Ira S. Knudson (1841-1908)

KNUDSON, LEAR

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/19/2025 at 15:57:36

From Jewell Record December 17, 1908 (page 1)

I. S. Knudson Passed Away.

Yesterday morning the news was circulated tha I. S. Knudson had passed away, death having come at eleven o'clock Tuesday night. Mr. Knudson had been very sick for some time. Recently he was taken to Des Moines in the hopes that physicians there could afford him relief, but nothing could be done. In his death the community loses one of its most honored citizens and all mourn with the sorrowing family in his loss.

B. F. Knudson, the only one of the immediate family not in Jewell or near vicinity, as sent for when it became apparent that the end was near, and is now on the way to Jewell from his home in Spokane, Washington. He will arrive here some time tomorrow and the funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at Bethesda church at two o'clock, conducted by Rev. Eastvold and Rev. Lohre. Private services will be held at the home. The interment will be made in Evergreen cemetery here.

From Jewell Record December 24, 1908 (page 5)

Above we present a likeness of I. S. Knudson, one of the pioneers of this vicinity, the father of a family which in the thirty-three years of their residence in the county have taken a leading place in conduct of its affairs.

Mr. Knudson was born in Norway March 19, 1841 and died at his home in Jewell Tuesday night, December 15, 1908. At the age of seventeen he left the home of his boyhood, and with the many of his sturdy race, emigrated to America, the land where so many of his countrymen have hound homes for themselves and their families, and have added so materially to the prosperity and good citizenship of this country. For a year or so Mr. Knudson lived in Chicago and then located on a Mahaska county, Iowa, farm. There he was married to Miss Rebecca Knudson and there several children were born to them. In June 1875 Mr. Knudson and his family came to Hamilton county and located on the home farm seven miles southwest of Jewell. In 1809 he moved to Jewell and has made his home in town since that date.

Mr. Knudson was always one of the most honored and influential men of the vicinity in which he had chosen to make his home. Prominent in his church, he lived daily the Christianity which he professed. In all the affairs of the county during the third of a century of his residence here, his had been always one of the influential guiding hands. And the place he attained was one well earned by right living and Christian manhood. As a man, a neighbor, a citizen and a father, his record has been above reproach. And the good things that he lived are continued in the family that he has left to maintain a high standard of citizenship in the country that he chose for his own.

Mr. Knudson is survived by eight children, his wife having preceded him to the life beyond the grave. The children surviving are: Gilbert, E. W. , B. F., Ollie, Cornelius, Mrs. Ida Lear, Tena and Emma.

The high regard that was felt for Mr. Knudson is his life was evidenced by the large numbers who attended the funeral services. Among the number were many from out of town, relatives and friends, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. K. Cleaveland, Mrs. Bertha Erickson and Mrs Hannah Ersland, all of Slater, James Knudson and George Larson of New Sharon, Andrew Knudson of Marshalltown, Miss Mary Knudson of Le Grande, Tom Larson of Eldora, Mr. and Mrs. Soren Kalsem and daughter of Ames, Rev. and Mrs. T. J. Knudson of Radcliffe, and Rev. N. G. Peterson of Northfield Minn.

The funeral services were held Saturday afternoon of last week, December 19th. Private services were held at the home an public services at Bethesda Norwegian Lutheran church at two o'clock. Music was furnished by a mixed quartette and a vocal solo was sung by Miss Rebecca Johnson. Friends and relatives provided a beautiful floral offering, flowers, wreaths and magnificent floral designs making the last services beautiful in their eloquence of love and esteem.