NEWTON, Martin Luther 1851-1911

NEWTON, BERRY, SLIPPY, TONG

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/13/2012 at 21:50:08

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Wednesday, January 25, 1911]
[Several bits of information from History of Black Hawk County, 1904]

HONORED CITIZEN
ANSWERS CALL

ML NEWTON WAS FATHER OF
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

Was prominent in Business,
Church and Masonic Circles.

After a brave fight against the disease which assumed a critical stage only three weeks ago, M. L. Newton, one of Waterloo's most highly respected citizens, a man whose life was a type of splendid Christian manhood, and who was honored during his life by many offices in county, church and Masonic circles, passed away at his home, 617 Mulberry Street, last night at 8:50.

The news of Mr. Newton's death comes as a keen shock to all Waterloo citizens, for, although it was known several days ago that he was seriously ill, it was hoped that his fine physical strength would aid him to win in the battle. Early yesterday morning, he seemed slightly better but later in the morning, the symptoms became more alarming. Between 11:30 o'clock and 2 o'clock, he spoke at intervals, although even then his sight was failing and he was inaudible to see those about him. Unafraid of death's coming, his thought was only for the ones left behind and in the few hours which he realized would be his last on earth, he sent messages to all those near and dear to him. At. 2 o'clock he said, "I am tired now and will sleep. In five minutes I shall be dead." This was practically so, for almost immediately he lapsed into a comatose state which continued unchanged until evening when the last sign proclaimed the passing of the soul from its earthly to its heavenly home.

Illness Commenced at Thanksgiving -

It was on Thanksgiving Day that Mr. Newton first complained of trouble with his teeth. He thought that they were ulcerated and that he would have them removed, but he did not consider the matter of especially serious nature. Between Christmas and New Year's, he was taken sick with a cold and an acute infection of the mouth developed. This gradually infected his whole system so that it was impossible to stay the course of the disease. On Friday, as a last resort, Mr. Newton underwent an operation and the bone was scraped, but this gave only temporary relief, for his condition gradually grew worse until the end. The attending physicians expressed the opinion that the disease has been coming on gradually for a year so that when it assumed its acute form it was impossible to control.

Because Mr. Newton was active until the last few weeks before his death, it is hard for those who have been associated with him to realize that he is gone. All who knew him admired and honored him and in the associations of business, church and lodge life, he will be universally mourned.

Martin Luther Newton was born in Freeport, Illinois, May 27, 1851, and was the oldest of a family of five children, four brothers and one sister.

Seth and Anna Maria Newton were Christian, God-fearing people and all the children likewise have been strong in the faith. After graduating from the Freeport High School, Mr. Newton attended the university of Michigan from which institution he graduated in 1875 from the engineering course, being one of the earliest civil engineers of the country.

In the spring of 1876, Mr. Newton came to Iowa, going first to La Porte City where he was the principal of the high school for two years and county surveyor for Black Hawk County from that time until 1903.

He came to Waterloo in 1893 to assume the position of city engineer, an office which he also held until 1903. When the W. C. F. & . was made an electric road Mr. Newton was made chief engineer and continued to hold that position until two years ago when he was advanced to the position of consulting engineer. During the past summer, he had superintended the construction of the new power house, which is now nearly completed, and it has been under his supervision that the numerous improvements of the past several years have been so successfully carried out.

Forty-seven years ago, Mr. Newton became a member of the Methodist church and since that time he had always worked actively in its interests. For many years he had been secretary of the official board of Grace M. E. Church and one of the last acts of his life was the signing a week ago yesterday of the papers for the transfer of the Grace M. E. church property.

When a movement was started twelve years ago for an additional Methodist church in North Waterloo, Mr. Newton was one of the most earnest workers and became one of the founders of what became St. Paul's M. E. Church. At first only the Sunday school was organized, beginning with a few members and growing now to a flourishing organization of 225 members. During those twelve years, Mr. Newton was superintendent of the Sunday school and it was largely because of his enthusiastic efforts that St. Paul's Church became a reality and the society, one of the most thriving in the city.

During the early years of struggle, Mr. Newton not only was superintendent of the Sunday school but also led the choir when there was need or worked in whatever other department needed his aid. So closely was he bound by the ties of Christian love and fellowship to the people of St. Paul's Church, that there is not a member of the church or Sunday school, who does not feel his death as a real personal loss. He is regarded by all as "The father of St. Paul's Church."

When St. Paul's was organized as a church July 11, 1906, Mr. Newton was made president of the official board, and held that honor until his death.

For many years, Mr. Newton had been a member of the board of directors of the U. M. C. A. He was ready at all times to give of his time and money to the advancement of all that tended to the betterment of Waterloo and the uplifting of its citizens.

He was a member of all the Masonic bodies of the city and was a 33rd degree Mason. In the different branches of Masonry, he had held high office. For several years he was high priest of Tabernacle Chapter, No. 52, A. G. & A. M., he was also Master of Crescent Council, No. 16, and only a month ago he was installed as Standard bearer in Ascalon Commandery, No. 25, Knights Templar, an office he had previously held though not last year. He was greatly interested in Masonic work and lived up to all the principle of Masonry in true knightly manner.

Mr. Newton was a member of the Iowa Engineering society and for two years, 1901-1903 was president of the state organization. For nineteen years he had been United States Weather Observer and twenty-five years had kept a weather report, his accumulated records being now most valuable.

He was married at La Porte October 25, 1876, to Sophia Berry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Berry, former well known residents of the county. To this union two children were born, Charlotte died at age two, and Mrs. R. B. Slippy [Georgia V.] of Waterloo is the only one left to comfort the bereaved wife.

Mr. Newton's father died two years ago at Battle Creek, Michigan, and his mother is now living with her daughter in California. The only sister of the family is Mrs. Will Tong, whose home is at Medesto, California. The thee brothers surviving are: E. S. Newton, until recently of Waterloo, but now of Glendive, Montana; M. W. Newton, professor of mathematics in a college at St. Helena, California, and W. C. Newton, of Oakland, California. E. S. Newton, while on a visit to the brothers in California, was taken sick at St. John's Oregon and is now recovering from an operation performed three weeks ago.

The funeral will be held from the home on Friday at 10 a. m. and interment will be at La Porte Cemetery. Rev. J. E. Johnson, pastor of St. Paul's and Rev. E. D. Hull, pastor of Grace M. E. churches, will conduct the services while the burial ceremonies will be in charge of the Masonic bodies. It is probably that a special train will convey the funeral party to La Porte. Though it is not expected that the relatives will come, owing to the great distance, it is possible that some of them may have started in response to telegrams sent a few days ago so that final arrangements for the funeral will wait word from the.

Special Funeral Train -
L. S. Cass, president of the Waterloo Cedar Falls & Northern Railway, announces that his company has secured a special train on the Rock Island to accommodate those who wish to go to La Porte City next Friday to attend the burial services of the late M. L. Newton, consulting engineer of the W. C. F. & N., who passed away last evening.

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On October 25, 1876, Mr. Newton was united in marriage at la Porte City with Sophia Berry, who was born May 26, 1852, in Stephenson County, Illinois, a daughter of one of the pioneer Canadian settlers of 1847.

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