Lewis Wellington Proper 1820-1907

PROPER, SEDGWICK

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 2/26/2012 at 12:40:54

Lewis W. Proper.

Lewis Wellington Proper, was born in Hector Tp. Tompkins County, New York, November 8th-1820.

He was married to Miss Mary Sedgwick April 26th, 1843. He removed to Territory of Iowa, October 1843, and settled in Harrisburg Township, seven miles north of Bonaparte in Van Buren County. During the summer of 1852 he crossed the plains to California with an ox team. The next year he came back and settled on a farm, where he remained 46 years without a single change. His wife died in 1898, at the age of 75 years, and since that he has been living with his two surviving sons, one in Los Angeles, California and the other in Des Moines. One other grown son, and a married daughter, preceded him in departing this life some years ago. He was one of the early pioneer settlers in Van Buren County, and as such endured many of the hardships incident to the first settlers. His grandfather was a Hollander, and he inherited some of the characteristics of that people.

He was converted and baptized in Hector N.Y. in 1841. When the Harrisburg Baptist church was organized in 1863 in the stone school house one mile from his home, he united with it, and remained a member until his death. For over 40 years he was a deacon in this church. One of his former pastors thus writes, "this much I can say as one of his former pastors who knew him intimately, that he was a man of sterling worth as a christian citizen; a man of strong convictions, and absolutely loyal to them."

He died Monday morning, January 7, 1907, at the ripe old age of 86 years, one month and 29 days. The remains were brought to Bonaparte and funeral services will be held at the Harrisburg Baptist church Wednesday at 11 o'clock, Rev. Ericson officiating.
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Source: Entler Scrapbook Collection, vol 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA