Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-23
OLDEST MASON DEAD.
George Poisal, of Shell Rock, Claimed
That Distinction.

81 Special to Times Republican,.
Shell Rock, Dec. 23.-Mr. Georg'
Poisal the Oldest Mason in the United
States, was buried yesterday at Clarks
vile. He died Sunday, aged 81 years
For seventy years he was a membe
of the Masonic order. At the time o
his death he was a member of the chap
ter and commarfdery at Cedar Falls
s He was made a Mason In Virginia IL
the lodge Of which George Washington
was master at one time. The funeral
was attended by delegations of Masons
from all over Butler and adjoining
counties. He leaves a widow, two
girls and two boys to mourn his loss
He was formerly farmer near Clarks-
Vile.
George William Poisal was born in
Martinshurg, Birkley county, Virginia,
March 10, 1913. He learned the tail
ors' trade in Richmond of that state.
after which he came to Marysville, o.
From that place he moved to Kokomo.
Ind, From there he with others. nov
ed to Iowa, by team. July 6. 1852. He
landed In what is now Clarksville. He
has lived there ever since except a
Jew month spent In Missouri He
FtcOk up ds u lIuU'eStS1E, ii tIdCl OF laBu
that included all of what is now the
north half of Clarksviile Here he
built log house on what is now the
street between the Butler County bank
and Prices clothing store. Later he
plated part of his farm and sold an I
gave away lots. thus showing his in
terest in the prosperity of the infant
city and the struggling pioneer. When
ClarlSsyilie was laid out as town.
fifty years sgo this year he took :,
leading part in that enterprise. Here
he and Abner Clark We're the first 10
embark in merchandising. They built
log store house where the residence
of John Mott now stands. Mr.. Poisal
went to St. Louis and purchased the
hrst bill of goods and shipped them
to Dubuque by boat, and from there
they were hauled by team to Clarks-
Vile, and thus the first store in But
Ter county. as we'll as Clarksville was
stocked with its first consignment of
goods. He took part in the organizing
of Butler county, and was elected its
( first Judge. But he did not qualify be-
cause he would have to journey all the
way to Independence to do so. The
families of Thomas Abner and Jerry
Clark with the Posals, in their hunger
Tor the gospel sent word to the Rev.
Solomon w. Ingham, who had to ride
two days on horseback to reach this
place, thus giving us some idea how
much of frontier this county then
was.
His first marriage was to Miss Mary
Ann Burkett in Virginia in 1898. After
nine years of happy welded life death
separated them and he was married
again in 1916 to Miss Elizabeth Clark,
who passed to the home beyond Dec.
81, 1898. The children of the first
union that yet survive are Mrs. George
Moore of Melvern, Kas.. and Hiram
Poisal OF this place. and Of the second
marriage there remain the daughters
Mary and Marie OF this place.
He was taken with a slight cold
about ten days since, from which he
seemed to be recovering nicely until
about o'clock Saturday morning, |
when he became very Ill and grew rap
idly worse, until last Sunday Dec. 20,
when death claimed him. His period
of life on cath was ninety years, nine
months and ten days.
The funeral services were held at the
Methodist church Tuesday at ] p. m.
conducted by the pastor. Rev. /. A.
Trimble. The interment was In Lyn- |
wood