George Staley (1819-1896)

STALEY, SIMONSON, JOHNSON, COCHRAN, LAKIN, HOON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/26/2025 at 20:53:04

From Jewell Record May 28, 1896 (page 5)

Death of a Pioneer Settler.

George Staley, whose critical illness was mentioned in these columns last week, died at his home four miles southeast of this city on Saturday, May 23, 1896. Deceased was born in Schenectady, N. Y., on February 19, 1819, and was therefore seventy-seven years, three months and four days of age at his death. He came to Hamilton county in 1855, settling upon the farm where he died. Although a man of more than ordinary intelligence, some great sorrow had cast a shadow over his life and he had lived like a hermit for years. H has never been in Jewell and in Webster City only once. Little is known of his private affairs, but his estate is estimated at from twenty to thirty thousand dollars. He was stricken with apoplexy about two weeks ago, and some of his relatives secured the appointment of W. J. Chamberlain as his guardian by Judge Birdsall on May 18, in order that he might be provided proper care and medical assistance. In 1892, Mr. Staley adopted the thirteen-year-old daughter of a neighbor, Michael Simonson, and willed her all his property. He was the brother of Henry Staley, of Ellsworth township, and the uncle of Mrs. Omer Johnson, Mrs. Douglas Cochran, Mrs. Oscar Lakin and Mrs. S. A. Hoon. The funeral was held from his later home at one o'clock on Monday and the remains were laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery--Rev. Chas. Artman preaching a thoughtful and impressive sermon. Thus another Hamilton county pioneer is gathered to his fathers, after a strange and eccentric career. May his ashes rest in peace.