This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Percival, Handy, Kelsey, Montgomery Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/4137 Message Board Post: THE DAILY GLOBE. March 10, 1886. "Robert Percival". -- Died.--Tuesday, March 9th, 1886 at 6 p.m., of apoplexy. Hon. Robert Percival, in the 57th year of his age.--Yesterday evening with the going down of the sun passed away in peace the spirit of Robert Percival. Mr. Percival was born in the year 1830 at Chatham Head, Northumberland county, New Brunswick. At the age of 16 years he left home to seek his fortune and found employment in a ship yard in Maine, as a ship carpenter. From there he went to New York City where he again found employment as a carpenter. Leaving New York City, he moved to Chariton county, Missouri where he taught school and took up the study of law which was destined to be his life calling. Shortly after this he came to Crescent City and then to Council Bluffs.....From here he went to Plum Hollow in Fremont County, Iowa, and taught school two terms still continuing, out of school hours, those arduous studies which made him one of the safest of legal counsellors. After having undergone the necessary training in 1855, Mr. Percival received his license to practice law from the district court at Sidney, Iowa, and at once engaged in the practice of his chosen profession in partnership with William Kelsey...... N.B.: The above clipping was sent to me many years ago (1970?) by Gertrude Handy of Percival, Iowa.--W.F. THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. June 10, 1971. (This is the caption under the picture of Robert Percival's tombstone.) "Robert Percival's Monument".--Robert Percival, a pioneer days attorney, who practiced law for a short time at Sidney and then followed his profession at Council Bluffs, is the man for whom the town of Percival is named. His final resting place is under this handsome granite shaft in the east side of the Sidney cemetery. The stone was provided by one Robert E. Montgomery, his friend. No one we have contacted has so far been able to tell us when the monument was erected or who Montgomery was. Perhaps some member of the Percival Historical Society will be able to provide us with this information. The inscription on the side of the stone shown in the photograph reads: "Robert Percival...Born in Chatham Parish....Miramichi.....New Brunswick.....March 5, 1830." On the opposite side of the stone is inscribed this simple notice: "Erected in Grateful Memory of his Friend by Robert E. Montgomery."