Rollo Edward Newcomb

NEWCOMB, RIDENOUR, ANDERSON, MCCLINTOCK, LYDOLPH, PETHERAM, FELTS

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 3/6/2009 at 15:01:15

Rollo Edward Newcomb, son of Luther and Elizabeth Ridenour Newcomb, was born in Garrison, Benton county, Iowa, January 13, 1884. After a sudden heart attack he departed this life on his 64th birthday, Jan. 13, 1948.

Mr. Newcomb's career has been devoted to teaching. A versatile scholar, he was always among the first to apply progressive theories in education and agriculture. Love of children was forever an outstanding characteristic. It was always a standing quotation in the Newcomb family that father never saw anything wrong in any child in his school. To him his own children were perfect.

Mr. Newcomb married Pearl Anderson October 11, 1914. There were six children; Rebecca who died at birth; Nelois, now Mrs. R. S. McClintock of Charlevoix, Mich.; Robert of Albany, Georgia; Donald, who teaches in Ohio State University; Rachel, Mrs. George Dewey of Antioch college, Ohio; and Martha Lee, Mrs. Paul Lydolph of Packwood, Iowa. There are ten grandchildren. At Christmas time all the Newcomb family were home – a glorious reunion – Mr. Newcomb remarked it was the happiest Christmas of his life.

He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Bonaparte and an elder of the church. Mr. Newcomb was County Superintendent of Cerro Gorda county schools for three terms, was high school superintendent for many years, and since coming to a farm, taught in a rural school. He loved it all and taught for over thirty-five years. He was a graduate of the State Normal school and had his B.A. And Masters degree from the State University of Iowa. His home life is where he will be missed most. No words can tell of the beauty in his family life. His sacrifices for his children – his love of flowers. One of his last acts was in ordering a dozen new rose bushes for his wife. So closes a life – happy and helpful to the last. Mr. Newcomb leaves besides his immediate family his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Newcomb of Hampton, Iowa and two sisters, Mrs. Earl Petheram, Hampton, Iowa, and Mrs. Mott Felts of Dayton, Ohio.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 17, 1948 at the Bonaparte Presbyterian church, with the Rev. C. F. McMican and Rev. Homer Dalrymple officiating. Interment was in the Bonaparte cemetery. The Rev. Homer Dalrymple sang, and Mrs. Vale Roberts Winslow was the organist.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library