Arthur, Esther E. (Mrs. John), 1859-1940

ARTHUR, SHIMER, DODSON, DOBSON

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2022 at 16:13:53

From the Alton Democrat, April 26, 1940, Ireton news:

Word was received here of the death of Mrs. John Arthur of San Diego, Calif. The Arthur family were in the mercantile business in Ireton in the early days of the town and later formed a partnership with the late J. H. Kidwieller and Frank Wilson. The Arthurs left for California nearly 40 years ago and their daughter later married Ernest Parker, a former Ireton resident. Ernest is a brother of F. O. Parker of Ireton and T. C. Parker of LeMars.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Hawarden Independent, April 25, 1940:

Death of Former Resident

Word has reached Ireton of the death of Mrs. John Arthur at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Stella Parker, at San Diego, Calif. Mrs. Arthur will be remembered by old residents as in the early days Mr. and Mrs. Arthur were residents of Ireton. Mr. Arthur was in the grocery business and they were active in church and community work. They left Ireton and lived in Cherokee for many years before going to the coast. Mr. Arthur preceded his wife in death several years.

* * * * * * * * * *

RESEARCH NOTES

The California Death Index has Esther E. Arthur, born 21 April 1859, died 12 April 1940 in San Diego County, father’s surname Shimer, mother’s maiden name Dodson

Her FindaGrave.com page has Esther E. Arthur, born 21 April 1859, died 12 April 1940, buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego, California; parents Isaac Shimer (1818-1901) and Mary Dobson Shimer (1828-1899); four siblings and half-siblings listed; spouse John Arthur (1852-1932); children Stella Viola Arthur Parker (1878-1966) and Mabel M. Arthur Little (1879-1969). There is a photo of her 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 Ester Arthur (26) 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 Esther E. Arthur (56), living in Cherokee; she was born in Iowa, has a 10th grade education, 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. In early 1940 Esther E. Arthur (80) is living in El Cajon, San Diego County, with her widowed daughters Stella V. Parker (62) and Mabel Little (60)