Syrene, Hannah, and their eleven children are pictured in the photograph on the left. A larger image of the picture may be seen, and their names may be read in the caption by clicking on the picture.
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Obituary From Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier, Tuesday, November 10, 1908, Page 10:

Syrene Dimmitt was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, July 31, 1832. He was only twelve years old when he came with his parents to this state, to endure with them the hardships of the pioneer days in this new western country. Those were the days before the railroads opened up this part of the country, and before even the luxury of horse teams, so they traveled in the primitive way which was all the fashion at the time. They came with their own ox cart and with their own ox team, and finally, in the year 1844, they settled in Wapello County, where, after living a long and useful life, Syrene died, November 3rd, 1908, aged 76 years, three months, and three days. He passed away peacefully, like one lying down to rest, with most of his faithful children around him, in his home in west Ottumwa.

In the year 1853, on the 14th day of April, he took one of the happiest steps of his life, when he married Miss Agnes Hannah McClintic, with whom he lived a happy life until the day of his death. In that same year, God gave them grace to take another important step both for themselves and for the generations after them, when the dear Lord led them by one of this faithful servants to unite them with the Christian church of Bladensburg, Iowa. The impressions which were made upon his early life by the faith that is in Christ never left him, and in the hours of trial and in his last long suffering, the grace of our lord Jesus found still an open channel into his heart and life, and the rich comforts and consolations of the Gospel gave him the rest and peace which cannot be purchased with money.

Mr. Dimmitt died rich in the heritage of the Lord, leaving behind to mourn his departure, besides the faithful partner in his life and one only sister, Mrs. Harriett Dorr, of this city, eleven children, six sons and five daughters. I say, according to the word of God, he died rich, though I know not what his earthly possessions are, for he had children from God and he loved them and cared for them together with their faithful mother. Besides this splendid family of sons and daughters who are all living, he leaves grandchildren, consisting of 23 boys and 17 girls, and 8 great-grandchildren.

The following are the sons and daughters: Mrs. Susan Carr, Ottumwa; Mrs. Mahilia White, Oklahoma; Mrs. Rosetta McCormack, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Ellen Phillips, Nebraska; Mrs. Grace Clossen, Coffeyville, Kan.; Harvey Dimmitt, Ottumwa; Vernon Dimmitt, Ottumwa; Frank Dimmitt, Ottumwa; Oliver Dimmitt, Tacoma; Charles Dimmitt, Tacoma; Oscar Dimmitt, Ottumwa.

Children and grandchildren have one commandment to fulfill and that as the Word of God, "Is the first commandment with promise–Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God give thee." You give him honor today with a Christian burial. You no doubt will mark the spot which will be made sacred as the last resting place of his body, but the highest honor which you can bestow upon your honored father and mother, is to give your lives in honest daily service to their God and Savior, among the people on earth, all of whom God loves and himself serves.

Your father, who has just departed this life for his heavenly home, will in heaven have no greater joy than that which comes to him because you love and obey the Savior who has given him such peace and rest.

The pallbearers were with one exception, acquaintances of the deceased for the past fifty years. They were: William Johnson, Daniel Wise, Grant Reed, George Kitterman, Henry Wagers, and Thomas Spillman.--W.H. Hormel

(Note: W .H. Hormel was the writer of this obituary.)