Rufus 'Rufe' Wirt Carroll 1868-1941

CARROLL, YOUNG, BENSCH, CLANCY, SCHNITZLEN, HICKENLOOPER

Posted By: Ann Krumme (email)
Date: 4/6/2008 at 20:01:16

Old Time Printer Passes
“?”--the end of the trail for the newspaper fraternity--came for R. W. Carroll at 2:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 14, when death ended a period of four of five years illness. Mr. Carroll had suffered several paralytic strokes and partially recovered, but had become so weakened that a heart attack caused his death as above stated.

Rufus Wirt Carroll was born Jan. 25, 1868, at Money Creek, Minn. His parents were Hercules and Margaret Young Carroll, early day pioneers in Minnesota, his father being a Mississippi river pilot in the ‘40’s and 50’s when La Crosse was only a trading post. They later came to Lansing, where “Herc” worked in the lumber yards as manager, and also made an overland trip across Iowa to Kansas, where they resided a few days, coming back to Lansing to make it their permanent home. “Rufe” was the last of his family, two brothers, John and Charles dying when quite young; His parents and only sister, Mrs. Edw. A. Bensch, passing away in Lansing.

Mr. Carroll was married at La Crosse February 5, 1902 to Miss Mary Clancy, who survives him with their two children--Clarence and Antoinette (Mrs. Peter Schnitzlen), both of Gary, Indiana. Also surviving are two nephews, Clyde and Julius Bensch, and a niece, Mrs. Verna Bensch Hickenlooper, of Cedar Rapids, wife of Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor. A very wide circle of friends and acquaintances also mourn his passing.

When a young man Rufe learned the printing trade with the late Geo. W. Metcalf in the old Lansing Mirror office, then over the State Bank. He worked at it in many places--large and small cities alike--being fast and competent and could hold a job anywhere. He saw service at his trade in Jamestown, N.D., La Crosse, Postville, Prairie du Chien, Palmyra and other Wisconsin cities; as well as Hecla, S.D., where he moved his family for a couple of years. After his marriage he was employed at the Mirror office, joining the Journal force in 1922 when the papers consolidated.

Mr. Carroll also served as manager of the Lansing Equity Store for several years; and with the help of his family operated the Corner Café a couple of years, having to give up that strenuous work on account of its being too confining.

In early life Mr. Carroll was a great fisherman and loved outings and camp life in the natural beauty hereabouts. His love of travel prompted him to follow the river as “nigger runner” for several seasons, and with companions he made an extensive trip down the Mississippi river in the cistern cleaning business.

Naturally, after his marriage, he was not privileged to travel as much but he centered his affection on his wife and children--and no more loving husband and father ever lived. As a neighbor and friend, he was honored and respected far and wide--and no more hospitable home that Carroll’s existed in Lansing. Many, including this writer, will ever cherish pleasant memories of happy hours spent there at “grando” and other parties. A convert to the Catholic religion, Mr. Carroll died a mot peaceful and happy death, fortified by the last rites of his adoption. And so it is with sorrow in our heart that we did adieu to our life-long friend.

His funeral took place Monday morning at 9 o’clock from I. C. church in Lansing, Father J. L. Brietbach singing the Requiem Mass and officiating at the graveside service in Gethsemane cemetery, where interment was made.

Casket bearers were R.A. Cavers, Nick Schach, Peter Hanson, Ben Sweeney, Joe Wagner and Joe Dunlevy.

~Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror, February 19, 1941