Henry Clay Pinkham (1867-1954) Alternate

ANLIKER, BARGMAN, BRADEN, BURNS, BYGNESS, COOPER, DORWEILER, FOLKEDAHL, GRAHAM, HANSEN, HERRICK, HINTON, KLASSE, MATSON, OVERBAUGH, PINKHAM, SCHIPULL, STEWART, WHYTE

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:44

Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, May 27, 1954

The Goldfield Chronicle

SERVICES FOR H. C. PINKHAM AT GOLDFIELD

Prominent Wright County Citizen Dies Wednesday Following Two Years Of Failing Health And Illness.

Henry C, Pinkham, 86, one of Wright County's first citizens died early Wednesday, morning at his home in Goldfield following two years of failing health.

Funeral services have been set for Saturday at 2:30 in the Methodist church with the Rev. Frank C. Greene in charge. Burial will be in the Goldfield cemetery.

Mr. Pinkham was born in Wisconsin in 1867 but has resided most of his life in Wright county and the Goldfield area. He lived for about a year as a youth in Nebraska. He also operated a drug store in Livermore for a short time and in Goldfield too.

Life of Service

Mr. Pinkham's life has been one of public service, dedicated to the building of a better community and county. He served for 24 years as Supervisor of Wright county. He was active and instrumental in the development of the extensive county drainage system and had a great part also in putting every Wright county farm on an all-weather road.

Mr. Pinkham had a part in developing the drainage system from 30 drainage ditches in the county to 235. His road record is just as startling in the increase of miles.

On School Board

He served for 18 years on the Goldfield school board, on the official board of the Methodist church, on the board of the Farmers Elevator Co. He also headed the Red Cross and promoted the Old Settlers picnic in Goldfield for many years.

Few men have had so active and prominent a part in the growth and development of this country. It is impossible to list all of his many good deeds and accomplishments both in public office and private life. Always his outlook was optimistic and progressive. He tempered this optimism with good judgement and thereby achieved a reputation for himself that will be undying.

He is survived by his wife and one son Glenn, both of Goldfield, and a sister Mrs. Ellen Overbaugh, 91, of Spokane, Washington. He was preceded in death by a daughter and a brother Wellington, who died last year.

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Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, June 3, 1954

Obituary

Henry Clay Pinkham was born November 15, 1867, at Argyle, Wisconsin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pinkham. When a small boy he moved with his parents to a Nebraska farm until a grasshopper scourge caused the family to move to Iowa. They settled on a farm north-east of Goldfield and Mr. Pinkham finished his course at the Goldfield school before the practice of awarding diplomas was commenced.

From High School he went on to the University of Iowa and received a degree in pharmacy. Then he took over a drug store in Livermore for 7 years and on December 21, 1897 he married a local, school teacher, Elizabeth F. Hinton. To this union were born Nellie and Glenn A.

From Livermore the Pinkhams came to Goldfield and Mr. Pinkham operated the drug store for two years, but the farm attracted the Pinkhams and they moved, in March 1898, northeast of Goldfield and farmed for 18 years until they moved back to town in 1914.

That fall Mr. Pinkham ran for his first term as Second District Supervisor and was elected. He had previously filled in an unexpired term in that office, which involved the care of Boone, Norway and Liberty townships. Actually Mr. Pinkham was elected for eight terms. His first tenure of office was for nine years and then after a period of fifteen years, he was elected for five more consecutive terms, that is, 15 years more.

In his work as Supervisor, Mr. Pinkham gave 24 years of public service and the period was one of great progress in that work. He saw the results of his efforts as the drainage ditch system grew from a mere infant to a huge giant. Progressively the county roads were graded and graveled.

Mr. Pinkham retired as Supervisor, December 31, 1951, at which time he was given credit for getting adequate bridges put across the Boone river and for getting a good farm to market road into the town in addition to other improved county roads and needed drainage work.

But the office of Supervisor was only one of the many interests in which he engrossed himself. He was active in church and fraternal work. He joined the Methodist Church in Goldfield in 1910 and was a Trustee and a member of the Official Board, anxious, as long as he was able to talk, for the Church's welfare. He was sincere in his private and home devotional life.

For 18 years he was a member of the Goldfield school board and was a director of. the Farmers Elevator Cooperative. He also served President of the local Red Cross organization and he headed the Old Settlers Association. Mr. Pinkham was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for 57 years, and he has been a resident of Wright County for over 52 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Pinkham celebrated their golden wedding in their home in Goldfield on Sunday December 21, 1947, being honored by more than 200 guests.

