MICHAEL, William Elmer: 1872-1948

MICHAEL, TURNER, SPENCER, STUMP, FAIRFIELD, NASON, COX

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/17/2013 at 02:44:51

W.E. Michael Rites Held Last Friday
**Handwritten: 48

SELMA - Funeral services for W.E. Michael were held Friday afternoon at the Selma Methodist church. The Rev. J.C. Austin was in charge. Burial was in the Iowaville cemetery.

Pallbearers were George Nason, Stanley Nason, Michael Stump, Noel Price, Fred Kunzman and Joe Michael.

Music was by Mrs. Ralph Lepper, Mrs. Garold Hughes, Forrest Hanshaw and Robert Luce. Pianist was Mrs. Rober Luce.

William Elmer Michael, son of Joseph H. and Margaret Turner Michael, was born near Selma, Iowa, March 4, 1872, and departed this life at the Ottumwa hospital, March 17, 1948. Being at the age of his death 76 years and 13 days. He had been in failing health for two years, and suffered a stroke of paralysis on Feb. 29, and again on hospital on that date, from hospital on that date, from which he did not recover.

Mr. Michael had lived his entire life on the farm near where he was born. He attended the Black school near his home, and later attended Selma and Birmingham schools.

He was a prominent farmer and stock raiser, exhibiting his pure bred Chester White hogs at local fairs, and for 33 years in succession at the Iowa state fair.

Mr. Michael was a member of the Old Age and Social Welfare Board of Van Buren county, until failing health forced him to resign.

He became a member of the Mt. Gilead Christian church at the age of 16, and remained a faithful member of that church. The distance and weather often preventing him from attending the church of his choice, he attended the Methodist church at Selma, and was the superintendent of the Sunday School for 22 successive years, and remained a faithful attendant of the Selma church and Sunday School until failing health would no longer permit.

On August 1, 1894, he was united in marriage with Bessie Mae Spencer at the home of her parents in Chequest township, and they immediately went to housekeeping on the farm where they spent their entire married life, until moving to Selma a year and a half ago, on August 1, 1945.

To this union were born five daughters, the first, Maefrae, died in infancy.

Surviving are his wife and four daughters, Mrs. Willa Stump of Selma, Mrs. Edna Fairfield of Minatare, Neb., Mrs. Beatrice M. Nason of Ottumwa, and Mrs. Elnora Cox of Seymour; a brother, E.D. Michael, of Selma; 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, as well as a host of more distant relatives and friends.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 334, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA