Obituary: Daily Iowegian, Centerville, Appanoose Co, Iowa, May 1, 1936, Millard Fillmore Farnsworth

-Millard Fillmore, son of Jacob and Mary Farnsworth, was born in Appanoose county on June 1, 1857 and died at his home, located south and east of Dean, Iowa, on April 26, 1936, being at the time of his death 78 years, 10 months and 26 days of age. Of his immediate family, besides his parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death while in their infancy. Those of his brothers and sisters having reached maturity, but are now deceased, were H W Farnsworth of Carney, Okla, Mrs Columbus Cox of Vici, Okla, Mrs Theodore Albertson of Numa and Mrs Lincoln Caster of Cincinnati, Ia. The only remaining member of his family is one brother, A L Farnsworth, of Exline, Iowa.

-During the Civil war in his father's absence he encountered and endured great hardships as well as sickness and death of one brother and sister. All this came back so vividly to him during his last illness he often talked about to relatives, especially did he make mention of this to Mrs Ella Stites, a sister of his first wife whom he loved as his own sister. On November 25, 1878 he was united in marriage to Roannah Brumley who passed away June 1, 1904. On June 22 of the same year his daughter Minnie, 22 years of age passed away. Death had entered his home three times before this and claimed three of his children, Clarence, one month old, Maudie, 16 months old, also an infant son. Ten children were born to this union of whom six survive and are as follows; O E Farnsworth of Plano, Mrs Lyeal Amos of Exline, H J Farnsworth of Ottumwa, Mrs Ben Purdum of Montezuma, Mrs Earl Mitchell of New Haven, Conn, M R Farnsworth, Ottumwa, who was but one day old when his mother passed away and was reared by his mother's sister and her husband, Mr and Mrs R L Stites. He is also survived 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

-The children all came to see him during his last illness, except his daughter, Mrs Earl Mitchell, who resides in New Haven, Conn. and was unable to come, but was here and made him an extended visit last year, which he very much enjoyed. After the death of his wife, Mr Farnsworth with three of his children made his home with Mr and Mrs R L Stites until he was again married in 1906 to Louisa Lindsey, who passed away May 2, 1920.

-Again he made his home with the Stites family until in August, 1924, he was married to Mrs Dan King, who survives him. The brothers of his first wife, J S Moore of Coatsville, Mo, and W S Moore of Mounds, Okla, also the sister, Mrs R L Stites and her husband, have always been considered as very dear relatives to him. For a good many years he had been a member and an elder of the Hilltown Christian church as long as his health permitted, and was a great worker in church and community affairs, but never in strong and robust health; for a number of years he suffered intensely and was unable to do for his community what he would like to have done. Mr Farnsworth had been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Moulton for 52 years, having joined that organization in January, 1883. He loved his neighbors and friends most sincerely and expressed regret at having to leave them and was always a good husband and kind and loving father. The direct cause of his death was leakage of the heart and hardening of the arteries with complications.

-Funeral services were held at the Christian church in Exline, at 1 o'clock, Tuesday, April 28, conducted by E E Withrow, assisted by Mrs Fern Deahl at the piano, Mamie Rowen, Edna Withrow, Nola Caster and Charlot Adams sang "Going Down the Valley" requested by his sister-in-law Mrs Ella Stites, and "God Will Take Care of You" select by his son, E O Farnsworth and wife. The text was Proverbs, 16th chapter, 31st verse, chosen by his son, H J Farnsworth.
-Pall bearers were some of his neighbors, being Tom Garmen, Charley Kirby, Jim Stites, Fred Stoher, Clarence West and Ernest Patterson. Among those who attended the funeral were T W Stevens, T W Gooding and E H Mineer, all of Ottumwa who are co-office workers and friends of H J Farnsworth, and Mr and Mrs Floyd Withers of Ottumwa, also Mr and Mrs A E Day and Mr and Mrs Clarence Day of Bloomfield. Mr and Mrs M R Farnsworth and Max Exline, of Ottumwa; Mr and Mrs E O Farnsworth and family of Plano, Mr and Mrs Lyle; brother A L Farnsworth, and Amos and son of Exline, and family of Exline; Mr and Mrs W P Farnsworth, Mrs Edith Huston and Mrs Lillie Withrow, all of Centerville; Mr and Mrs Thearlo King and children, of Ottumwa; Denny Drake and Theodore Albertson of Mystic.

-Interment was made in the Exline cemetery, by the side of his departed wife and children.