Vreeland, William 1815 – 1895

VREELAND, LEACH, GREGORY, PHIPPIN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/28/2021 at 14:20:06

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 31, 1895 P 5 C 4

VREELAND—In Spirit Lake. January 24th, 1895.
William Vreeland, aged 79 years, 2 months and 11 months.
This pioneer has been quite infirm for a number of years, but he was not supposed to be so near his end the first of the year. A little later he wan taken with chills and manifested other grippe symptoms. Last week paralytic indications were manifest, but the later conclusion is that death came from a complication of ailments other than paralysis. He suffered a great deal, and though conscious, could not satisfactorily communicate with his attendants during the later days.
William Vreeland has been a resident of this county for more than twenty-five years. He had been a hard working man who attended largely to his own affairs and was disposed to do right according to the light given him. He had many friends about the county who regret his death very much.
The deceased was born in Orleans, New York, in 1815. At about the age of 21 years he came west, locating in Michigan, where he lived for some 18 years. He married Miss Martha Leach in 1837 and in 1855 the family moved to Decorah, Iowa, when the wife died in 1857. February 11, 1870, Mr. Vreeland married Mrs. Jane Gregory, who survives. In the same year a removal to a farm in Diamond Lake township was made, which was the family home until a residence was acquired in Spirit Lake some fifteen years since. Of the first marriage were born five children, three of whom survive and are well known here —L. W. Vreeland, 1J. J. Vreeland and Mrs. Nellie Phippin.
Deceased was a member of the M. E, Church since early manhood. While not a soldier. Mr. Vreeland was a union man of so much enthusiasm that he worked his farm in the day time, and spent many of an evening going from place to place and beating his drum at recruiting rallies. —Spirit Lake Beacon.

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 31, 1895 P 5 C 2

—In the pioneer days Wm. Vreeland was a character in Decorah, and “out to Vreeland’s” was a favorite resort of young people who wanted a nice sleigh ride, with an oyster supper, or a nice little dance as part of the trip. For over 25 years he has been lost sight of, until last Saturday when his remains were brought to Decorah for burial. An obituary notice, copied from the Spirit Lake Beacon, tells the story of his life. A brother named John, four years younger, died at Spirit Lake on the same day that William passed away.

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 31, 1895 P 5 C 1

—Seven deaths are recorded this week:—Mrs. Tyler, at Burr Oak, Mrs. Elwick, Mrs. Sharp, a student at Luther College, Wm. Vreeland, at Sioux Falls, Alan Maconochie, at St. Paul, Nelson Webster, near Sioux Falls, Mona K. Foss, and a Mr. Thompson, at Freeport.

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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