William Henry Golly (1846-1942)

GOLLY, LOGAN, PERRY, BEATTY, JESSEN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal February 26, 1942 (page 1 continued to page 5)

Final Rites Held for W. H. Golly, Patriarch

Zearing, Feb. 26--Final rites for W. H. Golly, 95, for over three quarters of a century a respected resident of this community, who passed away at his home here Sunday, February 22 were held Wednesday afternoon at the Zearing Church of Christ of which the deceased was a longtime member.

The services were in charge of Rev. George Biersborn, assisted by Rev. Mark S. Scott and interment was in the mausoleum of the Zearing cemetery.

Besides the members of the immediate family, there were many relatives and friends from a distance who gathered with the neighbors to pay a final tribute of respect to this aged patriarch, who they had so long known and respected.

The small House of Worship were the deceased had so long and faithfully attended divine service, was not of sufficient capacity to handle the people who had gathered.

Six sons served as casket bearers, they being Russell, Fred, Ray, Claude, Walter and William Golly.

Honorary pallbearers from Masonic Lodge No. 469 of Zearing, were Fred Haase, M. E. Dakins, W. C. Young, J. A. Johnson, Charles Kleespie and Ray Lightfoot.

The flowers were cared for Mrs. Harry Martin, Mrs Carol Bailey and Mrs. Guy Clatterbuck.

The mixed quartet consisted of Eldon Crain, Gordon Lundy, Bernice Becker and Venetta Joyce, with Mardean Joyce at the piano.

The services at the mausoleum were in charge of the members of the local Masonic lodge of which he has been an active member since 1885.

Many members of the District Lecturers association, of which the deceased was a member, were present for the service. Becoming a member of the Masonic lodge here in 1885, he was awarded a fifty-year certificate in November, 1935, and at the age of 81 years, he passed the Masonic Proficiency examination and was appointed a district lecturer.

Mr. Golly was a charter member of the Zearing chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, helping in the organization of the group in 1898 and was always active, holding many offices.

He had remained active almost until the last, having been in Nevada in attendance at the annual meeting of the Story County Mutual Insurance Company, but less than a week before being confined to his bed on February 12.

The following life sketch of the deceased was read during the service.

William Henry Golly, son of John Scott and Catherine Logan Golly, was born at Lee Center, Oneida County, New York, Oct. 25, 1846.

When he was 4 years old, his parents, with other relatives, moved to Batavia, Ill. In a short time a scourge of Malaria fever claimed the lives of eight of the group, among them being his mother and two younger sisters. Shortly afterwards the remaining members of the company returned to New York.

A few years later the family again returned to Illinois, this time locating near Pecatonica. In December of 1864 the family moved overland to Iowa, spending the balance of the winter in the Illinois Grove settlement. In the spring of 1865 they moved to Lincoln township, locating on the land previously purchased by the father.

On November 18, 1869, he was married to Jane Perry of Marshall county. The following summer they set up their new home on the farm two miles east of Zearing. This was their home for 42 years. To this union was born ten children, Fred of Zearing, Lillian (Mrs. J. E. Beatty of Tucson, Arizona), Myrtle of Zearing; Claude of Spencer, Ray of Peoria, Ill., Walter of Winnebago, Minn., William Jr. of Winona, Minn., Catherine (Mrs. J. C. Jessen of Story City), Perry, who passed away th------ in 1910 and Russell of Zearing.

After a number of years he taught ----- -- teaching the winter term --------ting his farm during the ------s. He was actively engaged in stock raising until his retirement from the farm in 1912. The family hoe was then located in Zearing. He passed to the Great Beyond, Feb. 22, 1942, at the age of 95 years, 3 months, and 28 days. He is survived by nine children, 16 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, besides numerous other relatives and a host of friends. The wife and mother preceeded him in death on Feb. 3, 1915.

He became interested in insurance and at the time of the organization of the Story County Mutual Fire Insurance Ass'n. He became agent for this company immediately after its organization in March, 1888 He was elected as one of directors of the company in June of 1888 and continued as agent and director until his death. He also served as treasurer of the company for a number of years. During the years the he was active in the insurance business he became associated with several other insurance companies.

He was a long time member of the Church of Christ, having become a member of the local church in 1897. He was always deeply interested in its progress and served his church to the best of his ability. He was honorary Elder at the time of his death.

Relatives and friends from out to town included Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Golly of Spencer, Dr. and Mrs. Willard Golly, Spencer; Mr and Mrs. C. R. Golly, Peoria, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Golly, Jr., Winnebago, Minn., Howard Golly, Winnebago, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Golly and daughters, Jane and Alberta, Winnebago, Minn., Mrs. J. C. Jessen, Story City, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kyvig, Story City, Mrs. Art Hewlett, Iowa Falls, Will Everiest and sons, Paul and Morris, Marshalltown; Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Green Mountain; Mrs. Chris Abbas, Conrad, Mrs. Queen Bankds, Nevada, Art Christy, Maxwell, John Erickson, Cambridge; Mr. and Mrs. Martin Malmanger, Nevada, Rev. and Mrs. Gergaman, Mrs. Anna Nelson, Mrs. Dr. Born, all of Story City; Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Gaard, Mrs. Jennie Price, Mrs. Clara Hinecker, all of Marshalltown, Claude Smith, Ames; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wright, Colo; L. E. Davisson, Geo. H. Kellogg and others of Nevada.