Inscription at left:
JOHN W. CLUTE
CO. F
31 N.Y. INF.

Mrs. Laura Y. Major passed away at Fountain Green, 17 April 1928, aged 75 years, 1 month and 28 days.

It was with great shock and sadness that the many friends of this good woman heard of her sudden summons.  They were aware of her great suffering and helplessness, caused by a complication of maladies, yet hope was held that the recent gain through skilled medical attention and faithful nursing might be the promise of lasting benefit.

As affliction followed affliction, her greatest grief, the fading vision, when her bible and beloved books were closed volumes to her, she has ofttimes expressed the wish that the Lord would take her home.  Her prayer has been answered.  "The wheels of weary life at last stood still."

Laura Young was born in Agency City, Iowa, 19 February 1853.  She was the daughter of Robert and Martha (Owings) Young.  Her father died in her early childhood.  She received paternal care from her step-father, James Williams, who with his wife, were well and favorably known residents of this community for many years, where Laura’s girlhood was spent.

She was married to John Clute, of Fort Madison, Iowa on 28 March 1885.  They journeyed very happily together until his death on 20 February 1908, during their residence at Fountain Green.  She was a woman richly endowed with mental and physical strength. One who improved to the utmost every opportunity to advance in mental attainments.  Her wide range of reading and her gift of expression made her an interesting and agreeable companion with whom it was a great pleasure to converse.  In her thirst for knowledge she studied for some months, with an uncle who was a successful physician, and with her ready mind, acquired much practical information with combined with her aptitude for nursing, made her a valued assistant in the sick room.  She was summoned to Los Angeles, California in 1909, where she became the efficient caretaker of the late General John G. Fonda.  His years were lengthened and his invalidism brightened by her efficient ministry.  During her stay she made many friends with whom she ever after kept in touch, and who will learn with regret of her passing.  The years spent there remained bright spots in her memory upon which she loved to dwell until the last.

Her residence in the city closed with her marriage to Mr. James Major on 19 July 1915 and she returned with him to West Point, Illinois.  Their pleasant cottage home was the abode of comfort and content.  They gave shelter and comfort to a motherless granddaughter, Lola Major and who survives to mourn the loss of a good friend.  Mr. Major passed away 13 February 1927.

In the early winter Mrs. Major came to the home of her sister, Mrs. Edna Seward in Fountain Green that she might receive the constant care her condition demanded.  The intervening months have been passed as comfortably as it was possible to make them.  She enjoyed meeting and greeting old friends and being in close touch with her nearest and dearest kindred of whom survive, the two half sisters, Mrs. Edna Seward and Mrs. Nettie Duffy, who have watched and guarded her so faithfully.  There are also a large circle of nieces and nephews who gave and received a large measure of regard.  Wherever her lot was cast, Mrs. Major took active interest in those organizations which tend to promote good will and advance the welfare of the people.  She was identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, the Rebekah lodge and a most enthusiastic member of the order known as "The Ladies of the Grand Army."  She gave expression on the printed page, both in prose and poetry, to the gratitude she felt for the veterans of all wars, and ever held in loving remembrance those who faced death and danger in defense of the flag.

M.W.B.

The funeral was held at Majorville conducted by the Reverend Fehnestock, of Colchester.

Those from a distance that attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Gus Bersin, of St. Louis; Frank Seward and wife and Mary Foy, of Tampico, Illinois; George Hamilton, Asa Hamilton and wife of Plymouth, Illinois; George Major and wife, Mrs. Dean Frey and daughter Lucy, Mr. and Mrs. Will Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. Copeland, of West Point; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Krauth, William Thorp, of Basco; Mr. A.D. Williams, Mrs. Cora Switzer and daughter, Mary, of Tennessee, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Sears, of Dallas City; Mrs. Flora Callihan, Miss Mary Davidson, Mrs. C.L. Ferris, of Carthage; Harley Stevens and wife and Dwight LeMaster and wife of Macomb; Mrs. Stevens of Tennessee; Ed Weatherington and wife, Farlin Duffy and wife, of Burnside; Mrs. Kate Callihan and daughter Enime, Mrs. Maggie Ebert and son of Hamilton.

Laura's obituary and most of the following information courtesy of Pat Thomas.

From her death certificate, Laura had been living in Fountain Green for 5 months prior to her death. She was female, white, widow of James Major.  She was born 19 February 1853 in Agency City, Iowa to Robert Young, born unknown and Martha Owings, born in Indiana.  She was a housewife who died at age 75 years, 1 month and 28 days.  She died on 17 April 1928 of apoplexy related to high blood pressure, she had Bright’s Disease according to her doctor, A. W. Bouseman of Fountain Green.  The informant was Jeannette Duffy of Fountain Green.

To the best of our knowledge, the name of the town where Laura was born was Agency (not Agency City), located in Wapello County, Iowa.

Further from Pat's research, John W. Clute was enumerated in the 1880 Federal Census in New York, Albany County, Albany, Ward 4.  He was a superintendant in a foundry, born in New York, age 32.  He was married to Mary E., 32, born in New York.

John and Laura were married in Keokuk, Iowa, on March 13, 1885, (rather than the 28th, as printed in her obituary) by Methodist minister W. G. Wilson.  Also at odds with the obituary, John's Civil War pension records show John died December 4, 1908, in or near Fountain Green.

John W. Clute filed for a Union Army pension in 1892, at which time his status was "invalid".  He was apparently living in Iowa at the time.  Laura filed for widow's benefits in 1909.

For further information on Laura's mother,
step-father and half-siblings, see:
James Williams and Martha Owings Young

James Williams, 30, male, carpenter, value of personal estate 100, born KY
Martha, 27, female, born IN
Sarah E Young, 7, female, born IA  [Laura]
Viola Williams, 6/12, female, born IL

Williams, James, 41, farmer, value of personal estate owned 200, born KY
Martha, 33, born IN
Young, Laura, 18, born IA
Lucy Jane, 9, born IL
Edna A, 7, born IL
Charles, 4, born IL

Fonda, John, lodger, male, white, ?8, widower, born NY, both parents born NY, spoke English, retired, own income, could read and write, [there may have been an entry regarding his service during the Civil War, but it's obscured by enumerator's notations]

Clute, Lomera W, lodger, female, white, 57, widow, mother of 0 children, born IA, father born IN, mother born KY, spoke English, land lady, house; whether an employer, employee or working on own account - [illegible], whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write

Fonda, Catherine, lodger, female, white, 17, single, born KS, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Major, James, head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 76, married, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1852 ?, naturalized, year of naturalization - 185?, could read and write, born Ireland, native tongue English; both parents born Ireland, native tongue English; spoke English, no occupation, own income

Laura Y, wife, female, white, 66, married, could read and write, born IA, father born TN, mother born IN, spoke English

Tharp, Lola L, granddaughter, female, white, 10, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IA, father born KS, mother born IL, spoke English