Transcription of newspaper obituary:

John Ellsworth Horning was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 20, 1833. Died at Ankeny, Iowa, January 20, 1928, aged 94 years and 4 months.

On July 24, 1859, he was united in marriage to Catherine Barbara Mortorff and soon after they moved from their native state to Indiana where they lived for a few years, leaving there with their four children to make their home in Iowa in 1868. They first made their home near Saylorville in Polk county. In 1884, with their family they moved to Ankeny where they made their home for many years. To them were born ten children, nine of whom survive him. The oldest son, George Willis, passed away in 1869, and his wife preceded him in death in 1901. The surviving children are: John Henry, of Camas, Washington; Mary Ellen Betts, of Redondo, Washington; Cassie Susan Tait, of Portland, Oregon; Noah Webster, of Sumner, Washington; Elizabeth May Hallowell, of Roundup, Montana; William Sanford, of Anchorage, Alaska; Ida Avis Hallowell, of Ankeny; Joseph Frederick, of Altoona; Franklin Ellsworth, of Ames. He is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Three sisters, all residents of Indiana, preceded him in death.

Three sons and two daughters and grandchildren were at his bedside during his illness and death. Deceased was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at this place.

He had a wealth of experience in the early pioneer life in Iowa and the West, having made two trips across the western plains by ox team.

The year following his coming to Iowa he cut and floated timbers down the Des Moines river to Ft. Des Moines where they were drawn away to be used as ties for the building of the Rock Island railroad into Des Moines. For the most part of his life, he was engaged in the Blacksmith trade, and shod his first horse in Ohio at the age of 14 and his last in the state of Washington when he was 82 years of age.

He was a plain, unpretentious man who endeared himself to the hearts of his friends by his honesty and sincerity , a worthy exponent of the Golden Rule. His last conscious words were: "In all things, God's will be done."