Robert Erskine Agnew, son of David and Elizabeth Agnew, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, January 12 1859, and departed this life March 16, 1938, aged 79 years, 2 months and 6 days.
Sometime before 1864, when he was very young, he was taken to a farm in Ballynarry, County Antrim, N.Ireland by his parents, where he received his early education. Later he attended Trinity College in Dublin, after which he became a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This position required special education. He served in this capacity in both Londonderry and in Dublin. He was a member of the Masonic Order in Ireland.
In the summer of 1886 he sailed for America and after a very stormy voyage landed at New York August 6. He lived for a short time on a farm northeast of Mt. Zion, in Van Buren county, Iowa. Later he purchased the farm north of Keosaugua where he has resided the past 45 years.
On Oct. 18, 1897, he was united in marriage to Hester Isabel Brown. To this union were born four sons: Robert E. Jr., of Donnellson, S. Brown of Winterset, John C. of Des Moines, William J., at home; and one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hornbaker of Mt. Sterling.
He was preceded in death by his wife on Feb 23, 1918. This circumstance was very trying on him, as William was only 5, John 7 and Mary 13. However, through sickness and trouble he stood by his children and was very proud of them.
He leaves to mourn his passing the four above named sons and one daughter, four grandchildren: Robert, Norman and Kenneth Dean Hornbaker, and James William Agnew; one brother, David Agnew of Boston, Mass.; one sister, Miss Martha Agnew of Belfast, Ireland; Four nephews and two nieces.
He was a member of the Congregational church at Keosaugua, where he was a regular attendant for many years. He was a man of great strength of character and always stood firmly for what he believed to be right. His memory was clear and his faith unshaken to the end. In the last few days of his illness he quoted clearly from memory the classic poem, “There Is No Death.”
Funeral services were held from the Congregational church at Keosaugua Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock with the Rev. Geo. J. Hunsinger of Donnellson officiating. Burial was in the Purdom cemetery at Keosaugua. Pallbearers were Robert J., Joe M., and Arthur Barker (nephews), Oscar Alvine, Evans Craig, John A. Craig, Roy Beatty and Clem Perkins, all of Keosaugua and vicinity.
[written in 1938]
