Samuel Whitaker (1840-1915)

WHITAKER, BELCHER, DINSMORE, FAIR, HAND, HOSKINS, JONES, MILLER, MOFFITT, PRIME, ROBISON, SMITH, WOOD

Posted By: Sandra Breitkreutz (email)
Date: 4/29/2003 at 21:43:17

Samuel Whitaker
(From Nevada, Iowa, newspaper Oct. 11, 1915)
Samuel Whitaker, one of the pioneer residents of Nevada township, died at his home in that township early Monday morning. He was 75 years of age last April and he was a man much esteemed in his community. He had been ill for a number of months and his family were about him when he died. He leaves his widow and four children, Mrs. Mattie Robison, Grant Whitaker, Mrs. Carrie Fair and one daughter much younger(1). His funeral will be conducted Thursday afternoon at Maxwell.

Passing of Samuel Whitaker
(From Maxwell, Iowa, Tribune 14 Oct 1915)
Samuel Whitaker passed away at his home in north Maxwell Monday morning, at the age of 75 years. Mr. Whitaker suffered an attack of rheumatism some five years ago which paved the way for his more recent illness of dropsy from which he has suffered for nearly two years, being confined to his bed for the past six months. Mr. Whitaker is survived by his widow and four children, Mrs. E.R. Robinson, Grant Whitaker, Mrs. Al Belcher and Mrs. Lou Fair.

The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. E.D. Fiscel, of the Brethren church, of which organization Mr. Whitaker was a member. The body will lie in state at the home Thursday forenoon and until 12:45 at which time brief services will be held from the house. At 2:00 p.m. the funeral service proper will be held at the Iowa Center church, with interment at the cemetery there. Obituary will be published in full in next week’s issue.

Obituary
(Maybe from Maxwell, Iowa, Tribune, Oct. 21, 1915)
Samuel Whitaker was born in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1840, moving with his parents(2) in 1848 to Muskingum county Ohio. In the fall of 1855 he moved with his parents to Saylorsville, Polk county, Iowa, remaining there till the spring of 1857 when the family came to the old Whitaker homestead, south of Nevada, where he grew to manhood. He was married to Harriet P. Miller(3) October 27, 1860, and to this union four children were born: Mary E. Jones(4), who preceded him to the spiritual world; J.G. Whitaker(5) of Nevada; Mrs. Mattie Robison(6), of Maxwell, and Mrs. Ida Belcher(7), of Iowa Center.

On February 2, 1871, his wife departed this life. He was again married March 5, 1874, to Miss Laura Dinsmore, of Nevada. To this union one daughter was born, Mrs. Carrie Fair(8), of Nevada. He was converted to God in early manhood and united with the Baptist church of Iowa Center which was later disorganized. Renewing his covenant with the Lord he united with the Brethren church of Maxwell and enjoyed the Christian fellowship of the members whom he loved and attended worship when health permitted. He faithfully and humbly tried to discharge his duty to his Savior in whom he had implicit faith, never doubting the efficiency of the Savior’s blood.

In the spring of 1901 he moved to Maxwell. By his frugal economy and industry he and his wife accumulated enough of this world’s goods to make them comfortable through life. In December, 1910, his health failed and in December, 1914, he was again stricken and had been gradually failing since he gook to his bed about six weeks ago during which time he had been a constant sufferer, but he bore his pain in patience, always cheerful and pleasant with a good word for every one. Death came to relieve his suffering at 2:00 o’clock on the morning of October 11, 19115, and the vacancy made by his departure is a sad one.

He leaves a wife, four children, one stepdaughter, Mrs. Emma Moffitt(9), of Rock Springs, Wyoming; an aged brother, Thomas Whitaker, of Maxwell, and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Hoskins of Nevada; twenty-two grandchildren, six great grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives, also many kind friends and neighbors whom he loved and honored with utmost respect. He was a loving and kind husband and father and will be greatly missed by all.

A short service was held at the home at 12:45 after which the funeral services were held at the church in Iowa Center, conducted by Rev. E.D. Fiscel, of the Brethren church, with interment in the Iowa Center cemetery.

Card of Thanks: We desire to express our sincere thanks to the kind neighbors and friends who so lovingly assisted during the long illness and death of our beloved husband and father. –Mrs. Samuel Whitaker and Children.

Footnotes by Sandra Breitkreutz
1. The girl referred to here as "one daughter much younger" was actually his granddaughter, Carrie Jones, daughter of Al and Mary Elizabeth (Whitaker) Jones, who had gone to live with her grandparents and her Aunt Carrie Whitaker when Mary Elizabeth (Whitaker) Jones died.

2. The parents of Samuel Whitaker were Samuel and Kezia (Jones) Whitaker, who also came, at some point, to Iowa Center, Iowa, and who are also buried at Iowa Center cemetery near their son, the subject of this obituary.

3. Harriet Priscilla Miller was the daughter of Mrs. Eliza Jane Wood and the stepdaughter of John G. Wood.

4. Mary Elizabeth (Whitaker) Jones, called Eliza, was the wife of Al Jones, originally from Ohio

5. John Grant Whitaker, known as Grant, was married to Julia Hand.

6. Mattie (Whitaker) Robison was married to E.R. "Buzz" Robison.

7. Ida (Whitaker) Belcher, was left motherless in infancy and was raised by her aunt Sara (Whitaker) Hoskins. Ida married S. A. "Sam" Belcher.

8. Caroline/Carrie (Whitaker) Fair was the wife of I.D. "Lou" Fair.

9. Mrs. Emma Marie Moffit was born illegitimately to Harriet Priscilla Miller. During her youth Emma Marie was known (in order) as Emma Marie Miller, Emma Wood, and Emma Whitaker. Her first marriage was to Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Smith; her second to Mr. Moffit, and her third to Mr. Prime. After her marriage to Moffit, she was known as Mary, instead of Emma.