Ira H. Sargent (1822-1909)

SARGENT, WESCOTT

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/19/2005 at 08:46:36

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, September 16, 1909, page 1, column 1. "OBITUARY - The tolling of the Methodist church bell on Saturday morning at a very early hour caused many inquiries as to the cause, but it was soon learned that Father Sargent had passed away shortly before midnight after a long illness, during the latter part of which he was almost a helpless invalid. Ira H. Sargent was born in Ticonderoga, New York, September 11, 1822, he being the sixth member of a family of ten children. He moved with his parents to Onondago county when he was two years old and remained there for thirteen years. From this place he moved to Michigan and here resided until 1864, or until he was forty-seven years old. He then came to Jasper Co., Iowa, where he was a resident for ten years. From here he moved to Kansas and after seven years to Missouri, where he remained for eight years, and then on to Dunbar, Neb., where he spent nine years of his life and from whence he came to Maxwell on August 9, 1904, and has continued to make this his home until death. At the age of twenty-four he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church on probation and at the expiration of this period was licensed to exhort. In 1873 his license was renewed by David Sheuter, pastor at Colfax, Iowa; and again on November 2, 1877, it was renewed at Dunbar, Neb., by Presiding Elder Peter Van Fleet. The greater part of his early life was spent in active religious work - organizing Sunday schools, holding revival meetings, sowing the seed and preparing the way for coming generations. The last twenty-one years he held membership in the Presbyterian church and united with the local church here when he came to Maxwell. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Sarah A. Wescott, and for forty years they journeyed hand in hand and side by side. He was the father of the day.** Frederic Moseley, whose** Father Sargent has been failing for a long time and when the summons came his departure was sad but beautiful. He died happy, trusting in the Savior he had served so long. His good wife stood by him until the last and was an angel of mercy in her ministrations to him. Had he lived thirty minutes longer he would have reached his eighty-seventh birthday, but he chose rather to celebrate it in heaven. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors and their works do follow them." The funeral was from the Presbyterian church on Monday, September 13th at 10:30 a. m. conducted by Rev. H. G. Hicks, of the Methodist church, and interment was made in the Peoria cemetery. CARD OF THANKS - We desire to express our sincere thanks to the friends, neighbors and people of the town in general for the many kindnesses** shown us during the sickness and death of our father, Ira H. Sargent. The Children.

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa. POLK COUNTY, IOWA CEMETERIES WASHINGTON TWP., #0178, Geneal * F 627 .P7 C4 V.6, Peoria Cemetery, page 491. SARGENT, Sarah A. Sargent Jan 20 1825 - Aug 6 1915, Sec. 2, Row 16, Tier 20; Ira H. SARGENT Sep 11 1822 - Sep 11 1909, Sec. 2, Row 16, Tier 20.