Reuben Bosisto was born in Elston, England, October 15, 1820. He was married to Mary Ann Cocking July 1, 1845. Five sons and four daughters were the fruit of this union, of whom, two sons, and three daughters remain to mourn, and to comfort the declining years of their mother. The following was found written on a record page of the old family bible by the hand of Father Bosisto himself and we give it verbatim.
"Reuben Bosisto and wife and their children, George, John, Joseph, set sail from the part of Penzance in the county of Cornwall, England, on the ship Cornwall commanded by Capt. Charles of Penzance and his mate, Mr. Shivers, on July 1, 1849, for the United States, being the fourth anniversary of their wedding day; and was seven weeks and three days on their passage and four weeks more by steamboat, canal and wagons, reaching Jenkinsville, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Five years after removed to Elk Grove and in 1871, May 9, removed to Taylor County, Iowa and on May 8, 1887, moved to Corning.
In Corning, Father Bosisto has since resided until his death, last Wednesday at about 11 a.m. He passed peacefully and quietly away as he had lived, gone to be at rest. He was converted to the Lord Jesus while yet still a young man in England before his marriage, uniting with the Baptist Church and has ever been loyal to the profession which he made. He was not in early manhood educated to the gospel ministry, but in later life, since coming to the new west in Iowa, rising up in response to a call, with becoming grace and modesty he began preaching the gospel of salvation to lost men. Consulting the minutes of East Nodaway Baptist Association, we find that his name appears among the list of licensed ministers from 1875 to 1888, and in 1880, he appears as an ordained minister and as pastor of the Summerset Baptist Church and in this relation he remained for several years. After coming to Corning, he supplied for a number of months the Corning pulpit, and declined a call to settle as pastor.
In those pioneer days there was need of godly consecrated men to lead and care for weak and struggling churches. Many noble men of blessed memory rose up to fill these places; a band of self sacrificing faithful servants of the churches and of their God, who labored not for gain, but that God might be glorified and souls saved. Among these, Father Bosisto stood a peer, a humble man who had the respect of all who knew him. Yes, and all the love, Cheerfulness of heart was to the last his heritage. Eight-two years had passed over his head but he never grew old. Disappointments never soured him and the sweetness of his spirit has been the envy of all who knew him. The bereaved wife and "Mother in Israel" will have the sympathy and prayers of all good people. For she will greatly miss the companion with whom she has lived for over fifty-seven years so happily. The children also who are so well known will be remembered as those who have sustained a great loss, yet a blessed memory is that of their father.
Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist Church at 10:30 a.m., November 29, by the pastor assisted by Rev. Shipman of the M.E. Church, and Rev. Fuller of the Christian Church, Rev. A. K. Myattway, a son-in-law of the deceased adding a few words in memory as he had so intimately known him. Interment was made in the Prairie Rose Cemetery. The B.Y.P.U. of the Baptist Church presented a beautiful floral piece forming the letter B, and composted of white chrysanthemums, white hyacinths, and ferns.
Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, December 3, 1902, page 8