William Oxley (1839-1914)

OXLEY

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/16/2005 at 13:17:42

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, November 5, 1914. "OBITUARY - William Oxley, son of William and Charlotte Oxley, was born in Carleton, Yorkshire, England, April 1, 1839. He came to America in 1865, spent some years near Jacksonville, Illinois, and moved to Iowa in the spring of 1872. Uncle Billy, as he was familiarly known, was a mother's boy, from childhood; he was the stay and support of a widowed mother; when he came to America, he brought her with him, managed the home, and cared for her so long as she live. He was an honest, industrious, upright man, respected by all. By his industry, he accumulated a goodly portion of this world's goods, and was well provided for old age. Just a short time ago he said his mother appeared to him in a vision and he knew his time on earth was short. Shall we mortals say 'tis false, or foolish? For he is gone. Methinks that sainted mother of the spirit world knew how tired and lonely her boy, now the man of three score years and ten, had grown, and came to warn him it was time to lay down his burdens and rest. He is the last of his family; father, mother, two sisters and three brothers preceded him to the spirit world. He was stricken with paralysis on the morning of October 30th, and in a very short time became unconscious and passed away Saturday morning, October 31st, at the age of 75 years and 7 months. He leaves a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends to mourn his departure, but such will be the result of all of us, we must lay down our lives. The funeral service was held at Peoria church, conducted by Rev. J. L. Wallace, pastor of the church, assisted by the Reverends Thompson and Fiscel, of Maxwell, Iowa, after which he was laid to rest in the Peoria cemetery. CARD OF THANKS - We desire to thank the friends and neighbors for their kind assistance and sympathy, during the illness and death of our dear uncle, Wm. Oxley. His nephews, nieces and other relatives."

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa, POLK COUNTY, IOWA, CEMETERIES, WASHINGTON TWP., Peoria Cemetery, page 13, "OXLEY, Wm, 4/1/1839 - 10/31/1914, section CS, Tier 4, row 7."