MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 83
submitted by Ronna Thuman, November 14, 2007

DEATH OF TWO MORE OLD SETTLERS Dr. J. S. Horton and Mrs. Asenath Pettibone.

“All heads must come
To the cold tomb,--
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.”

Since the last issue of our paper two more of our citizens, who have for many years been known and respected in the community, have passed away to the undiscovered bourne.

At 7 ½ o’clock yesterday, somewhat suddenly and unexpectedly except by his immediate friends, Dr. James A. Horton breathed his last, in the 74th year of his age. Dr. Horton was born in Hamptonburg, Orange county, N. Y., in December, 1805. He graduated at Union College and also took a medical course, settling down to practice in Goshen, where he remained till 1848, when he removed to this place, for the purpose of quitting the practice of his profession and recuperating his health, which had been injured by too severe application to professional duties. While living in Goshen, in 1840, B. W. Thompson, now of Muscatine, commenced studying medicine with Dr. Horton and the two were afterwards in partnership for a short time in that place. The friendship then formed between them was never broken, and Dr. Thompson was his old preceptor’s physician in his last illness.

On coming to Muscatine, Dr. Horton lived about three years in the city and then removed to his farm a few miles northwest, where he continued to reside to the day of his death. His disease was pneumonia, caused by over-exertion in work. He was sick only a week and was not considered dangerously ill till the day before his death.

The deceased was no ordinary man. He was a representative of the heroic age—a patriot in every fibre. When the war of the Rebellion broke out, he was one of the strongest and most enthusiastic of our citizens in every movement made to uphold the authority of the government Too far advanced in life to go into the army himself, he manifested his patriotic zeal in other ways. The Soldiers’ Aid Society had no more earnest and indefatigable workers than he and his excellent wife. Two of their sons, Charles C. and James, Buckled on their armor and went into the thickest of the fray with their parents’ blessing and prayers. The latter fell in the fighting before Atlanta as a member of the 8th Iowa Cavalry and now fills an honored soldiers’ grave in our City Cemetery. The former, Col. Horton, won high honor as commander of the glorious 2d Cavalry and is still suffering from a wound received in one of the many hard-fought battles in which the regiment was engaged in the Southwest. In short, in every good work, Dr. Horton, with the impulsive enthusiasm which was a distinguishing trait in hid character, took a part. He was one of those

“Who put their shoulders to the stalled wheel
And give it a hitch forward.”

Dr. Horton was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he had been an elder for many years. Having lived in good conscience toward all men, he had no fear of death.

“Sure the last end
Of the good man is peace.”

The funeral will take place from the family residence, on the Iowa City road, at 10 ½ o’clock to-morrow forenoon.

Old Settlers’ Meeting.

The Old Settlers of Muscatine county called together at the City Hall March 24th, 1879, on occasion of the death of J. S. Horton and Mrs. Asenath Pettibone. The President, Judge D. C. Richman, being out of town, Mr. Suel Foster was chosen chairman and moved that a committee on resolutions be appointed, when Dr. B. W. Thompson, Messrs. John Mahin and M. Couch were chosen in case of Dr. Horton and Messrs. Suel Foster, A. Smalley and P. Jackson in the case of Mrs. Pettibone, and the committees instructed to furnish copies of resolutions to the city papers.

S. FOSTER, Prest.

P. JACKSON, Sec’y

DR. J. S. HORTON.

Resolved, That in the death of Dr. James S. Horton this community has lost one of its most highly esteemed and patriotic citizens, his neighbors a sympathetic and accommodating friend, and his family a kind husband and father.

Resolved, That in token of our esteem for the deceased and in commemoration of those distinguishing virtues of his which we desire to see perpetuated, we will spread these resolutions upon the official records of the Old Settlers’ Association and furnish a copy to his bereaved family.

B. W. THOMPSON.

MOSES COUCH.

JOHN MAHIN.

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