Jesse Clay "J. C." Middleton (1863-1949)

EPPARD, LYONS, MCVICKER, MIDDLETON, SHOENHAIR

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

The Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, March 10, 1949
Page 1, Column 4
Page 8, Column 6

FINAL RITES FOR PIONEER EAGLE GROVE CITIZEN

J. C. Middleton, 85, died Thursday night, March 3rd, at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Middleton, 609 West 3rd St. North. Mr. Middleton had been In failing health for a few years, and since Mrs. Middleton's death had resided wlth Guy and family in Clarion, and later at their home here.

He is survived by three daughters and four sons, Mrs. Glen McVicker, Hampton; Mrs. Roy McVicker, Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Clyde Eppard of East St. Louis, Ill.; Guy of Eagle Grove, Paul of Mason City; Lee and Lysle Middleton of Webster City. Also two sisters, Mrs. Frank Shoenhair of this city, Mrs. Achsa Lyons of Keytesvllle, Mo., and Sam Middleton of Eagle Grove.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Methodist church in charge of the Rev. Harrison G. Dawes and burial was in the family lot in Rose Hill cemetery.

Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were, Mrs. Glenn McVicker and family of Hampton, Mrs. Roy McVicker of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Clyde Eppard of East St. Louis, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Paul Middleton of Mason City,. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Middleton and Mr. and Mrs. Lysle Middleton of Webster City.

OBITUARY

Jesse Clay Middleton, son of Elmore and Lucinda Middleton, was born on a farm in Troy Twp., September 3, 1863 and passed from this life March 3, 1949 at the age of 85 years and 6 months.

"J. C." as he was called by all his friends received his early schooling in the little school house near Troy Center, later he attended high school in Webster City and in 1883 was a student at the agricultural college at Ames. He taught school during the winter months attending to the duties of the farm in the summer. On November 18, 1885, he was united in marriage with Frances Allen and they started life together on a farm a short distance from his birthplace. Two years later, he bought the place known as the Middleton Homestead from his father and that was their home for the next 40 years. Their family of five sons and three daughters were born and raised in this community where both Mr. and Mrs. Middleton gave unsparingly of their time and effort to make it a better place in which to live. Both were charter members of the Troy Methodist church and both took an active interest in the Sunday School and Epworth League. J. C. was a member of the Masonic order, being one of the first to receive a 50-year membership certificate from that order, and took a keen interest in all civic affairs, serving for many years on both the School Board and Board of Trustees in Troy Twp.

In March 1927, he and Mrs. Middleton moved to Eagle Grove and this was their home until the passing away of Mrs. Middleton on June 11, 1948. The loss of this loving help mate was too much and severe a shock for a man of his advanced years and his health gradually failed until he answered the final summons last Thursday evening at the home of his son Guy, on 3rd street N. W. of this city, with whom he had made his home since the death of his wife. One son Homer died in July 1946 but three daughters, Bessie (Mrs. Glen McVicker) of Hampton, Ia., Florence (Mrs. Roy McVicker) of Denver, Colo., and Frances (Mrs. Clyde Eppard) of East St. Louis, Ill., and four sons, Guy of Eagle Grove, Paul of Mason City, Lee and Lysle of Webster City, 24 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Frank Shoenhair and Mrs. Achsa Lyons of Keytesvllle, Mo., and one brother, Sam Mlddleton, remain among his immediate relatives to mourn the going away of another from those sturdy families of pioneers who came west so many years ago and seeing vast resources in the virgin soil of Iowa settled here and helped to make it the prosperous community it is today.

September 3, 1863 – March 3, 1949