Jeffries, Andrew Edgar – 1846-1931

EDGAR, JEFFRIES, KEYES, MANN, MONTGOMERY, PEASE, RUMBAUGH, TRAMEL

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 11/22/2010 at 18:41:06

Early Pioneer of Jasper Co. Died in Calif.
Funeral Services Were Held Tuesday From Union Chapel
Andrew Jeffries, one of the early pioneers of Jasper county and especially of the Ira and Union Chapel neighborhood, passed away Wednesday, August 5th, at his home in Long Beach, Cal.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries had planned to return to Iowa this summer, had bought their tickets and were ready to come when he was taken ill and they were forced to give up the trip. From this illness, his condition improved some at times and they continued to hold out hope of returning to Iowa together, but the advanced years of Mr. Jeffries was against him and he was unable to throw off the illness and life passed away.
During the Revolutionary War, a Thomas Jeffries and his bride embarked on a sailing vessel from Ireland, and started to America. After a few days the bride died and was buried at sea. Immediately upon his reaching America, he enlisted in the Continental Army and served until the close of the war, returning to Pennsylvania, which was the original destination. He married here and went to Kentucky with his young son Francis. This son was very much opposed to slavery so took his family to the free state of Indiana, where a son Salem was born. Salem was married to Jane W. Edgar and on January 13th, 1846, their son, Andrew Edgar was born. His mother died when he was twenty-one months old and he was taken to the home of his Grandmother Edgar until his father married Eliza Ann Tramel, who was “mother” to the boy and the man as long as she lived.
The family came to Iowa in 1852 ( ___ 4 words unreadable) in what was afterwards known as Union Chapel neighborhood. The young lad received his education in the country schools up to the age of 15 when Matthew Rippey persuaded his father to let him accompany him to Hillsdale, Mich., to attend college there. After leaving school there, he went to his grandfather Jeffries, in Indiana, and he accompanied him home.
The Civil War was in progress at this time and he was wild to go, so at the age of 18, he enlisted in Co. D. 40th Iowa Infantry, serving until the close of the war. Was mustered out at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, on August 2nd, 1865, and received his discharge papers at Davenport. When a G.A.R. Post was organized near his home, he became a charter member and later a member of the Post at Long Beach, and was also an honorary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, organized at this same place.
Soon after returning from the Civil War, he purchased a farm and on September 7, 1870, was married to Emily Hannah Keyes. They lived on the farm about four years when they moved to a farm in Crawford county, Iowa, selling the original farm to his father. After a few years in Crawford county, the community in which he lived was almost entirely occupied with foreigners, and there were no church privileges for his family, so he sold the farm and purchased the old farm back from his father, where he lived unti8l he retired from that occupation, and until after the death of his wife in 1904. He was afterwards married to Mrs. Julia N. Mann, lived in Ira for a few years, and moved to Long Beach, Cal., where he died on August 5, 1931, at the age of 85 years, 6 months, and 23 days, leaving his wife, Julia N. Jeffries and the daughters, Grace Tramel, Vesta Pease, Kezia Montgomery and Xanthe Rumbaugh and ten grandchildren as survivors.
Soon after moving to Crawford county, he declared his faith in the Savior and his intention of living a Christian life. After this declaration his faith never swerved and thus he lived. There was no church organization here, so immediately upon his return he identified himself with the Christian Church organization at Union Chapel and remained an officer and Sunday School teacher here as long as services were held in the church. He became a charter member of the Ira church when it was organized serving as elder, and then transferred his membership to his new home, the Central Christian Church in Long Beach. The pastor of that church, George P. Taubman, conducted a funeral service on Friday of last week, with the assistance of the G.A.R. members.
His faith in the saving power of the Christ was unbounded and the satisfaction and beauty of a life of service was unlimited. His faith was in what he termed “here and now religion.” Always a student of God’s word and always striving that his life and work might win others to accept Christ as their Savior. His was a triumphant life and a triumphant death.
The body arrived in Colfax Monday morning and the funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. from Union Chapel, attended by a large audience of old friends and relatives with Rev. S. P. Williamson of Fairfield, Iowa officiating.
Music was furnished by a mixed quartet from Mingo, composed of, Mrs. J. L. Harley, Mrs. H. D. Simmons, Floyd Hulse and Eldon Geisler with Mrs. L. L. Pickett accompanist.
Pallbearers were: George Whitehead, C. S. Weston, S. W. Weston, F. J. Rippey, F. D. Lowry and Fred Esch. Interment was at Union Chapel cemetery.
Source: The Colfax Tribune; Thursday, 13 August 1931