Gresham, John – 1819-1906

GRESHAM, LONG, WOLF

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 9/6/2009 at 17:54:43

John Gresham, whose advanced age had won for him the sobriquet at “Uncle John” among his relatives and friends in Knoxville, died at the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. D. P. Long, in Boise City, Idaho, Thursday, January 4, 1906, aged 86 years, 6 months and 28 days. Death resulted from the infirmities of old age.
John Gresham was born in Orange county, Indiana, June 6, 1819, and resided there until 10 years of age, when his parents emigrated to Harrison county, where on May 12, 1842 he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Wolf. Mr. and Mrs. Gresham continued to reside in Indiana for several years after their marriage, but at last “came west” and settled in Knoxville in 1857. These were not the real pioneer days of our little city, yet 1857 is sufficiently far in the past to entitle the late Mr. Gresham’s name to a place in the list of the early settlers of the county as well as upon the roll of the honorable patriarchs.
After a residence of two years in Knoxville, Mr. and Mrs. Gresham removed to Clarke county, this state, where he purchased a piece of “raw land,” and during the following three years converted it into a valuable farm, which he sold and came back to Marion county. They made their second settlement in Marion county 3 ½ miles west of Knoxville, on what has since been known as the Ben McClure farm. However, that tract of land was only rented and after a few years’ residence thereon, Mr. Gresham purchased a farm just south of Graceland Cemetery, where he and his wife resided until the time of her death in 1899.
In August 1862, when the great cloud of rebellion was hourly thickening and its roar becoming more ominous, Uncle John Gresham, then past 43 years of age, exhibited his patriotism and his desire to be of service to his country by enlisting as a private in the 40th Iowa Infantry. He served faithfully for almost a year and was then stricken with typhoid fever. Lack of proper care caused the disease to leave him in such condition that he was wholly unfitted for military service. Consequently he was given the invalid’s honorable discharge and relieved from duty on May 12, 1863.
Mr. Gresham died childless. He has some relatives in the east but their whereabouts is unknown. Even in Marion county where he has spent so many years, his nearest of kin has been the family of the late Capt. D. P. Long, Mrs. Long being a sister of Mrs. Gresham.
The remains were brought to Knoxville on Tuesday, January 9, accompanied from Boise by Mrs. D. P. Long and her daughter Lillie and taken to the home of County Clerk Geo. P. Long. The funeral was held at the M. E. church of which deceased had been a member for many years, at 10 o9’clock a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Interment in North cemetery.
Source: The Knoxville (IA) Journal; January 12, 1906