Obituary

An Old Citizen Gone

The Brooklyn Chronicle publishes the following which will interest a large number of our readers who were acquainted with the deceased:

  Robert Keysor was born in Morrow county, Ohio, July 7, 1838, being the eldest of thirteen children. He died Jan. 20, 1898, at Kirksville, Mo., of hemorrhage of the brain. On Sept. 15, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Fields, also of Morrow county. By this union six children were born, one son and five daughters, one daughter having preceded him to the other world at the age of fifteen. The others with the widowed mother survive to mourn his loss. He also leaves six sisters and two brothers, Mrs. O.D. Sleggle of Coon Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. Geo. Stephenson of Ness county, Kansas; Mrs. B. Fields of Wakarusa, Ind.; Mrs. J. Norris of Montezuma; Mrs. D. Hilligas of Brooklyn; and Mrs. B. Jordan of whom nothing has been heard for a number of years; Wm. Keysor of Oakley and Geo. Keysor of Brooklyn. About thirty three years ago deceased moved from Ohio to Ewart, Poweshiek county, remaining there about eight years when he moved to this vicinity where he has since resided. He had been in the employ of W.T. Holmes for about seven years commencing in 1890 and remaining until his illness. He was stricken with paralysis on Jan. 21, 1897, and a year later, lacking one day, he was called to the other shore. He was taken to Kirksville, Mo., on Nov. 9th for treatment but on Monday Jan. 17th he received a fall on the icy sidewalk which caused a fresh hemorrhage from which he never rallied. All was done for him that the skill of medical science or loving care could suggest but on the following Thursday evening he passed away. Messrs. Joseph Keysor and Samuel Benton were with him in his last illness and they with the aged widow accompanied the remains home arriving here Saturday morning on the 9:30 train. Services were held at the Brethren church Sunday afternoon conducted by Rev. Dr. Benson after which the remains were tenderly laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. Mr. Keysor was a loving husband and father, a good neighbor and citizen and his presence will be missed by the large circle of acquaintances he made during his residence here. The earnest sympathy of the community will be extended to the sorrowing family. Those present at the funeral from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Wheeler of Muchakinock; Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Benton and Geo. Fields of Montezuma and Noah Force of Coon Rapids.
(Brooklyn (Iowa) Chronicle, January, 1898)