Robert FOTHERGILL

FOTHERGILL, DINSDALE, MITCHELL, CARLTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:49

Robert Fothergill
16 September 1834 --- 24 February 1894

PASSED AWAY
Robt. Fothergill died at his home in Eagle Grove Saturday morning, Feb. 24. Mr. Fothergill was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to Canada to live about 37 years ago, where he was married to Mary Dinsdale Sept. 30, 1863. They came to Tama county, Iowa two years afterwards, where they lived 17 years. Eight children were born to them, four of whom had died before the family moved to Eagle Grove, in April, 1882. The children now living are Mrs. S. C. Mitchell, Mrs. Leroy M. Carlton, Lawrence and Mina Fothergill.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon under the auspices of Golden Link Lodge I.O.O.F. at the Eagle Grove opera house. On the conclusion of the ceremonies there, a special train brought the lodge and friends to Goldfield, where they were met by Goldfield Lodge I.O.O.F. and escorted up town to await the arrival of the body and conclude the services. There was a large attendance of Odd Fellows from different lodges and on arrival of the friends and relatives with the remains they accompanied them to Glenwood cemetery and assisted in performing the last rites.

Goldfield Chronicle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
March 2, 1894

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Called Home
Died, at his home in this city, Saturday morning, February 17, [24] of Inflammation of the appendix with complications, Robert Fothergill, aged 60 years.

Mr. Fothergill was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to Canada to live about thirty-seven years ago, where he was married to Mary Dinsdale September 30, 1863. They came to Tama county, Iowa, two years afterwards, where they lived seventeeu years. Eight children were born to them, four of whom had died before the family removed to Eagle Grove, in April, 1882. The children now living are Mrs. S. C. Mitchell, Mrs. Leroy M. Carlton, Lawrence and Mina Fothergill.

Mr. and Mrs. Fothergill cast their lot in the up-building of our little city in the first stages of its growth, and have been considered among our best citizens, ever being noble assistants in any worthy enterprise. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy—no one was known to apply to him without relief. His nature was noble, the confidence in his fellow-man was based on his own honesty and integrity, he always was an earnest seeker for truth, and about five years ago embraced the christian religion and became a member of the Methodist church of this place. Although a member of that church, any place where divine services were being held had a strong attraction for him, and the evening before he took his last sickness was spent at the revival meetings in the Baptist church, where he went each evening after closing the store.

In the fall of 1882 an organization of the Iowa Legion of Honor was effected and he was appointed its treasurer, a position he filled until he died. He was one of the first merchants in town, and the first job work done by the proprietor of the GAZETTE was done for him.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon. After a prayer at the home the remains were taken to the opera house, followed by the Odd Fellows, of which order he was a consistent member. A double quartette choir composed of Mesdames Hardin, Black, Archer and Correll, and Messrs. Warnes, Paine, Yeoman and Odenheimer, with Miss Healy at the organ, sweetly sang "Golden Gates," "Meet Me There," and "Asleep in Jesus." Rev. J. W. Southwell read a lesson from the 39th Psalm as emblematical of the life of our departed friend. A sermon was then preached, taking for its foundation the beautiful text, "I am now ready to be offered up."

The Odd Fellows then paid their ceremonious tribute to their departed brother, Wm. Putzier acting as Noble Grand and Geo. Hibbert as Chaplain, who read the services, accompanied by responses from the members.

A special train took the members of the lodge and many friends to Goldfield, while the relatives and other friends went in carriages, where the last sad duties we owe to our departed friends were performed, and Robert Fothergill was lain in his lowly bed in the beautiful cemetery at Goldfield. Thus has gone from us a kind husband, father, brother and friend.

Card of Thanks
We wish to publicly acknowledge our thankfulness to the friends and neighbors who gave us kind aid during our late bereavement.

Mrs. Robert Fothergill and Family

Boone Valley Gazette --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
February 28, 1894

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[remains moved to family plot at Rose Hill Cemetery in Eagle Grove, Iowa from Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield, Iowa]