Arthur, John, 1852-1932

ARTHUR, SHIMER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2022 at 16:10:28

John Arthur was a businessman in Ireton for several years in the 1880s and 1890s. The death of his wife Esther was noted in Sioux County newspapers, but no notice of John’s death was readily found there. However, a search of Newspapers.com found this Iowa death notice:

From the Waterloo (Iowa) Daily Courier, February 7, 1932:

EARLY RESIDENT OF RAYMOND DIES
John Arthur, 79, Succumbs at San Diego, Cal.; Was Grocery Dealer in Iowa

Raymond, Ia.—John Arthur, an early day resident of this vicinity, died Feb. 4 at San Diego, Cal. He was 79 years old. Mr. Arthur was engaged in the grocery business at Indianola and Webster City after leaving here. He went to California six years ago.

Surviving are his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Stella Parker, San Diego, and Mrs. Mable Little, Minneapolis; a sister, Mrs. Mary Baker, Los Angeles, Cal.; and three brothers, George Arthur, Raymond; Ed Arthur, La Forte City, and Sylvester Arthur, Nevada, Ia. Three brothers preceded him in death.

* * * * * * * * * *

The California Death Index has John Arthur, born about 1853, died in San Diego County on 4 Feb 1932, age 79.

His FindaGrave.com page has John Arthur, born 12 Jun 1852, died 4 Feb 1932, buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego, California; spouse Esther E. Shimer Arthur (1859-1940); children Stella Viola Arthur Parker (1878-1966) and Mabel M. Arthur Little (1879-1969). There is a photo of his headstone.

The Iowa Select Marriages Index on Ancestry.com has Esther E. Shimer, age 17, father Isaac Shimer, married John Arthur in Black Hawk County on 14 Nov. 1875.

The 1880 U.S. census shows John (27) and Esther (21) Arthur farming in Poynter, Black Hawk County, Iowa, with daughters Stella (3) and Esther (6/12) and her sister Eluna Shimer (16). The online index to the 1885 Iowa state census shows John Arthur (32) living in Ireton. In 1900 John (47), Esther E. (41) and Mabel M. (20) are living in Webster City, Iowa, where he is a grocer. There is a 1915 Iowa state census card for John Arthur (63), a groceryman in Cherokee, Iowa; he was born in Iowa, has a 10th grade education, earned $1500 in 1914, and is a Methodist. In 1920 John and Esther E. are still in Cherokee, where he is a retail grocer. In 1930 they are in San Diego; John is retired.

News notes in the Alton Democrat, Ireton news, show him a resident of Ireton in 1887 and 1890. From the Alton Democrat, January 12, 1895, Ireton Inklings: “The general merchandising and clothing firm of Arthur, Wilson & Kidwiler has been dissolved. John Arthur retires altogether from the business….” He was in Webster City by 1897. The obituary of his wife Esther E. (posted separately), has a little additional information.