Thomas Beresford 1863-1948

BERESFORD, APPLEBY, GRONAU, SCHLITZ, SILKER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 3/11/2019 at 12:54:22

April 26, 1948 Obit Dubuque Telegraph Herold page 14
Thomas Beresford, 84 widely known retired farmer, formerly of Epworth, died after an illness of three weeks at 10:15 a.m. Sunday in Finley hospital. The body is at the Egelhof Funeral home, where friends may call after 7 p.m. Monday.
Wednesday morning the remains will be transferred to the Epworth Methodist church to lie in state until the services at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. M. E. Melcher pastor will officiate and the burial will be in the High view cemetery, in Epworth.
Thomas Beresford was born September 27, 1863 in Derbyshire, England. He came to America when he was 25, living on a farm at Buncombe until 1900, when he moved to a farm north of Epworth. In 1925 be retired and moved to Dubuque. Thomas recently made his home with his son, Arnold in Dubuque.
Beresford was instrumental in the organization of the Epworth Hawkeye Creamery, serving as manager for eight years. He was a member of the Epworth Methodist Church and the Berean Bible Class. On April 13, 1891 he was married to Rebecca Ann Appleby, who also came from Derbyshire, England. She died November 4, 1934.
Surviving are five sons, Alfred, Walter, Dewey and Arnold, all from Dubuque, and Harvey of Epworth, one Daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Gronau of Rockford, ILL, 28 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two sister and three brothers. Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Mrs. Oliver (Anna) Schlitz, by four sons, two sisters and three brothers.
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April 29, 1948 Obit Dubuque Telegraph Herald page 25;
Services for Thomas Beresford a retired Epworth farmer who died Sunday in Finley hospital, were held Wednesday afternoon from the Egelhof funeral home to the Epworth Methodist Church.
The Rev. M. C. Melcher the pastor officiated. Duets were sung during the services by Miss Ruth and Miss Betty Wiedmer, with Mrs. Bertha Kirkwood as pianist.
Burial was in High view cemetery in Epworth with the Rev. Melcher in charge. Pallbearers, all grandsons of the deceased, were Donald Beresford, Raphael Beresford, John Schlitz Jr, Duane Gronau, Dale Beresford and Eldon Beresford.
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Apr 27, 1948 Obit
The Funeral of Thomas Beresford formerly of Epworth, Iowa and retired farmer died Sunday in Finley Hospital will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Epworth Methodist Church, with the burial in High view Cemetery in Epworth next to his wife Rebecca Ann Beresford and son.
The Rev. M. C. Melcher, pastor will officiate. The body, now at the Egelhof funeral home, will be taken to the Epworth church Wednesday morning. Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday, when the casket will be closed
Thomas Beresford came to the United States from England in 1887. He established himself in Iowa. There is no documentation of why he choose Epworth/Dubuque, Iowa to start farming. Stories are told that the Beresford family in England were somewhat wealthy and that land was running out for farming and this is why Thomas left England. In 1891 he sent for his love Ann Rebecca Appleby and she arrived April 1, 1891. Duane Gronau who goes by Dewey stated that Ann when she arrived to America the Agent grabbed her small bag and dropped it and some of her china was broken.
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On April 1, 1930 Thomas Beresford became Mayor of Epworth, Iowa by just four votes.
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June 16, 1948 Executor's Notice
Notice is herey given to all persons interested on the 7th day of June a. D. 1948, the undersigned was appointed by the District Court of Dubuque County, Iowa, executors of the Estate of Thomas Beresford, late of Dubuque County, Iowa, deceased
Dated at Dubuque, June 16, 1948
E. N. Silker and Dewey Beresford Executors
Attorney for Estate
Louis F Fautsch 815-816 Roshek Bldg, Dubuque, Iowa
September 20, 1908 - Tom Beresford sold his property in Epworth that consisted of a house and a number of lots to Mr. George Garth of Center Grove, the consideration being $2,200
Contributor: H B