Joseph Wade Whiteley 1826-1909

WHITELEY, GILES, JOHNSON, ALLENDER, MITCHELLER, TOZZER, HUMPHRYES

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 10/1/2001 at 14:18:39

Joseph Wade Whiteley, one of the best known citizens of Van Buren county and one of her best citizens died at his home at Bonaparte at 2:30 o’clock Saturday morning at the age of almost 83 years. He had been in failing health for the past year, his death resulting from the infirmities incident to old age.
Joseph W. Whiteley was born on April 28, 1826, in Yorkshire, England and came as a boy in company with his brother, James, to America first landing in New Orleans. Shortly afterward he went to Cheshire county, N. H., and then to Worcester, Mass. He followed the business of a woolen mill worker in this country, as he had done in England. After a short residence in a number of eastern cities Mr. Whiteley went to Connellsville, Penn., and there married Sarah A. Giles on April 25, 1852. To their union were born seven children, four sons and three daughters.

In the same year of his marriage he removed to Belmont county, Ohio, and in the following year returned to Pennsylvania, remaining in that state till 1856 when he came west and took up his residence in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In the spring of 1857 he came to Bonaparte, Iowa, where he passed the remainder of his long and useful life.

The wife and mother died on February 20, 1872. On August 18, 1878, he again married Hattie A. Johnson in Bonaparte, Iowa. She died in March, 1888. Of the children born of the first marriage two have preceded their father to the unseen land, Gertrude who died in infancy and George Andrew, whose death occurred on November 3, 1905. The surviving children are T. C. Whiteley and Mrs. Mary Allender of Guthrie, Okla., Joseph G. and Philip S. Whiteley of Bonaparte, Iowa and Mrs. Ella S. Mitcheller of Pueblo, Colo. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Tozzer of Cincinnatti [sic], Ohio and Mrs. Margaret Humphryes of Bonaparte.

The subject of this sketch engaged in the woolen mill business in the employ of Meek Brothers as superintendent of the wool assorting rooms and rendered good and faithful service to his employers for many years. In 1870 Mr. Whiteley engaged in the grocery business on the present site of the residence in which he died. He began business in a small way, but by energy, perseverance and honest business methods, his business grew steadily until it became one of the largest and most successful interests in southeastern Iowa.

J. W. Whiteley was a man of highest integrity. Quiet, unassuming, choosing to attend to his own business to the best of his ability. He was kind hearted and charitable but (section un readable) his charity was of that nature that sought no publicity. He was a member of Bonaparte Lodge, No. 72, A. F. & A. M., of Lafayette Chapter, No. 61, R. A. M. and of El Chanan Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 28, holding his membership in the last named order in Keosauqua.

The funeral was held from the late residence at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, under the auspices of the various of the various Masonic orders.