The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-06-12
PASSING OF A PIONEER.
Isaac TOney. One of Decatur COunty's
Early Pioneers.

Isaac Toney was born near Green,
castle, Indiana, on April 10, 1ool,
and died in Davis City, Iowa, June
g.. 1913, aged SO years | month and
26 days.
The deceased left Indiana with
his parents when about 8 years old
when they moved to Arkansas, where
they lived for about two years, this
was but short time after, Iowa
had been admitted as state, and
fertility. OF the Iowa soil, and its
adaptation for all kinds of farming
purposes was fast spreading, over the
U. S. and it reached to Arkansas,
where Mr.. Toney was at this time,
so he turned toward the north
country, and reached here about
townsGip town H "a and h his sehtnu home Fl from u that
time until his death was all the
time in Burrell township, although
he owned during these years many
different farms in the township, but
all the time remained resident
therein After a residence of few
Mary 4. Joseph, who still survives
him. To this union were born two
children, son, John c., who died
in infancy in 1859, and daughter,
Mary A., the wife OF Frank Osborn,
who live in Davis City. To this
daughter has 1 been born four o. + &C ehil- Ill
the sons being Walter I. Osborn.
Clarence D. Osborn, and Hillery Q.
Osborn, we'll known characters in
this county, and all of whom are
now engaged in farming, Walter be-
ing at the present time, county farm
agent, and Clarence who recently
ditcr to the present encumbent of
that office. Clara Osborn, the daugh
ter, died about 81 or 22 years ago.
Mr. Toney like many others of
the early pioneers was an uneducat-
ed man SO far as book knowledge
Judgment, and of an accumulative
mind, and by economy and indus
try accumulated quite an amount OF
this worlds goods, and at one time
when younger and able to give his
personal attention to it, he, was the
owner and manager Of what was
then known. as the "Toney Stock
tile land of about 900 acres two and
a half to three miles west of Davis
City, which he continued to operate
until about 2 years ago, he sold
most of his stock and some of his
lands, and moved into Davis City,
and bought number OF rental prop
critics, and continued to reside, in
Davis City until death. He had an
attack of la grippe or perhaps 'flu"
during the winter, from which he
never fully recovered, although he
was able to come down to town from
his home in the west part of town.
but he was in a feeble condition and
about two weeks prior to his death,
he took down sick to his bed with
what at first was thought to be flu,
but later development proved it to
.s,s smallpox and in his enteebled con-
.lition lie was unaDie TO overcome IL,
and died on the morning nf June
9th. about 10 a. m. He was taken
to the Terre Haute grave yard and
buried by the side of his son and
near the graves of his parents, where
a short burial service was held by
the writer hereof His home being
Quarrantined. no public funeral
could be held, SO it was private, at
tended by a few of his personal
friends and pail bearers.
Mr.. Toney never made any rellg-
ious profession, to our knowledge,
but he was a good quiet citizen and
neighbor, who prided himself in
keeping his word and promises to
the letter, and it has been said by
those who knew him that the
promise of Isaac Toney was better
than the bond of some men, To his
aged companion who is in poor
health, and to the daughter and her
children the sympathy of the COM
munity goes in this time Of trouble
and grief and we all realize that Da-
Wis City has lost kind hearted
man. Peace to his memory.
Geo. p. Campbell.