Iowa
Old Press
SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD
Sidney, Fremont co., Iowa
April 18, 1929
AGED MASON HAS BUT A BRIEF STAY AT HOME.
Transplanted To Strange Scenes, Former Active Citizen Passes Out.
MEMBER OF ORDER 55 YEARS
Barely six weeks after he had gone to live at the State Masonic
home at Bettendorf., near Davenport, W. J. Yowell, 85, died at
that institution Sunday, April 14. He went to the home February
25. Mr. Yowell was born at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1844, and at
the age of 3 years he came to Illinois with his parents on the
first lap of a pioneer journey which was to terminate at Sidney
on April 15, 1865 -- the day on which Lincoln died -- the date
being impressed on Mr.Yowell's mind by the sight of flags flying
at half-mast on the first day he saw Sidney. His journey from
St.Joseph to this place was made by stage coach, at that time
running on regular schedule north and south. He remained in
Sidney about a month, going from here to Hamburg where he worked
as a clerk in the store of A. S. Walker, who was a former
associate at Lexington. Mr.Yowell joined the Masonic lodge at
Hamburg, being one of the charter members, and remained a member
of that lodge even after coming back to Sidney for a permament
location in 1885;. He served as county auditor two terms -- 1885
to 1889 -- and then he entered the abstracting business, which he
continued up to the time of going to the Masonic home. Mr. Yowell
was united in marriage to Elizabeth Pauline Farmer on December
25, 1867. To their union four children were born. An only
daughter, Bessie, wife of W. B. Wightman, died at Shenandoah May
4, 1921. Three sons, Angelo, Thomas and James, survive. Mrs.
Yowell passed away at Sidney on June 6, 1921. He was one of a
family of ten children, four of whom are yet living, James of
Springfield, Missouri; George of Phillipsburg, Kansas; Ann and
Emmer Yowell, living at Denbigh, North Dakota.There are six
grandchildren, of whom he was very fond. This paper begs leave to
quote a sentence printed at the time of his going to the Masonic
home, and which he might read while yet in the land of the
living: "Men like W. J. Yowell, whose conduct in life has
never been questioned, and whose attributes of honesty and
integrity are the true essence of virtue, although they may not
be with us now, are ever with us in spirit and in memory."
Funeral services were held from the Christian church of Sidney,
of which denomination deceased was a member at Hamburg, Tuesday
afternoon, conducted by Rev. R. M. Siegel. Jerusalem lodge of
Masons, Hamburg, had charge of the service at the grave, E. G.
Hintz delivering the funeral oration. Pall-bearers were past and
present officials of the courthouse. Relatives from out of town
attending the funeral were Ann and Emmer Yowell of Denbigh, North
Dakota; Mrs. and Mrs. Ed Welsh and Mrs. J. B. Lake, Shenandoah;
Mrs.Jane Kilpatrick of Malvern; Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Faubion and
daughter of Anderson.
[transcribed by W.F., March 2007]