Thomas Hales 1822-1904

HALES, WATSON, BLACKLEDGE, COLE, DAVIS, BELL, CHRISTAIN, CHRISTIAN, BURTON, COX, PETERSON, WATKINS, ELLER, MANKIN

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra (email)
Date: 10/1/2001 at 23:14:31

THOMAS HALES

The buriel [sic] of Thomas Hales took place Sunday afternoon, from the Center Chapel in Vernon township. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. E. Perkins. Mr. Hales was born in Carroll county, Ohio, August 18, 1822. His death occurred on the morning of December 9, after a sickness of several weeks, his age being 82 years, 3 months and 21 days. He had been twice married. His first wife, the mother of his nine children, was Sarah J. Watson, to whom he was married in Ohio, November 23, 1843. She died at the farm home in Vernon township, Nov. 19, 1889. The second marriage was to Elizabeth Blackledge, and was solemnized at Mechanicstown, Ohio, February 5, 1891. Mr. Hales' residence in Van Buren county dates from the spring of 1864, at which time he purchased and settled upon his farm in Vernon township. In May, 1896, he moved to Keosauqua, which has since been his home. Of the nine children born to the first marriage, all but the eldest born are now living, and three were privileged to be with their father when the end came. Mr. Hales in early life joined the Presbyterian church. After his second marriage he and his wife became members of the M. E. church at Center Chapel. On moving to Keosauqua they both united with the Congregational church. Mr. Hales was an honest, upright, christian man. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of old neighbors and friends. He leaves a widow and, as stated above, eight of the nine children that were born to him.

(Photocopy of this obit is located on page 32 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County Iowa Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in November 1999. Name and date of newspaper not given.) ORIGINAL POST 15 Nov 1999.

I would be interested additional information on this family. The nine children were: Margaret A. (m. Frank Cole); James Andrew (m1 Clara Davis m2 Sallie Bell); Thomas Watson (m1 Amanda Bell m2 Ann Christain/Christian); Elizabeth Jane (m. Edward F. Burton); Mary Elvira (m. Alonzo Cox); Sarah Catherine (m. George Allen Peterson); John Parker Dodds (m. Margaret Watkins); Sarah Josephine "Josie" (m. Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Eller) and William George (m. Lillie Mankin).