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E. L. Goltry
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Edwin Lewis Goltry, son of Aaron and
Sarah [Landon] Goltry was born April 19, 1858, in Lucas County, near
Russell, Iowa. He died at Bedford on December 24, 1945 at the age of 87
years, 8 months and 5 days.
His father died while serving as a
soldier in the Civil War and the mother was left to rear her family of
four children in a small log cabin located on forty acres of brush
land. They endured the hardships of extreme poverty and pioneer
conditions which thrust upon him early in life the heavy
responsibilities of helping support the family.
In a crude log schoolhouse near his
home he secured the rudiments of his education but most of his knowledge
was obtained through his own efforts. For a time in young manhood he
taught school and throughout his life he kept abreast of the times
through continuous reading and study.
He came to western Iowa in 1879 and
in 1885 was united in marriage with Emma Adair Duff. They established
their first home on a farm in Pottawattamie County, later purchasing for
their permanent home a tract of virgin prairie land in Montgomery
County. Through their efforts this was transformed into a home with a
setting of beautiful trees and flowers.
He was interested in community
advancement and was instrumental in helping to organize the Elliott
Mutual Telephone system.
During the Civil
War his mother taught him to knit and during the two world wars he was
one of the most industrious of Red Cross knitters.
Mr. Goltry is
survived by one son Ray [Lewis Raymond] of Red Oak, three daughters,
Grace Bowdish of St. Louis, Mo., Clara Mullen of Bedford, and Laura
Kemling of Grant, Nebr., 25 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren;
one brother, W. [illiam] L. Goltry of Boone, Iowa.
His
wife preceded him in death in 1922 and the oldest daughter, Maude
Chickering, in 1929. One granddaughter died in infancy and three
grandsons recently, one of whom gave his life for his country. Mr.
Goltry was a member of the Elliott Methodist Church.
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday January 3, 1946
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