the seriousness of his illness before his death was announced. He was in the fifty-seventh year of his age, and for thirty-eight years has been a resident of Iowa. Seventeen years of that time he has resided in Maxwell, having filled various positions of public trust. Part of the time he was engaged in the lumber and stock business, and was ever found honorable and upright in all his dealings. Lately he has been, aside from his duties as assessor, assisting in the mercantile establishment of his brother, C. H. Dickey, He was a prominent Mason, and Herald Lodge, No. 455, conducted the services at the cemetery. Prominent Masons to quite a number were present from neighboring towns, to join the local membership in paying a last sad tribute to their departed brother. The services held at the Christian church were participated in by all religious denominations, and were witnessed by all classes of citizens who thus mutely but eloquently expressed the high esteem in which the deceased was held as a neighbor, business man and citizen. He was a man whom it was a pleasure to know, and whose private and public life was above reproach. In the death of William G. Dickey, Maxwell loses a most worth citizen; one whose place will be hard to fill and whose memory will long linger with a multitude of friends, who join with the TRIBUNE in extending to the bereaved family and relatives heartfelt sympathy. Peace to his ashes."
***Editorial note - words above are spelled as found in the original newspaper article.

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa, Vol. IX, Grave Marker Inscriptions, Indian Creek Township, Inc. City of Maxwell, Story County, Iowa, Maxwell Municipal Cemetery, page 467, section 2, row 3, plot 9, William G Dickey 10-6-1843 -- 4-20-1899.