ROOD, Edwin O. (1841-1911)

ROOD, KEEGAN, MACKIN, ECKENROD

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 1/28/2024 at 13:28:10

Prominent Citizen Is Called

E. O. Rood Dies While Attending to Drainage Business at Stilson, Texas. Remains are brought to Britt

The people of Britt were much surprised last Saturday when the information was passed about that E. O. Rood, one of our honored citizens had died very suddenly at Stilson, Texas.

Mr. Rood had chronic ailments which had bothered him for many years, but they were not considered serious and his death came sudden and as a surprise to his relatives and many friends. He has been spending the summer in Texas, where the Interstate Drainage and Investment Company have a large contract which he had been superintending.

Edwin O. Rood was born at St. Charles, Ill., in April 1841; died in Stilson, Texas, August 12, 1911, the cause of death being heart failure. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 and served about two years until he was discharged on account of disability, being a member of Company A., 52nd Ills. Inf. He was married in 1867 to Belle F. Keegan at Maplepark, Ill. They came to Iowa to live in 1893, though Mr. Rood had been here before that time, having constructed the large drain ditch east of Britt some twenty-five years ago. He became engaged in ditching in 1885 and since that time has been active in drainage and all drainage matters, being called upon many times to address state and county drainage conventions. He perfected the large dredging machines which are a common sight in this community, and was head of the Interstate Drainage & Investment Company of this place.

Mr. Rood was a good citizen and much interested in the welfare of Britt and the county. He had probably done more for the good of the town in making improvements than any other one citizen. It was largely thru him that the headquarters of the Interstate Drainage & Investment Company were located here, and he also did much toward influencing and starting the drainage of the county. He had long been a member of the town council, which position he held at the time of his death.

Mr. Rood is survived by his wife and four children, all of whom reside in Britt except Charles who is located in Wisconsin. The children are: Mrs. Hattie Mackin, Charles W. Rood, Maude J. Eckenrod and Laura Belle Rood.

The remains arrived in Britt on Tuesday morning, accompanied by Ira Palmeter; foreman of their work in Texas, and the funeral was held at the family home on Wednesday, August 16, conducted by Rev. Father Baxter of the Britt Catholic Church. The G. A. R. post of Britt, of which he was a member, attended the funeral in a body and conducted the last rites at the grave.

Attorney J. A. Senneff also made a short address paying a find tribute to the life of Mr. Rood.

source: Britt News, Britt, Iowa, 17 Aug 1911, page 1, column 1