Obituary of Joseph Collison (1928)

In an obituary appearing in the Carroll (Iowa) Times on April 25, 1928, Joseph Collison, the husband of Anna Wolfe Collison, is remembered. The obituary is noted for its remarkable detail, as well as a mention of Collison’s niece Anna, whose father, Maurice Wolfe, wrote his own obituary.

ENTIRE COMMUNITY MOURNS DEATH OF JOSEPH COLLISON

Well Known Carroll County Farmer Passed Away Monday Morning.

Joseph Collison, one of the most influential men in this section of Iowa, died at his home west of Carroll Monday morning, April 23, at 11 o’clock after an illness of two weeks. He had been failing in health for two years, since suffering an attack of blood poisoning in his foot. When forced to take to his bed he did so reluctantly, unwilling to let his strong spirit give up to the illness which caused his death.

In the death of Joseph Collison the entire community suffers a distinct loss. He was one of the pioneer men of Iowa, coming here in 1875, accompanied by his wife and infant son, William. The trip westward from Chicago was a long and tedious one made by oxen. They located on a farm two and a half miles north of Halbur. The same year he moved to the Collison homestead four miles west of Carroll on the Lincoln Highway, where he lived continuously for almost 53 years.

The history of Mr. Collison’s success as a farmer and stock feeder is very interesting. At the time of his death, together with his sons, he was farming the 720 acres of land which he owned. Previous to coming to Iowa Mr. Collison had farmed with his father, a short distance out of what is now part of the city of Chicago. By doing odd jobs and threshing with a machine, which he bought on time, he had managed to save $1,000. About this time friends, located in the vicinity of Carroll, wrote him that there was a good opportunity in Carroll county for an ambitious man with a small amount of money.

He and his wife decided to come westward, making the trip overland with a team of oxen. The first year he rented 80 acres, part of it is now occupied by the site of the beautiful home, which he erected in 1911. That year he lost money on the land but decided to buy as land was cheap. He bought the place at $16 an acre, covering it with a mortgage. As a farmer he was not successful until he began feeding cattle two years later. That was the turning point and although he did not gain wealth immediately, the years brought him much success and prestige among stock feeders. Mr. Collison was a cattle man, who understood his business. He and his sons handled two kinds of cattle, heavy feeders and cattle from the ranges of Dakotas for roughing.

But it is not for his great success and business ability alone, for which Mr. Collison will be missed. He was a prince of a man. There was nothing haughty in his nature and he loved his fellow men. His splendid family bespeaks the true worth of the father, who reared his children to such splendid manhood and womanhood.

Sketch of Life

Joseph Collison was born near Leeds, England, April 25, 1846, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Collison. At the age of 4 years his parents came to America, settling near Chicago, where he lived until he was 16 years of age. They then moved to Ottawa, Ill., and later to a small farm southeast of Streator, Ill. He was married in 1874 to Miss Anna Wolfe and the following year, on March 17, 1875, arrived in Carroll with his wife and infant son, William. Mr. and Mrs. Collison reared a family of seven sons and one daughter; namely William A., John R., Joseph B., Dan A., Fred P., Mary E., Maurice L., and Frank L. One son, Arthur V., was killed in a runaway accident, November 1, 1903. In addition, a niece, Anna Wolfe, now Mrs. Leo Burns of Carroll, was raised in his home. A sister-in-law, Julia Wolfe, also made her home with them. His wife died February 10, 1912. His brother, William. H., of Chicago, another brother, ,Frederick A., of Carroll, and a sister, Mrs. John Eads of Grand Ridge, Ill., survive, together with 21 grandchildren.

He was the third child of a family of nine, his youngest brother, Frank Collison, dying January 28 of this year.

Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 9 o’clock at the St. Joseph church of which he was a devout member for over a half of a century.

The pallbearers will be J. B. Pascoe, T. A. Madigan, J. P. Hess, C. H. Parsons, Mike Murphy and Joe Glass Sr.

Interment will be made in the St. Joseph cemetery beside his wife and son.