Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1902 — ANOTHER OLD RESIDENT GONE. [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER OLD RESIDENT GONE.

M. B. Halstead of Newton Township Died Very Suddenly Last Sunday Morning. The death angel has again invaded the ranks of Jasper county’s old settlers, and this time Micah B. Halstead, one of Newton township’s best known and wealthiest farmers, is the one called. Mr. Halstead had been in rather poor health for some time, although not confined to the house, and Sunday morning complained of feeling worse and at his request Dr. Hartsell was sent for. He later, before the doctor’s arrival, went outside the house and a short time thereafter was missed and on search being made for him was found sitting down in an outhouse, dead. Death was caused from neuralgia of the heart. Owing to the long time [required to communicate with some of his sons in the west and and the time necessary for them to reach here for the funeral, the obsequies will not be held until to-morrow at his late residence, in Newton tp , at 2:30 o’clock p. m., Rev. A. H. Zilmer, of Plymouth, Ind., conducting the religious services. Interment in Weston Cemetery. [Micah B. Halstead was born in Seneca county, Ohio, May 3, 1832. He was the youngest child of Samuel and Susannah (Webster) Haisted, being the fifth child in a family of seven. Of that family one sister and one brother are still living. When Micah was two years old the family moved and settled on Dros Prairie, LaPorte county, Indiana. At the age of six he went to live with an uncle in the same county, having lost both parents. He had such advantages of schooling as the common school of that time, with the log school house and corresponding rudimentary concomitants could afford, but from his natural and determined perseverance he soon mastered the common branches as taught in the common schools at that time. At the age of 18 he was considered quite a proficient teacher of the common school, by which occupation in winter, and working on the farm in summer, enabled him to “make his own way in the-world.” In 1851, at the age of iq, he came with his brother f David T.,) to J.<sper county and taught the Bluegrass school in Newton township. Two years later, in the spring of '53, he started on a western trip to recuperate failing health, but with no predetermined place in view, but falling in with and making the favorable acquaintance of a party driving cattle overland to Oregon, he was easily persuaded to go with and assist them. Though a hard, laborious undertaking crossing the “Rockies" it proved entirely successful in restoration of health. After remaining on the coast for over two years—part of the time mining with no great financial success he returned to jasper County in 1856, with restored health, and through well developed habits of industry and economy he had saved enough to enable him to buy 160 acres of land, (which was then cheap) on Beaver Prairie, then a part of Jasper county. In 1857 he was married to Virginia Harris, ai Brook, Ind. This marriage was a happy one. They were congenial and truly helpmates to each other during his life. They commenced housekeeping first on Beaver Prairie, but in 1865 bought and moved onto the Spitler farm in Newton township, where his home has been ever since. They had eight sons. In his death he leaves a devoted wife and seven sons living, of whom any father might well be proud— Orpheus C., David, William, Sanford,, Everett, Rankin and Chester—Edward M. having died in 1885 in South Dakota. With Micah there was no place like home. He was a just, prudent and devoted husband and father, was especially Tor his rigid adhermte to truth and honesty in all transactions of life. His religion in no way was governed by outward show. He never sought to either gain, or retain friends by the sacrifice of any principal of right. His many friends were of those who knew him best. His death was very sudden and entirely unexpe ted, occurring on Sunday morning, April 27, 1932, from neuralgia of the heart, at the age of 69 years, 11 months and 25 days. He lived an unpretentious life. Through industry, prudence and economy, was succesful in financial accumulation. He died in the faith and hope of resurrection to life and immortality at the coming of Christ, the life-giver. *♦*] /