Melissa Jane Claypool

     Melissa Jane Claypool was born on 6 August 1841 at Van Buren County, Iowa Territory, USA. She was the daughter of Jesse Claypool and Matilda Stringfield. Melissa Jane Claypool married, at age 14, Aaron Haney, age 26, son of Moses B. Haney and Nancy VanBibber, on Tuesday, 20 May 1856. Melissa Jane Claypool died on 13 June 1911 at Van Buren County, Iowa, at age 69 years, 10 months and 7 days. She was buried on 14 June 1911 Pittsburg, Van Buren County, Iowa.
     Mrs. Melissa Haney

Melissa J. Claypool was born in Keosququa, Iowa, August 6, 1841, or from the date of her death, June 13, 1911, sixty nine years, ten months & seven days have passed since that glad event.

The name Claypool carries all minds, versed in the early history of our county, back to the time when Indian forms were stalking through the forest and when the Duffields, Merediths, Pearsons, Daughritys and others called themselves neighbors although the distance and mode of travel kept them from seeing each other save at some glad time when religious meeting or festive occasion brought them a happy concourse.

Melissa was the daughter of Jesse and Matilda Claypool who immigrated to VanBuren County from Springfield, IL. With an ox team about 75 years ago, and made useful prominent citizens in the country of their choice.

The subject of this sketch had two brothers, James and William, the former being the first office foreman of our old and popular county paper, The Keosauqua Republican.' She had three half sisters, Mesdames Sallie Ann Truit, Elizabeth Hearn and Nancy Laird.

While youth's beautiful blush as still upon her cheek she was wooed by Aaron Haney and was married to him in 1856. Faithfully as loving wife and tender mother she walked by the side of him, who ruler her heart and leaned upon his judgement and devotion until seven months ago, for on the 15th of last November, I stood in this pulpit and read the obituary of brother Haney and now clearly fixed in my mind is her statement made just 7 months ago today, 'It will not be long.' Because the two lives were so closely knit and because the information fills the need of this occasion I read a paragraph from this obituary.

It is:

Following his duties at Keosauqua our friend met and loved Miss Melissa Claypool, who reciprocated his affection and became his bridge, at her home May 20, 1856. Five gifted daughters and five stalwart sons graced their home, all of them reaching maturity, and all save one, Mrs. Carrie Brown, remain to experience the sorrow of father's going and to comfort the heart of the mourning mother, who in her loneliness weeps uncomplainingly for she realizes as she expressed to the writer of this sketch that the separation will not be long. They are Mesdames Mary Pilote, Pittsburgh; Ollie McGaffey, Pittsburgh, Jessie McGaffey, Keosauqua; Maggie Cormack, Centerville; Frank, Washington; Charles, Keosauqua; William of Cantril; George of Milton, and Oscar of Pittsburgh.

It gives me please to state that during the half year that has passed since I wrote that paragraph that none of the above mentioned parties have suffered any serious calamity and that all remain to comfort each other in this hour of separation.

There are also 18 grand children and 13 great grandchildren who lend additional charm to that glad wedding day in the Claypool home so many years ago. Mrs. Haney was a deeply religious woman. Early in life she gave her life to God and, with her husband joined the Methodist Episcopal church in Pittsburg, Iowa, when that organization was young and with him shared the trials and rejoined in the victories of that chapel dedicated to God and endeared to hundreds of hearts by its blessed association.

The funeral service was held in the Methodist church in Pittsburg, Iowa, and the remains put to rest in the beautiful cemetery on the hill, June the 14th, 1911.

C.A.F.