Robert Rowen DUFFY

DUFFY, EMERSON, WHITTEN, RIETZ, BERRYHILL, WAITE, PEPPER, BARRS, ZEIGLER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/22/2009 at 22:21:04

ROBERT ROWEN DUFFY - PIONEER MAN DIES AT ROWAN

Robert Rowen Duffy, Pioneer Business Man Dies at Rowan. R.R. Duffy, First Storekeeper and First Purchaser of R.R. Ticket Passes Away Friday

Robert Rowen Duffy was born May 1, 1851, at Thompsonville, Conn. And passed away at his home in Rowan, June 4, 1926, at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 4 days. Mr. Duffy came to Iowa with his parents in 1860 thus becoming one of the pioneer
settlers of this community. On Feb. 21, 1878, he was united in marriage with Addie A. Emerson. They first made their home on a farm west of town, afterwards moving to Rowan in 1885, where they continued to reside until his death. Mr. Duffy was the first businessman of Rowan and bought the first ticket sold at our railway station. He was postmaster for several years until his health failed. Mr. Duffy took an active part in the early religious and social life of the town, being one of the men who helped organize and build the First Methodist church and continued to take an active part in the work of the church as long as his health permitted. He served the church as a trustee from the time it was built until his death being the last member of the first board of trustees. He always gave freely of his energies and finance to help with church and community and will wear a crown of eternal life as the result of his faithfulness.

Mr. and Mrs. Duffy were the parents of two daughters, Mrs. W. H. Whitten of Rowan and Nellie who died in infancy. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Mrs. W. H. Whitten, two granddaughters, Elfreda Whitten and Mrs. W. A. Rietz and one great-granddaughter, Cathryn Rietz, also one sister, Mrs. Roberta Berryhill and two brothers, James and William.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon conducted by the Rev. George Osborn. A quartette composed of D. W. Whitten, Mrs. A. O. Pelly, Miss Eleanor Martin and Howard Box accompanied by Miss Esther Fowler, sang, "Fade, Fade Each Early Joys," "Jesus Lover of my Soul" and "When the Roll is Called up Yonder." The pallbearers were all his neighbors including F. H. Fowler, O. E. Ballou, D. E. Harris, F. B. Sheldon, A. C. Reitz and C. W. Fowler. Out of town relatives attending the funeral were: a sister, Mrs. Roberta Berryhill of LaPorte City, Mrs. Waite of Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Pepper, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pepper, Charlotte and Viola, Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Pepper all of Dows, Mrs. Gladys Musson and Mrs. Ilo Barrs of Galt, and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Zeigler of Jewell.

Source: Alice Brook brookj@juno.com