Timmons family in Malvern, Iowa

The Malvern Public Library has digitized its historical newspaper collection, allowing for some fun research into the Salathiel Timmons family.

I have written at length about Salathiel and his service in the Civil War in the 123rd Illinois Infantry. After the war, he continued to live in Illinois until at least 1880. In 1881, the family moved to Boone County, Iowa. I have been so far unable to determine much about their time there. But we pick up their trail in March, 1891 when the Red Oak Express (a newspaper in Mills County) notes that 

Mr. Timmons from Boone County has rented the W.J. Hysham property northeast of town

They lived in Red Oak less than a year; in October of that same year (1891), a newspaper in Malvern notes that the Timmons will be moving to their community soon:

Mr. Timmons, of Red Oak, who a few weeks ago bought the Crumbliss farm north of town, was over Tuesday on business. He may move about the first of the year.

We find several articles in the Malvern newspaper about the family from that point until Salathiel’s death in 1909. Refer to the table at the bottom of this posting for links to all the articles. 

A few stand out, however:

Lydia breaks her ankle

In September, 1893, the paper reports on an injury to Mrs. Timmons – that would be Lydia (Bennett) Timmons.

Mrs. S. Timmons who lives north of town near W.K. Follett’s, met with a painful accident Monday afternoon. She was standing on a chair arranging some decorations on the wall of her home when the chair accidentally tipped, throwing her heavily to the floor and fracturing the right leg between the knee and the ankle. Dr. Scott was promptly called and rendered the necessary surgical aid and Mrs. Timmons is doing as well as possible for one of her years, but it will doubtless be several weeks before she will walk.

They make her sound old and frail but she was only 54 at the time!

Salathiel’s Fruit Orchard

 A couple of articles make mention of Salathiel’s fruit orchard. He had a 10-acre orchard:

S. Timmons of Silver Creek favored this office Friday with a basket of large and luscious Strawberry and Penick apples. His old orchard contains two acres of very choice varieties and he has the best crop of Jonathans this year he ever had. His Winesap trees are also well filled. He has ten acres of young orchard just coming into bearing that is remarkably thrifty and and promising.

Pretty clever of Salathiel to leverage free advertising by bringing a gift basket to the newspaper editor!

I looked up the first two varieties mentioned – Strawberry and “Pennock”. These are heritage varieties that are likely very rare today. I also looked on Google Maps satellite view in the area where the family lived and see no evidence of orchards remaining there today.

Lydia Timmons: Chicken Entrepreneur

Most charming of all is the reports of Lydia’s foray into the poultry business. It begins with her entry into the Southwestern Iowa Poultry Association show in Shenandoah, Iowa:

The lovers of poultry and pet stock hailed with pleasure the opening of the second annual exhibition of the Southwestern Iowa Poultry Association at Shenandoah, Dec. 20-24th, 1897. It opened in all its glory, as usual, promptly at the appointed hour. Never was there a better exhibition placed before the public, the entries far exceeding those of last year, and the quality of the exhibits showed a marked improvement.

…The prizes on Black Wyandottes were captured by Mrs. S. Timmons of Malvern.

A month later, Lydia advertises that she has cockerels for sale, and in March of 1898:

Mrs. S. Timmons, one of our enterprising poultry fanciers, has invested in an incubator and will raise chickens by wholesale the coming summer.

How fun that as Lydia was approaching her 60’s, she was able to take on a fun side business like this. I imagine that would have been somewhat unusual for a woman in this era.

Obituary of Lydia Timmons

Lydia predeceased her husband Salathiel. I had not seen her obituary previously:

Mrs. Lydia Timmons

The sad news reached here Tuesday evening of the death of Mrs. S. Timmons of this place at the home of her son, Chas. F. south of Pacific Junction. Mrs. Timmons went over there Tuesday, Jan. 23 to stay a few days with her son’s children while he was out in Nebraska. She was apparently in the best of health at the time and had been feeling pretty well all winter; but the Thursday following or two days after going there, she was taken suddenly very sick and although everything possible was done for her and the best medical help secured, she passed away Tuesday afternoon of this week. The remains were brought to Malvern yesterday to her late home and the funeral occurred from the Methodist church at eleven o’clock today conducted by W. W. Bolllinger, of the Methodist church and was largely attended by her old friends and neighbors. Lydia A. Bennett was born in Clark County, Ohio Feb. 1, 1839. She was married to Salathiel Timmons Nov. 26, 1859. To them were born two children, Chas. F. of Pacific Junction and Effie N. who is at home with her father.

They came to Iowa in 1881 and located in Boone County where they resided until 1891 when they came to this county locating on a farm two miles north of town where they lived until last year when they moved to Malvern. She united with the M.E. church in 1882 and has ever since lived a consistent christian life loved by her family, neighbors and friends. Her loss is sincerely mourned by all who knew her and our warmest sympathy goes out to the lonely husband and sorrowing children.

Obituary of Salathiel Timmons

I have seen quotes from Salathiel’s obituary but hadn’t ever seen the complete original before.

Death of Salathiel Timmons

The death of our fellow townsman, S. Timmons, whose illness was mentioned in last week’s Leader occurred Monday morning. He was taken with a stroke of paralysis Friday April 29 but rallied afterward and seemed to be improving up to the morning of his death when he was suddenly taken worse and died within a few minutes. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at three o’clock from the Methodist church and was conducted by the pastor Rev. W.A. Black and the remains laid to rest in the Malvern cemetery.

Salathiel Timmons was born in Madison County, Ohio, January 19, 1835, and died in Malvern, Iowa, May 2, 1909, being aged 74 years.

He was married to Lydia A. Bennett of Clark county, Ohio, November 26, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Timmons moved to Illinois in 1860; thence to Boone County, Iowa, in 1881; thence to Mills county in 1888; and from the country into the town of Malvern in 1904.

While a resident of Illinois Mr. Timmons served as a volunteer in the 123rd regiment Illinois Infantry, for three years, being honorably discharged in 1865.

Mr. Timmons was converted to the religious life in Boone County, Iowa, in 1882 and immediately united with the Methodist Episcopal church. His conversion was clear and decisive, and he has always been counted a consistent, earnest and faithful Christian man. Thought the nature of last sickness made it impossible for him to express himself in speech, he gave the most satisfactory evidence to those who spoke to him of religious things, that his soul was in perfect peace in fellowship with the Lord.

While in the army Mr. Timmons suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever, losing for a time the power of speech, It is doubtful whether he ever recovered his full strength. His first stroke of paralysis occurred in 1902, the second on the 24th of April just past, and third and fatal stroke on the third of May, this current month.

There are left to mourn his loss the two children of the family, Mr. Charles F. Timmons of Ashland, Neb., and Miss Effie M. Timmons of this place. Mrs. Timmons departed this life three years ago.

Our departed friend was a warm, sociable disposition and was well known in this part of the county and was universally beloved. He was an indulgent parent, a faithful husband, a kind neighbor, a true citizen, a consistent Christian, a noble man. Withal he was a patient and uncomplaining sufferer through all the time of his protracted weakness and disease. For such a man the sunset of this life is the day break of immortality.

Card of Thanks

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our neighbors and friends who so kindly sympathized and assisted us during our late bereavement and also for the floral offering.

Effie N. Timmons
Chas. F. Timmons and family

Following is a table of links to articles in the Red Oak and Malvern newspapers about the Salathiel Timmons family.

A future posting will detail the Bass family who also lived in Malvern during this same period.