Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-12-18
AGED ONES PASS BEYOND.
woopCocK.


at Phillipston, Mass, Aug. 26, 1926,
and was of that noble Puritan stock
which has done so much to purify and
our national life
On the eleventh day of Nav, lS4S, at
Westmoreland, N. H., he married Miss
Frances M. Tuell, who still survives to
mourn his loss. From this union there
was only one child who grew to ma
Stradley. She died May Goth, 1882
and her son, John w. Stradley is the
sole surviving descendant.
In lS49 Mr.. Woodcock moved to Cali
fornia but remained there only short
time. He returned in 1854 and settled
for time in Waukon where he en-
gagged in the mercantile business. He
was one OF the founders Of this city
After a residence of eight years he
moved to Cresco. where he served as
the first agent of the c. NJ, & st. P.
R. r. He occupied this position for
nearly twenty-five years and only gave
it up on account of i'll health.
During his residence in Cresco Mr..
Woodcock was a faithful and influen-
tial member of the Congregational
Church. He was a member of its
board of trustees and was for several
years the leader of its choir. In all
these relations he was very useful and
very much beloved. Few of our citi-
Zens will be more greatly missed,
During the last few months he had
been gradually failing in health and he
passed away very suddenly Dec. 10,
1908. The funeral was held in the
Congregational Church Sunday after
noon, Dec. 18th. and was conducted by
the pastor, Rev. H. j. Human. A
large audience gathered to do honor to
the deceased. and a number of rela-
tives and friends came from distance:
Mrs. f. M. Clark of Lime Springs, a
sister of Mrs. Woodcock; Miss Mile
Clark and Mr.. and Mrs. A j. Cray of
the same place; Mrs. f. F. Woodcock
and daughter Anna Louise. of Mime
apolis; Rev. Stillman w. Simonds of
Lake Crystal. Mimi, Charles Simonds:
Mrs. A. l.. Mcconnell, the wife of a
former pastor: and Mr.. John g. Strad-
ley of Sault St Marie, Michigan. -"
/ Madison Taft was born in Oswegc
county. New York, June 25, 1881. A,
the age of six he moved with his par
rents to Sandusky county, Ohio. Whel
he was fourteen years of age they
moved westward again and settled il
Hilsdale county, Michigan. About 1856:
he was united in marriage to Miss
Angeline Carpenter. In the year 1876!
they moved to Rock county, Wisconsin
where they lived for two years ant
then came to Howard county. Iowa
arriving here the 10Th of March 1857
When the war cloud darkened thu
national horizon and Abraham Lincoln
issued his call for troops, Mr.. Taft en-
listed in the cause of his country an,
served faithfully until the end Of tn
conflict. He aided in the capture o
Vicksburg, Brownsville. Mobile an,
many other places.
Mr.. Taft was a true man. modes
and unassuming in manner, kind to all
He was a Christian gentleman. Hi
Christian career began early in life
having been baptized by the Chaplai
of the oath Indiana Infantry at Penss
cola, Florida. He was faithful mem
her of the NJ f. church and for man
years member of the official board
Thre children were born to Mr. an,
Mrs. Taft. two of whom are living
Mrs. l.. P. Mason and Edgar Taft, bot
of Cresco. Mrs. Taft preceded he
husband to the spirit world by abou
three months. He was stricken sud
denly and died December IL. 1908.
The funeral took place on Monda
afternoon at the M. f. church, Rev
Gammons officiating. assisted by Rev
Human. Interment was in Ne,
Oregon Cemetery.
OApn Nh TuakJES
We wish to thank the friends VIII
so kindly assisted us in caring for GU
kind father in his last sickness an
death, and for the beautiful flower
given him.
MIR. AND Mrs. LEW MASON.
Mr.. AND MRS. EDGAR TAFT
AND FAMILY.
MERRY.
Esther p Merry, widow of the lat
Hiram Merry, was born at Plymouth
N. H., March "a. 1877. Her fathe
John Wiley was captain in the u. S
army during the war of 1872. He late
moved to the Province of Quebec
Canada, near the Vermont line.
The deceased was married Jan. 2Stf
1898 to Hiram Merry at Magog, Prov
ince of Quebec. Canada, where they re
sided eighteen years. To this unio
were born four children. George w
now of MiIbank, s. D., Albert w
who died in 1864 in Montana. Emma J
nov Mrs. Harrison Blake) of 264
Lyndale Ave. Minneapolis, and Edwi
| l.. of 2lo4 Dupont Ave. s.. Mime
apolis.
In May, 1856, the entire family cam
to Paris township and pre-empted GOV
eminent land and here lived until lSs
when Mr. Merry having died in Marcel
1879 Mrs. Merry left the old farm
now owned by George Merry, an
went to live with her daughter in Mir
neapolis, and remained there until he
death.
The death of Mrs. Merry remove
still one more of the rapidly diminish
ing pioneers of Howard county. the
home being the first to be built in it
vicinity the only one for some tim
between New Oregon and "Pett
bone's," near Elma, and was sided u
with boards hauled from McGregol
the nearest marketing place, and tw
of the children, George and Emm
taught school in New Oregon when
was the only town in the county. Th
hospitality of this pioneer home We
always extended to the traveller an
the kindness and neighborliness of tt
family were known far and wide.
MIRO Marrx, fl;a1 at ono N m n