Ira Gibson Dewel (1852-1929)

COLE, DEWEL, KEITH, SHOEN, THORPE, WARNER

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

The Algona Upper Des Moines
Algona, Iowa
Wednesday, January 30, 1929
Page 1, Column 6

Ira G. Dewel, father of Editor Dewel, passed away Thursday afternoon, following a long and painful illness dating back to the summer of 1927 when he was confined to his bed with cancer. Mr. and Mrs. Dewel moved to Algona about eighteen years ago. During his residence here he erected a number of dwelling houses and the garage and filling station, south of the New Algona hotel. He served as a member of the city council for several years. Mr. Dewel was prominent in Masonic circles, was a member of the Consistory at Des Moines and was a charter member of Za-Ga-Zig Temple, order of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines.

Ira Gibson Dewel was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 30, 1852, where he grew to manhood. Fifty-four years ago; on Thanksgiving Day, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Shoen, whom with two sons, W. C. Dewel of Algona and E. H. Dewel of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and three daughters, Mrs. Marshall C. Keith of Casper, Wyoming, Mrs. George Cole of Maxwell, Iowa, and Mrs. B. A. Thorpe of Algona, survive.

Mr. Dewel came west in 1880 and settled at Goldfield, Iowa, where he engaged in contracting and building and also banking. In 1895 they moved to Maxwell, Iowa, where he continued in the lumber and banking business and in 1911 they moved to Algona, which has since been their home.

The funeral services, following Mr. Dewel's request, were simple with no singing. Rev. Chas. H. Seward of the Methodist church delivered a short sermon, followed by the Masonic services led by Past Master George H. Free. Mr. Dewel had also selected his pall bearers, W. E. McDonald, H. E. McMurray, Jos. Misbach, K. D. James, Dg White and J. C. Todd. The local lodge attended the services in a body after which the remains were placed in the new receiving vault, the first time it has been occupied.
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The Kossuth County Advance
Algona, Iowa
Thursday, January 31, 1929
Page 4, Column 3

The long and painful illness of Ira G. Dewel came to an end with his death last Thursday afternoon. Funeral services took place Saturday afternoon at the home, and the body was deposited in the new receiving vault at Riverview cemetery. When the spring weather becomes settled a family lot will be purchased, and burial will be made without ceremony. This is the first time the new vault has been put to its Intended use.

The funeral services were simple, in accordance with Mr. Dewel's wish. There was no singing. The Rev. Chas. H. Seward read an obituary notice and preached a short sermon. Representing the local Masonic lodge, Geo. H. Free spoke briefly.

Mr. Dewel had chosen the pallbearers, who were W. E. McDonald, H. K. McMurray. Jos. Misbach. K. D. James, Dg White, and J. C. Todd. A delegation of Masons accompanied the body to the receiving vault, where Mr. Free conducted ritualistic burial rites.

Mr. Dewel had been sick with cancer and confined to his bed since the early summer of 1927. The immediate cause of death was uremia.

Born in New York

Born in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 30, 1852, Mr. Dewel was in his 77th year at death. He grew up in the county where he was born, and 54 years ago last Thanksgiving was married to Jennie M. Shoen. With four children they carne, west in "the winter of the big snow" (1880-81), and settled at Goldfield, Wright county. Here Mr. Dewel was in turn a contractor and builder, a lumber dealer, and a banker.

In 1895 the family moved to Maxwell, Story county, where Mr. Dewel again engaged in the banking and lumber businesses. A few years later they moved to Des Moines, where Mr. Dewel maintained headquarters for three lumberyards in outlying towns.

About 1911 Mr. and Mrs. Dewel came to Algona. Mr. Dewel had retired from business, but in the next few years he built a dozen or more houses here. He also built the gas station and the garage on the corner south of the Algona hotel. These he still owned at death.

Mason for 50 Years.

Mr. Dewel had been a Mason more than a half century. He was a member for many years of the Des Moines consistory of 32nd degree Masons, and was a charter member of Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Shriners at Des Moines. He was the first president of the Kossuth Shriners club. He was also a member of the order of the Eastern Star.

Besides Mrs. Dewel, the following children survive: W. C. Dewel, Algona: Mrs. M. C. Keith, Casper, Wyo.: E. H. Dewel, Muskogee, Okla.; Mrs. Geo. G. Cole, Maxwell; Mrs. B. A. Thorpe, Algona. One daughter, Ida, wife of Wilbur Warner, of Maxwell, died 25 years ago. There are 15 grandchildren. The children were all here, and a number of out-of-town relatives braved the severe weather to attend the funeral.
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Transcriber’s Note: Surname information provided by Mike Woltz, February 28, 2011 on Findagrave.com.

When Ira's father [Wm] Cornelius Deuel died, in 1879, Ira accompanied his mother, Sarah (Henry) Deuel on the move west, the next year. The railway ended at Webster City, Iowa and they stayed with Henry Shoen, Ira's wife Jennie's brother. In 1882, Mrs. Sarah Deuel, her son Ira and daughter in law, sold off the remaining farm property in St. Lawrence Co., NY. In 1885, the family were enumerated in Goldfield, Liberty Township, Wright Co., Iowa. In the 1900 census, they were in Des Moines, Iowa, and three years later Sarah (Henry) Deuel died there on 18 June 1903. Her gravesite has not been found.

In 1910 and 1920 census, Ira, who was encouraged by a school teacher to spell his surname Dewel, had moved to Algona. Ira Dewel was a very successful building contractor and operated a chain of lumber yards. For 50 years he was active in the Masons and Shriners in Des Moines.