VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR: AARON FELL
BY KAREN HANSEN
“Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Fell, another family who have lived in the eastern part of Wright township for a number of years, but who have moved up near Walnut, were the victims of a well planned surprise Wednesday of last week. Their neighbors and friends to the number of more than a half hundred happened in on them, bringing their dinner with them. The day was happily spent and every one regrets the departure of these good people for another neighborhood.—Griswold American.” (The Walnut Bureau, March 13, 1908)
Death of Aaron Fell.
“Aaron Fell was born in Morgan county, Ohio, September 17th, 1840 and died at his home north of Walnut on Monday, March 16, 1908, at the age of 67 years, 5 months and 29 days.
On August 22, 1862 he enlisted in the Union army and served nineteen months in Company D 97 Ohio Vol. He was united in marriage to Miss Jane Phillipps, August 10th, 1871, who with their four sons and one daughter survives him. Shortly after his marriage he took his bride to Indian Territory where they resided fifteen months. He returned to Ohio and after four years in his old home he removed to West Virginia which was his home until the fall of 1883 when he came to Iowa where he has since resided.
Last fall he purchased a home just north of Walnut, where he had expected to spend the remaining days of his life. But he had scarcely become settled in his new home when that dread disease, pneumonia, overtook him, lingering only six days when death released his soul from its house of clay.
The deceased was a hardworking upright citizen, highly esteemed by those who knew him. He was for many years a member of the Masonic order.
His burial took place on Thursday afternoon from the Presbyterian church, Rev. J. C. Orth officiating. His body was laid to rest in Walnut cemetery to await the Resurrection call.” (The Walnut Bureau, March 20, 1908, p. 1)
“Mrs. Roy Murphy, of Sullivan, Missouri, arrived Tuesday morning, called here by the death of her father, Aaron Fell.” (The Walnut Bureau, March 20, 1908, p. 5)
“Mr. and Mrs. William Phillips and son, of Oakland returned home Monday afternoon from a few days visit north of town with his sister, Mrs. Aaron Fell, and family.” (The Walnut Bureau, June 26, 1908, p. 5)
MRS. JANE FELL.
“Miss Jane Phillips, daughter of Rufus and Matilda (Newton) Phillips, was born in McConnelville, Ohio, March 14th, 1855, and departed this life at Council Bluffs, September 18th, 1930, aged 77 years, 6 month and 3 days.
She was united in marriage to Aaron Fell, August 10th, 1871. They moved from Ohio in 1883 and later settled on a farm north of Walnut, where the husband and father passed away March 16th 1908. Mrs. Fell has made Walnut her home during the intervening years.
To this union five children were born, four sons and one daughter: Fred and Glen of Walnut, Iowa, Thomas of Emmetsburg, Iowa, James H. of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Mrs. Leota Murphy of Sullivan, Missouri. There are also left to mourn her departure 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, five sisters and two brothers. The sisters are Mrs. Sadie Dike of Glenwood, Iowa, Mrs. George Puryear of Council Grove, Kansas, Mrs. John Ayers of Oakland, Iowa, Mrs. Zi Tallman of Rawlins, Wyoming, Mrs. George Potter and William Phillips of Oakland, and Gideon Phillips of Independence, Oregon.
Mrs. Fell has been a member of the Estella Rebekah Lodge of Walnut for a number of years.
Mother, grandmother, friend,–she is gone but those who survive her will miss her because of that which she has meant to them.
‘We live in deeds not in years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings not in figures on the dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels noblest acts the best.’
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Arthur F. Rumbaugh in the First Presbyterian Church of Walnut at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, September 21, 1930. Interment was made in the Walnut cemetery. (The Walnut Bureau, September 25, 1930, p. 1)
Tacy Jane Fell is the name used on her tombstone. Sons of Aaron and Jane Fell who are also buried in the Walnut Cemetery are Tom, James and G. Glen. Son Fred is buried in the Monroe United Methodist Church Cemetery northeast of Walnut. The children of Tom Fell who are buried in the Layton Township Cemetery are George, Phil, Harold, and Tommy.
The 1919 Atlas of Pottawattamie County shows Mrs. Aaron Fell owning 39 acres of land, NW NE section 9 of Layton Township. The current address is 1103 Antique City Drive.
KH