Waterman, Frank Bainbridge 1855 – 1896

WATERMAN, FERRIS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/16/2016 at 15:50:41

Iowa Plain Dealer February 21, 1896, FP, C4,5

OBITUARY.

Frank Bainbridge Waterman was born near Madison Wis., in 1855. He moved with his parents to Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1862 and spent most of his boyhood days in and about Waukon.

In 1883 he went to Dakota and filed on a homestead four miles north of Doland. In ’84 he was married to Miss Ida Ferris, a young lady from Cresco, Iowa, formerly principal of the Riceville high school, and at time of marriage a teacher in the graded school at Frankfort, S. D. In 1888 Frank sold his homestead and west to Conde, a new town twenty-two miles north of Doland, where he helped build and start the first store. He was well known in Spink county as a strictly honest, conservative business man.

As a friend and neighbor, a husband and father, he was beyond reproach.

While in Frankfort nearly four years he played the clarinet in the Frankfort cornet band and also in the M. E. choir. While in Conde he was a member of the Conde cornet band, the best band in Spink county, and also of the Baptist choir.

He was generally hearty, cheerfully suffering loss and disappointment in drouth stricken Dakota.

His parents died in Waukon three years ago and left him property there, and he was expecting to move his family to Iowa this spring. He leaves a wife and two children—aged 7 and 5—to mourn his loss, besides his brothers and sisters.

His brother Jerry started in answer to a telegram, but did not arrive in time to see his brother alive.

Impressive services were held in Conde conducted by the cornet band, where many of his friends met to pay their tribute of respect to one whom they had known and loved so long. January 29 his body, accompanied by his family and brother, started for Waukon. The band, with draped instruments and playing a favorite dirge of his, followed the casket to the train. On the crowded platform they joined a choir in singing a beautiful farewell.

The funeral service in Waukon was held in the Presbyterian church, where Rev. Vanice, who but three years before had stood above his father and mother, now spoke fitting and comforting words to his sorrow stricken friends. In each instance his beloved instrument was draped in mourning, wreathed in flowers and laid upon the casket.

He was laid to rest beside his father and mother in Oakland cemetery Feb. 1, 1896.

There’s an empty home that’s waiting
For a step that never comes;
There are weary hearts now breaking
For a loving heart that’s gone.

Tearful eyes look into ours,
Little lips we hear them say,
“Mama, Papa’s gone to Heaven;
We shall got to him some day.”