HENRY LAFAYETTE INMAN
b. White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, MI 27 May 1846
d. Bancroft, Kossuth County, IA 6 Feb 1921

Death is a great revealer and in turning out some lights turns on others; it extinguishes the light of intelligence that shone from the eye, the light of cheer that fell from oft his face into the lives of others. But it turns on the light that concentrates our attention upon a man's character and upon the record of his life's endeavor.

Henry Lafayette Inman was the third child of Edward and Laura Inman. He was born at White Pigeon, MI, May 27, 1846. While he was only a child the family moved to Medina County, OH. They had only lived there a short time when the first sadness came into the home. It was caused by the death of his sister, Mary. About a year later his father died leaving him a little boy thirteen years old to look after the mother and young sisters of whom there were three, two of them still living: Mrs. Nettie Breese of Deming, NM and Mrs. Rose Mossman of Monrovia, CA. The other sister, Mrs. Julia Neiling [sic] deceased and his oldest brother, George also preceeded [sic] him in death.

The moved from Ohio to Iowa in Black Hawk County and in 1869 **note the Black Hawk County census of 1870 still had them in Poyner Township.** He came to Kossuth County where he staked out a claim and moved into his Homestead in 1870. It was in section 6, Portland Township which is 4 ½ miles southeast of Bancroft. Here he made his home for nineteen years, always caring for his mother who was an invalid most of the time. For the first five years they lived in a sod house which he himself constructed. The lumber for his first frame house was hauled form Algona that being the closes trading point at the time. His mother passed away while they were still on this farm in 1877.

Mr. Inman was united in marraige on June 28, 1876 to Miss Melissa Adeline Echelbarger. They were married at the home of his sister, Mrs. Howard Breese in Algona. Nine . . .[unable to read] three of whom are deceased: Bertha died when nine years old in 1889, Minie when eleven in 1892, and Alfred when he was 23 months in 1901.

Those who survive their father besides his wife are Mrs. Frank Ringsdorf of Bancroft, Charley of Onawa, IA, Mrs. A. A. Howe of Terril, IA, Hale of Wetonka, SD, Ross and Mrs. Joe Cogley who have been at home.

The family came to Bancroft on December 11, 1888 and moved into a new home which Mr. Inman had completed. He was an excellent workman with woodworking tools as well as a good farmer. He either built or assisted in building every home he has ever occupied. When coming to town he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Frank Echelbarger, and they transacted business under the name of Inman and Echelbarger for a number of years. Henry handled the wood work while Frank worked in steel and iron. Then for some years he was in the shop alone until he was finally forced to abandon the shop on account of his health. Then they moved onto the place where they lived at the time of his death.

Mr. Inman was a charter member of Alpha Homestead No1 of the American Yeoman. Henry has been a member of the local Methodist church for a great many years and has been one of its trustees for nearly 26 years. He was a good Christian man, gentle and kind in disposition. During his recent sickness he was patient and did not complain of his suffering. As the moments for the passing from this life approached a restful peace settled over his countenance and then he went to sleep to waken in that land where pain and suffering are no more. He could say with the Psalmist, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."