Death of An 1873 Settler
J. O. Phetteplace, Civil War veteran and a resident for forty-nine years on his homestead in the Corvallis neighborhood, southwest of this city, died, Thursday, at the home of his son, Winnie, in Athol. His age was 81 years, 4 months and 4 days. Funeral services were held in the Corvallis church, Friday afternoon, and the body laid to rest in Fairview cemetery north of this city. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Goldsworth, former Athol citizen, but now of Gem.
James Orice Phetteplace was born in Norwich, New York, October 5, 1937. When eight years old he moved with his parents to Wisconsin, resideing there about twenty years. He was married on New Year day, 1861 to Eliza Moore in Spring Green, Wis., to them being born five children, three girls and two boys. At the outset of the Civil War, Mr. Phetteplace was one of the first to volunteer his services, and enlisted with the 6th Wisconsin battery, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the conflict. With his family he moved to Brown county, Kansas, in 1871 and to this county in 1873, locating on a homestead a few miles southwest of Smith Center, and it was still his when he died. Mr. Phetteplace was a man loved and respected by everybody for his sturdy honesty, kindness and uprightness in all his dealings. He was a kind and loving father in the home, a firm believer in Jesus Christ and lived the golden rule. He was ready and willing to go to join his companion who had preceded him eighteen years before and expressed the earnest wish that we might all meet in the land where sorrow is unknown. Left to mourn him are his daughter and two sons, Mrs. Isa Frazier of Athol, Lennie Phetteplace of Smith Center and Winnie Phetteplace of Athol.
Smith County Pioneer, February 16, 1922.