Isom and Didema, 82 baptisms and an obituary

Pamela Schisel/Find a Grave

There's no notable reason for republishing Isom Adcock's obituary here --- from The Chariton Leader of Oct. 10, 1918 --- other than the fact I found it interesting. Generally, when calling up a newspaper page while researching something, I read everything else on the page, too, so that's how I came across it.

Isom and his wife, Didema, are buried in the Chariton Cemetery. He died, age 80, on Oct. 4, 1918; she had predeceased him, age 70, on March 28, 1915.

The given names caught my attention first. As nearly as I can figure out, "Isom" probably is a family surname from somewhere in Mr. Adcock's lineage; "Didema," most likely a variant of "diadem," or crown. Remember the old hymn, "Bring forth the royal diadem ...?"

Isom seems to have written at least some of his obituary himself, including an interesting footnote regarding the origins of Wayne United Brethren Church, located in Monroe County's Wayne Township, not far east of the Lucas County line in the general neighborhood of LaGrange.

What I'm having trouble wrapping my head around is his memory of 82 baptisms in White's Creek, Wayne Township, during the summer of 1857. That would have been a whole lot of baptizing for pioneer Iowa, perhaps even a Monroe and/or Lucas County record.

Whatever the case, it's an interesting obituary --- and here it is:

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Isom Adcock was born near Frankfort, in Owen county, Kentucky, Jan. 1, 1838, and died at his home in Chariton, Oct. 4, 1918. His age was 80 years, 9 months and 3 days.

His father died when he was ten years of age. He lived with his mother for a few years in Kentucky. Then they sold out and moved to Jackson county, Indiana. There they lived several years, then sold out and moved to Monroe county, Iowa, late in the fall of 1856, and he lived there with his mother till she died in 1858.

He was married in 1858 to Miss Didema Kelsey. To this union were born twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Four of the children and his wife preceded him to the better world. The deceased children are the oldest and youngest sons and the fourth and youngest daughters.

Isom Adcock enlisted in the Eighth Iowa Infantry, Co. I, in 1861, and was discharged in May 1862, after the battle of Shiloh, for general disability.

The living children are Mrs. Melissa Jane Chambers of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Mrs. Amuretta Angeline Esshom of Chariton, and John Andrew of Chariton; Daniel Elmer of Melrose; Mrs. Martha Evaline Jones of Osceola; Oliver Perry of Chariton; Charles Delmar of Cedar township; and Mrs. Rosa Foutch of Chariton.

Following written March 15, 1917, as given by deceased.

His wife died March 28, 1915.

In the latter part of the winter of 1857 he was converted to Christ and united with the United Brethren church, at a meeting six miles northwest of Melrose, in a log school house in a revival meeting held by Rev. Alexander of the M. E. church and Jas. De Moss, a U.B. singer. This was the first school house built in this part of Iowa. It was near White's Creek. It was also the first revival held in the community and was the beginning of the Wayne church. It was then called the West Union class. Almost all the young people joined and many backsliders. And that summer the baptizing was in White's Creek near the Butcher settlement. Eighty-two were baptized. The minister in the baptizing was Rev. Henry Bonebrake and the presiding elder is thought to have been Rev. John Everhart.

For more than eighty years he has traveled the journey of life. Besides his children he leaves forty-six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and many other kindred and comrade soldiers and friends to mourn his departure.

For over sixty-one years his name has been enrolled as a member of the church and also enrolled, we believe, in the Lamb's book of life. Since the death of his wife five years ago, he has been waiting to go home. His afflictions were hard to bear and he longed for the relief that came in death.

He was honest and candid and industrious and hardy and business like and no one hesitated to trust him. In religion he was penitent and humble and unpretentious and lived and died trusting in Jesus.

The funeral services, conducted by Rev. E. W. Curtis, at the U. B. church, were largely attended. Twenty-seven of the local G. A. R. attended in a body, holding a beautiful service on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6, 1918. (Leader 10 Oct 1918)