John Oldaker d.1918

OLDAKER, FRY, KETTLES, SELBY, HUMMER, MCCALL, JOHNSTON, HALL

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 5/16/2009 at 16:53:29

Iowa City Citizen, Iowa City (Johnson Co.), Iowa, 15 October 1918.

LOVED PIONEER CALLED HOME
John Oldaker passed away at his home in Wellman on October 4. He had been confined to his bed nearly all summer, but was more seriously ill during the last week of his illness. He was born in Ohio, but spent most of his life in Iowa. He was thirteen years old when he came with his parents and settled near Frytown on the place that for many years was the Oldaker homestead. He was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fry) Oldaker, and was the fifth child of a family of thirteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, six of whom still survive to regret the loss of their brother. They are: Mrs. Rebecca Kettles of Frytown; Mrs. Eva Selby, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. Mary Hummer, of Iowa City; Jacob, of Wellman, Andrew, of Tecumseh, Nebraska; and Phinneas, of San Bernardino, California. Those who preceded him in death are: Mrs. Elizabeth McCall, formerly of Iowa City; William who gave his life in the Civil War; Susan Johnston, of Frytown; Henry J. of Cedar Valley; James, near Windham, and Burton Z., of Kalona, who passed away a few years ago.

He enlisted at his country's call in the first days of the Civil War, and served during the remainder of the struggle, earning for himself a clean record and an honorable discharge.

On January 19, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances Hall of Green Valley. Since 1906, they have resided in Wellman, Mrs. Oldaker having passed away over four years ago.

The funeral services were held at the M.E. church at Wellman, last Sunday afternoon, at 2 o'clock.

Uncle John, as he was called by many, was of a cheerful disposition, and was loved by all. He will be greatly missed by those with whom he was closely associated.