Obit Index
Samuel Heald, a Resident for Over Forty Years, Laid to Rest
Sanuel Heald, one of the pioneers of Sioux county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wm. E. West, in this city, last Saturday evening just before the midnight hour. He had been failing in healthfor some time and the infimities of his years brought life to a close. In his death one of the few remaining sturdy pioneers of the early 70s passes away. For over fourty-two years he had been a resident of this vicinity and saw every stage of the county's ddevelopment from a prairie wilderness, infested by Indians, coyoted and grasshoppers, to one of the most prosperous communities on earth. The history of western Sioux county and the growth and development of Calliope and Hawarden could all be well included in the biography of Samuel Heald, so closely was his life associted with it.
It was on the first day of November, 1870, that Samuel Heald, with the good wife who survives him, three sons and two daughters, with ox team and covered wagon, stopped at the village of Calliope, after a cross-country trip from Black-Hawk county, this state. Calliope then consisted of two log cabins and three or four frame shacks, none of which could accommodatte scarcely another person, to say nothing of a family of seven, and Mr. Heald and famiy continued to camp out during their first night in their new found home. Winter was coming on and a shack, on the bank of the river where Ensign's mill now stands, was hastily weather-boarded and in this the family spent their first winter in Sioux county. Two years later they erected what was then considered a very commodious home on their farm west of where the city of Hawarden now stands, the green cottonwood lumber for which was hauled from a saw mill on the Missouri river south of Elk Point.
It was here that Mr. Heald was successively postmaster, road supervisor, justice of the peace and friendly adviser to any in need. It was here that the weary way-farer always found the latch-string out by day and a beacon light of welcome ever shining from the window by night. It is this life that has gone from us-kind, benevolent, truly sincere-yes, a life that has been long, eventful and well spent.
Samuel Heald was born in New-garden, Columbiana county, Ohio. Sept. 18 1830, his last anniversary being his 82nd year. October 23rd, 1850, at Plymouth, Ohio, he married Jane Hobson. Five children, all of whom survive thier father, were to this union. The children are: Alfred W., of Aurora, Colo.: Mrs. Carrie West of Hawarden; Wilfred L., of Royal, Neb,: Mrs. Eva Fay, of Springfield, Mass.; and Charles M., of Spokane, Wash. These, together with twenty-seven grand-children, and his aged wife are left to mourn his passing.
For nearly twenty years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Heald continued to reseide near their old Ohio home and then they came to Black Hawk county, this state, making the trip by team, the journey requiring nearly six week's time. They remained there a little over a year and then came to Sioux county where they have since made their home. Two years ago this venerable couple celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary.
The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, of which he had been a faithful member ever since its organization in this city. Rev V. A. Weir, pastor of the church, preached the funeral sermon. Mr. Heald had been a Mason for nearly sixty years and the membersof this order had full charge of the obsequies from the churchto the grave. The concourse of friends who came to pay thier last tribute of respect to the departed life speaks in the highest terms of the esteen un which Samuel Heald was held in this coommunity.
The relatives from out of town in attendance at the funeral were: W. L. Heald of Royal, Neb., and C. M. Heald, of Spokane, Sons Robert Heald of Sioux City, and Max E. West of Boone, Iowa, grand-sons; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Mullen, of Sioux City, the latter a grand-daughter; Wm H. Hobson, of West Branch, Iowa, and J. G. Hobson of Sioux City, brothers of Mrs. Heald; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hunter of Sioux City and Rev William Wallace of Sioux Falls.
With special thanks to Wilma J. Vande Berg - Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society