Rebecca (Wilson) McWhirter
Born: November 11, 1854 in North Ireland1
Died: May 1, 1931 in Colfax, Jasper Co., Iowa1
Buried: Lot 77, plot 2
Married: John McWhirter June 3, 1874 in Glasgow, Scotland
Children: Elizabeth Shull, Margaret2, Mary, John W.2, Andrew2, Rebecca2, Sarah "Sadie"2, Pearl2, and Robert2
Parents: Oliver and Elizabeth (Bovaird) Wilson1 both born in Scotland
Pioneer Colfax Resident Dies
Mrs. John McWhirter, 77, Dies Last night;
services to be held at Metz.
Colfax, June 1, Special to the Daily News Mrs. John McWhirter, 77, a native of Ireland, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Mulleneaux, last night after an illness of 15 months. During the past four weeks, she has been seriously ill.
Brief services will be held at the Mulleneaux home on Wednesday, from which the body will be taken to the Metz Cemetery, where services and burial will be held.
Rebecca Wilson was born Nov. 11, 1854 in North Ireland, the daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth Bovaird Wilson, living there until nine years of age, when she moved to Glasgow, Scotland. She was married to John M. McWhirter June 8, 1874 at Glasgow, and came to the United States, landing in New York City, June 8, 1886.
They moved directly to Colfax, later transferring to Metz for a few years. She then moved back to Colfax in 1903, where she has lived ever since. Part of the time was spent on acreage north of town, and the rest in town.
She is survived by her husband; four daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Shell of Ames, Mrs. Mary Mulleneaux of Colfax, Mrs. Rebecca Carrol of Newton, Mrs. Sadie Jones of Colfax; three sons J. W. McWhirter of Northfield, Minn., Andrew McWhirter of Clarinda, and Robert McWhirter of Laurel; and one brother, Oliver Wilson. Twenty-three grandchildren are living and eight great grandchildren.
She was the two hundred seventeenth member of the Three-Quarter (rest is missing) ~ obituary courtesy of Clarice McWhirter Trotter
John McWhirter
Born: July 31, 1853 in Ireland
Died: August 5, 1935 in Colfax, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 77, plot 4
Married: June 3, 1874 in Glasgow, Scotland
Children: Elizabeth Shull, Margaret2, Mary, John W.2, Andrew2, Rebecca2, Sarah "Sadie"2, Pearl2, and Robert2
Parents: David and Margaret (McCall) McWhirter
JOHN M'WHIRTER DIES AT COLFAX
To Hold Rites Thursday Afternoon
From Church in Metz
Funeral services for John McWhirter, 82, of Colfax, former resident of Metz, will be conducted from the Metz church Thursday at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the Sugar Grove cemetery.
Mr. McWhirter, member of The Daily News' Three Quarter Century club, died Monday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Mulleneaux, in Colfax. He had been ill for some time with a malignant disease.
Mr. McWhirter was born in Ireland July 31, 1853, and was the last surviving member of a family of five children. He was the son of David and Margaret (McCall) McWhirter.
He was married to Rebecca Wilson at Glasgow, Scotland June 3, 1874, and to this union 10 children were born.
The couple came from Glasgow to the United States in June 1886, locating in Metz, Ia. They lived there for about 25 years and then moved to Colfax, where Mrs. McWhirter's death occurred several years ago.
Survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Mulleneaux and Mrs. Sadie Jones of Colfax, Mrs. Rebecca Carrol of Newton, and Mrs. Elizabeth Shull of Ames, and three sons, J. W. McWhirter in California, Robert McWhirter of Laurel and Andrew McWhirter. ~ The Newton Daily News, August 7, 1935.
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John McWhirter
John McWhirter, son of David and Margaret McCall McWhirter, born in Ireland, July 31, 1853 of Scotch parentage.
When a small boy he moved with his parents to Glasgow, Scotland, where he grew to manhood. At this time he affiliated with the Church of England.
He was united in marriage June 8, 1974 to Rebecca Jane Wilson at Glasgow, and to this union 10 children were born, seven girls and three boys. They made Glasgow their home until 1886 when with their four children they set sail for America, arriving in Colfax, Iowa, June 8, 1886.
Later they moved to Metz where they resided until 1903 when they returned to Colfax. In 1908 they purchased a small farm 1 ½ miles north of Colfax where they lived until a short time before the death of Mrs. McWhirter on May 31, 1931, when he went to make his home with his daughter Mrs. William Mulleneaux where he has since resided.
For the past four years Mr. McWhirter has suffered with a malignant disease, his condition being alarming at many times, and death came as a release from his intense suffering at midnight on August 5, 1935 at the age of 82 years and 5 days.
He was preceded in death besides his wife, by three daughters, one in infancy, Pearl at the age of eight years, and Mrs. Margaret Gettys on November 29, 1930.
He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Mary Mulleneaux, Mrs. Sadie Jones of Colfax, Mrs. Rebecca Carol of Newton, Mrs. Elizabeth Shull of Ames, three sons, Jack of Los Angeles, Calif., Andrew of Jackson, Minn., and Robert of Newton, 23 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Also one sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Trotter of Glasgow, Scotland.
Funeral services were conducted from the Metz church Thursday, Aug. 8, with Revered L.C. McDonald of Colfax in charge.
Burial was in the Metz Cemetery beside his wife and daughter Pearl.
Pallbearers were six grandsons; George and Wesley Carroll, Maurice Gettys, Henry, William, and John Mulleneaux. ~ obituary courtesy of Clarice McWhirter Trotter
Pearl McWhirter
Born: January 1894 in Jasper Co., Iowa2
Died: April 11, 1902 at Metz, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 77, plot 1
Parents: John and Rebecca (Wilson) McWhirter
Pearl McWhirter
Pearl McWhirter, 8-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McWhirter, of Metz, died at her home at 10 o'clock last Friday of diphtheria, after a sickness of only about two days. She was thought to be better until a short time before her death. Of a family of nine children this is the first death, and brings great sorrow into the home. Another sister, Rebecca, is also a victim of the same disease, although not of so severe a type, and it is hoped that its worst stage has been safely passed. ~ The Newton Record, Thursday, April 17, 1902, Page 8, Column 3
1. Jasper Co., Iowa Death Record, Book 2, page 36
2. 1900 U.S. Census Mound Prairie Twp., Jasper Co., Iowa
Note: 1900 Census says that John was a R. R. worker and that daughter Margaret was a dressmaker.