Trent, William Wesley (1870-1942)

TRENT

Posted By: Lisa Spies (email)
Date: 7/27/2006 at 09:21:28

From the obituary of William W. Trent, as follows:
"William Wesley Trent, well known and highly respected resident of Lewis, died at the Atlantic Hospital Wednesday, August 11th. He was taken ill a short time before his death and suffered from a heart ailment.
Mr. Trent was a native of Iowa and was born December 17, 1870, on a farm near Osceola, living to see 72 years, 7 months and 25 days. He grew to manhood in Iowa and was united in marriage to Miss Lucy A. Walter, at Atlantic, April 28, 1891. This union was blessed with 11 children, five sons and six daughters. William Wesley Trent was taught the trade of carpentry from Doc Magee who was a resident of Messina, Iowa. Later, Doc Magee gave a violin that he had mostly finished to William. This Violin is in the possession of Maurice Spies, who is William's grandson.
Mr. and Mrs. Trent made their home in Atlantic for three years after their marriage and then moved to Lewis, Iowa. This was their home for 45 years. It was their privilege to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1941. Mr. Trent worked with the late J.S. Hedges at the carpenter trade before locating in Lewis, and had followed the trade all his eventful life.
As a young man, Mr. Trent became a charter member of the Lewis Odd Fellows Lodge and after the order disbanded, transferred his membership to the Atlantic lodge. Mr. Trent was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a man the people of Lewis and the surrounding country will miss. He was active in civic affairs of Lewis and served as president of the Independent Consolidated school for several years. He was also mayor of Lewis for two terms and gave much of his time to the betterment of the community. Mrs. Trent is a great lover of flowers and for 15 years she and her husband conducted a greenhouse in the east part of town, giving it up after a severe storm destroyed most of the buildings some years ago.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, Arliss of Lewis, and Max of Atlantic, also five daughters; Mrs. Carl Andersonof Griswold, Mrs. Martin Pulley and Mrs. Gilbert Spies of Shenandoah, Mrs. Raymond Warne of Atlantic and Miss Marcella at home; a sister Mrs. Fairy Hicks of Spokane, Washington, one brother, Thomas Trent of Fairfax, Oklahoma. 18 Grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren."