Harry Eugene Ransom (1877-1947)

RANSOM, WINCHESTER, BELKNAP, WOOLSON, NEILL, DUNTY, HANSON, WELTY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/8/2020 at 22:20:38

From Nevada Evening Journal January 30, 1947 (page 5)

Prominent Colo Resident Was Laid to Rest

Harry E. Ransom, widely known and highly respected citizen of Colo, was laid to rest in the Colo cemetery Tuesday afternoon, January 28th.

Funeral services were in the Methodist church at Colo in charge of the pastor, Rev. Alfred F. Schneck. Musical numbers were "Abide With Me" and "Some time We'll Understand" rendered by a male quartette, William Lounsbury, Rev. R. L. Russell, Paul Henry and Laverne Horner, and a solo by Rev. Russell "I Will Pilot Thee", with Mr. N. H. Brinkman as accompanist. Casket bearers were Henry Hemping, Charles Yeager, Chester Dickinson, Thomas Manley, Ernest Martin and Charles Reed. Flowers were cared for Mrs. Albert Haas, Mrs Bert Olson and Mrs. Watson Donaldson. Ushers were Kenneth Squires and Omer Farren.

At the cemetery the Masonic service was in charge of A. M. Christy of Maxwell assisted by Richard Brannberg of Ames.

Obituary

Harry Eugene Ransom was born the son of James H. and Mary Winchester Ransom, at Perry Hall near Baltimore, Maryland, on March 19, 1877. He continued his earthly journey until called to his reward at 1:45 o'clock Sunday morning Jan. 26, 1947.

Perry Hall, where the Ransom family lived until 1880, is the mansion known historically as the place where the Methodists in America held their first conference. The family moved from Perry Hall to Lanark, Ill., and after four years there, moved to Blairstown, Iowa, which became the permanent family home.

Harry proved to be an apt workman, able at farming in his home community, but chose to go to Des Moines to work and at the same time to attend the Capital City Commercial College. He came to Colo in 1898 to become associated with C. C. King, later to become a partner and then owner of the store. He was continually identified with the hardware and plumbing business until selling the store in May 1945.

He was married to Elizabeth Belknap on August 20, 1902. To this union were born two daughters, Mrs. Lucile Woolson and Mrs. Wilma Neill. His wife, both daughters and three grandchildren survive.

Five of Mr. Ransom's older brothers and two sisters are still living: Elizabeth Dunty of Lake Placid, Fla., Samuel C. Ransom of Marietta, Minn., William W. Ransom of Dunkerton, Iowa, James H. Ransom of Clear Lake, Iowa, Charles F. Ransom of Cutbank, Mont., Nathan C. Ransom of Blairstown, Iowa, Mrs. Ruth Hanson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harley S. and G. Edmund and two sister, Mabel and Mae (Mrs. Guy Welty).

Was Public Minded

Colo friends will remember him as an earnest civic, fraternal and church worker. He served for over thirty years as Treasurer of the Colo school district, was Town Clerk and later Town Treasurer for many years. He was Secretary-Treasurer of the Colo telephone Co. since 1934. He had long been a faithful and active member of the Colo Methodist church. In his fraternal work, he was a Past Master of Columbia Lodge No 292 A. F. & A. M. and in 1930 was commissioned a District Lecturer by the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He was a member of the Story County District Lecturer's Ass'n. in which he was active as long as he was able. He was a Past Patron of the Eastern Star, a Past Noble Grand of Colo Lodge No. 652 I. O. O. F., and for a number of years had served as Clerk of Logan Camp Co. 1591 M. W. A.

Harry was possessed of strength of character, his integrity, a keen sense of humor and was always a staunch supporter of whatever he believed to be right. The many positions of trust in which he served bespeaks the esteem in which he was held by the community.

He was a kind and devoted husband and father, a true and loyal friend, and in whatever he undertook, always gave his best efforts.

In his long and painful illness, he displayed most remarkable fortitude, always maintaining his usual cheery disposition and on active interest in current events, both local and general affairs. Throughout his illness, everything possible was done to alleviate his suffering by the faithful care of his wife and his daughter, Mrs. Woolson, who for a long time past has been almost constantly in the home assisting in his care.

Many Memorial Offerings

There were many beautiful floral offerings sent by friends and associates from a distance. Responding to the family's request for Memorials rather than flowers, there were most generous contributions locally, which will be devoted one half to Memorial in the local Methodist church and one half to the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Mones for research purposes.

***

Relatives and friends attending from a distance were: brothers and sisters, Samuel Ransom from Marietta, Minn., Wm. W. Ransom from Dunkerton, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. F. Ransom from Clear Lake, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Ransom from Blairstown, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hanson from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Mrs. Edmund Ransom from Sterling, Iowa.

Nephews and nieces: Wayne Welty from Lincoln, Nebr., Harley Ransom from Cedar Rapids, Edmund and James Ransom from Clear Lake, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Pederson from Osge, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Jackson from Mason City, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wilson from Blairstown, Mrs. Mildred Ransom from Blairstown, Mr. and Mrs. Art Garling from Waterloo, Mrs. Gwendolyn Butt from Fulton, Ill., Mrs. Kathleen Carey and Judy from Sterling, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Salmon from Dunkerton, Iowa.

Friends: Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Neill and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Breuklander from Indianola, Mrs. John Robertson from Nevada and many others from Nevada, Maxwell, Marshalltown, Melbourne, State Center and Ames.