Mr. Pinkham had been in failing health for two years and early in April of this year was hospitalized for several weeks but was returned to his home two weeks before his death, becoming slowly weaker, as the days passed.

He entered into rest on Wednesday morning, May 26, 1954, at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 12 days. Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth F. Hinton Pinkham, and a son Glenn A. Pinkham, both of Goldfield, Iowa; a sister, Mrs. Ellen Overbaugh of Spokane, Wash., several nieces and nephews and a large circle of personal friends. The daughter, Nellie, preceded her father in death.

Funeral services were conducted in the Methodist church in Goldfield, Iowa, on Saturday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m. with the Rev. Frank C. Greene, Pastor and the Rev. Cassius G. McKnight of the United Presbyterian Church in Goldfield officiating

Singers were: Mrs. Conger Whyte and Clarence Cooper, Accompanist Mrs. Glen Braden.

Pall Bearers; Sam Folkedahl, Alfred Hansen. Otto Matson. Carl Schipull, John Schipull, Conger Whyte.

Graveside ceremony was conducted by Rev. Robert Kessinger of LuVerne.

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Wright County Monitor
Clarion, Iowa
Thursday, June 3, 1954

Last Rites Held for Henry Pinkham

Funeral services for Henry C. Pinkham, 86, were held Saturday afternoon at the Methodist church, Rev. Frank C. Greene officiating, assisted by Rev. R. R. Kessinger of LuVerne, former pastor of the Goldfield church, and Rev. C. G. McKnight pastor of the United Presbyterian church.

Music for the service was provided by Mrs. Conger Whyte and Clarence Cooper who sung "Beyond the Sunset," and "When You Come to the End of the Way," accompanied by Mrs. Glen Braden. Pallbearers were Sam Folkedahl, Alfred Hansen, Otto Matson, Carl Schipull, John Schipull and Conger Whyte.

Mr. Pinkham had the distinction of having served as Wright county supervisor for 24 years. He was first elected to that office in 1912 and served for three terms. Then there was a gap of 15 years. He was elected again in 1936 and reelected four times to serve 15 consecutive years.

During the 21 years he was in office, he saw Wright county's drainage system grow from 30 ditches to a total of 235. While he was in office, he saw radical changes in the county highway system, progressing from plain dirt to a county system completely graveled, and the primary roads paved.

In addition to his long service on the county board, he also served 18 years on the Goldfield school board, and was 13 years a director of the Goldfield Farmers Elevator. He was also one of the promoters of the Old Settlers reunion in Goldfield for many years.

Mr. Pinkham died Wednesday at his home after two years of declining health.

He is survived by his wife, one son, Glenn of Goldfield, and a sister, Mrs. Ellen Overbaugh of Spokane, Wash. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nellie, and a brother, Wellington.

Henry Clay Pinkham was born Nov. 15, 1867 at Argyle, Wis., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pinkham. When a small boy he moved with his parents to a Nebraska farm until a grasshopper scourge caused tho family to move to Iowa.

They settled on a farm northeast of Goldfield and Mr. Pinkham finished his course at the Goldfield school before the practice of awarding diplomas was commenced. From high school he went on to the University of Iowa and received a degree in pharmacy. He took over a drug store in Livermore for seven years and on Dec. 21, 1897, he married a local school teacher, Elizabeth F. Hinton.

From Livermore, the Pinkham's came to Goldfield and Mr. Pinkham operated tho drug store for two years, but the farm, attracted the Pinkhams and they moved in March 1898 northeast of Goldfield and farmed for 18 years until they moved back to town in 1914.

In addition to all of his other activities, Mr. Pinkham was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 57 years, He had been a member of the Methodist church since 1910 and served as a trustee and a member of the official board. He also served as president of the local Red Cross chapter.

Mr. and Mrs. Pinkham celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary in their home Sunday, Dec. 21, 1947, being honored with more than 200 guests.

Out-of-town relatives attending: Mr. and Mrs. Allan Herrick, Mr. and Mrs. James Stewart of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pinkham, Cedar Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bygness, Mrs. Ferne Klasse, Renwick; Dr. Lon Overbaugh and son, Mitchell, S. D.; Mr. Lafe Hinton, Lake Park; Mr. and Mrs. Dowell Hinton, Round Lake, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hinton and daughter, Worthington, Minn.; Mrs. Victor Bargman, Rodman; Mr. and Mrs. Vane Graham, Conrad; Mrs. Eddie Dorweiler, Mr. and Mrs. Burns and granddaughter, Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Anliker, Mrs. Elizabeth Anliker, West Bend.