Tom Elder Funeral Is Held In Goodell Church February 1

Pioneer Educator Of Hancock County Succumbs At 81 Years

Special to Garner Leader and Signal
Goodell - Funeral services for Thomas Elder, who died from heart disease Jan27 at his home in Bennett, Colo., were held in Goodell Saturday afternoon. Burial was in Amsterdam cemetery, near the old town which he pioneered.

Thomas Elder was born Aug. 31, 1854 in Pennsylvania. He was the third of a family of four children born to his parents, George W. Elder and Emily Bonsoll.

At the age of 10 he migrated with his parents to Hancock county. This was in 1864, just after the Civil War. They were among the first settlers in this county and they selected a farm in Avery township near the river where they would be sure to have water to drink, and where they had timber to build the log house and plenty of fuel, this farm is now occupied by the Harry Trumbell family.

It was the next spring after the Elders arrived, that a covered wagon with a family of emigrants camped for the night in their grove. The wife of this family became ill and died. There was at that time no cemetery in Hancock county, so they buried the young mother on a pretty knoll on this Elder farm, and they planted a spray of "Live Forever" over her grave, which has for these seventy years, grown green each spring to mark her resting place.

Here Thomas Elder grew to manhood. He attended such schools as the community provided and at the age of 21 he himself became a teacher and taught in the schools of Hancock county for four winters, 1875 to 1878.

In April 1874, Thomas Elder and Charlotte Hewitt, a daughter of Joseph Hewitt, who were one of the first settlers of the Clear Lake territory were married.

To this union were born four daughters: Ethel, Mrs. A. R. White, Goodell; Nora, Mrs. James Fry, Bennett, Colo.; Agnes, Mrs. Frank Ward, Bennett, Colo.; Evelyn, Mrs. H. N. Johnson, Panama Canal Zone.

In 1879 Mr. Elder purchased the general merchandise store in the village of Amsterdam, at that time known as "Upper Grove". His store was located just east of the river bridge. He was also postmaster and his store was a busy place until the B. C. R. & N. railroad came thru and missed his town. He then moved to Belmond, where he owned and operated a creamery for several years.

In the spring of 1909, Thomas Elder and family purchased the Klemme hotel, which they operated for five years.

While living in Klemme, Mr. Elder was a member of the school board. He was an intelligent man and kindhearted, and in his school work was forward looking and progressive.

Mr. Elder traded his hotel for a ranch near Bennett, Colo. Here he has now lived twenty years, and was, during these years, occupies in the buying and selling of real estate.

He was a member of the Masonic lodge.

He leaves besides his wife and daughters: 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren; 4 brothers, Walter Elder, Renwick; James, Madison Wis.; Newt, Mason City; Adrian, St. Joseph, Mo.; and 3 sisters, Mrs. C. S. Hall, Evanston, Ill.; Mrs. Sidney Smith, Evanston, Ill; Mrs. James Trumbell, Mason City.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 5 Feb 1936, page 5, column 1

 

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Thomas Elder: born 30 Aug 1854, Pennsylvania - died 7 Feb 1936, Bennett, Adams County, Colorado

Grave marker at Amsterdam Cemetery, Goodell, Hancock County, Iowa - Sec W, Lot 65

Son of George Walters Elder, born 1822 - died 1896

 

Husband of: Charlotte Hewitt Elder, born 1860 - died 1939
 

Father of:

Ethel E White (1880–1973)
Agnes M Ward (1898–1980)