Newton BAWN

BAWN, DUER, EMERSON, PATTERSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

Newton Bawn
1 November 1860 ---- 20 January 1927

Influenza Takes One of Wright County’s Most Widely Known Farmers

Newton Bawn is dead. He passed to his reward on Thursday January 20th. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Methodist church which was filled to capacity by friends, neighbors, and admirers from all over this section of the county. The tribute paid him by his pastor was so deserving, so well earned, and so appropriate that we reprint it in full. It was read at the funeral service. It was as follows:

Obituary

Newton Bawn was born in Parkersburg, Iowa Nov. 1, 1860. He was a farmer’s son and remained on an eighty-acre farm, which his father gave him, which was located near Parkersburg, until two years after his marriage to Miss Melvina C. Duer on Oct. 29, 1884. They moved into house which Mr. Bawn built with his own hands.

In 1892 they moved to the farm three miles southwest of Eagle Grove. In 1913 they moved to the farm in the Troy neighborhood where they have since lived.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bawn. George Bawn and Mrs. Clarence Emerson both of Eagle Grove.

Mr. Bawn has been failing for a number of years. Last spring, he submitted to two operations at Rochester and to another one in November. Ten days before his death he grew rapidly worse, but not withstanding that fact he desired that the Troy Culture club carry out the plans and hold its annual meeting at his home which was done on the 8th of January much to his pleasure. He passed away on the afternoon of Jan. 20, 1927 at the age of 66 years, two months, and 19 days.

Mr. Bawn received his education at a little country school near Parkersburg and at the State Normal at Cedar Falls. He taught school for a time and all his life he has been a great reader. He was much interested in Horbert Quicks stories, the scenes of many of them being laid within a short distance of his home.

Mr. Bawn was one of the leading farmers in this part of the state. He raised pure bred horses and hogs and was a feeder on a large scale. He was a great lover of nature. He took a keen interest in landscape gardening. Because of this he made a study of trees, shrubs, and flowers. He had a greater variety of evergreen and fruit trees on his farm than could be found on any farm within miles of his place. Any new variety of tree which could be successfully grown in this climate soon found a place on his farm. It was also a matter of great interest to him to watch the habits of animals and to see how an “All Wise Creator” placed the animals, birds, and plants according to their habits and surrounded them with things compatible to their natures. The beautiful home which he built was in keeping with his ideas of what a real home on the farm should be, a place of character building.

Mr. Bawn was a quiet man and never aspired to public office. He was, however, chosen as a director of the Citizens State bank, and of the farmer’s elevator. He was a trustee of Eagle Grove township and president of the school district of Eagle Grove township. During the World War he was an enthusiastic solicitor for liberty bonds and for the Red Cross.

He was a member of only one fraternal order, the Modern Woodmen, which he joined years ago.

He was a lover of children, as one of his disposition usually is. He was a liberal contributor to the Orphans Home at Ottumwa. He was very much interested in Boy Scout work and was one of those silent contributors whose liberal checks made one realize that he recognized the value of work of that kind. There were other causes which received his financial aid. His contribution to the proposed new Methodist church of this place was generous and among those at the head of the list.

It is seldom that one hears such universal and unanimous words of praise spoken of a man as those which are spoken of him. Those who knew him best speak of him as the nicest neighbor and the most honest and upright man whom they have ever known. He abhorred anything that was wrong. He did not believe in owing any man. He made it a rule to pay cash for what he got or to wait until he could. Instead of owning stores here in town as so many do, he had a credit with them. His unswerving policy of honesty and uprightness sometimes led to his financial detriment but the respect that came to him from those with whom he dealt more than repaid him for all that he might have lost in a monetary way.

One of the most delightful things that can be said of this man was his love and respect for children. No child was ever heard him use language of any kind which would poison his mind. One man who worked for him said that he never heard him swear or tell an unclean story which is saying a great deal in these days of careless, profane, and unclean speech.

Because of the high esteem in which he was held he had many young people come to him seeking advice which he freely and gladly gave. Lest some might think that his respect ended with little children, it is fitting to add that he had respect and reverence for old age. The term, “old man” was very distasteful to him.

Those who knew him best called him “Dad”. It was a term by which he enjoyed being called. It started in his own home and gradually came to be, the name by which he was known and called by the men on the farm and then by all the neighbors.

As he was a good farmer, neighbor, and friend so was he also as a husband, father, and grandfather.

His character was above reproach, and he showed his love for the Master and his teachings in the way in which he strictly obeyed his teachings in his everyday life.

He is survived by his wife, the two children already mentioned, four grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. M. H. Patterson, and two brothers, Horace, and James of Parkersburg.

Funeral services were held in the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon. The sermon was preached by Rev. W. G. Muhleman. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE ---- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, January 27, 1927

Source ---- Paul Wilde