WHITAKER, Romaine Adrian 1828-1899
WHITAKER, CLARK, GOODELL
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/1/2015 at 21:17:58
[Waterloo Daily Courier, Friday, March 24, 1899, Waterloo, Iowa]
R. A. WHITAKER DEAD PASSES AWAY SUDDENLY
While Sitting in His Chair Last Night He Closes His Eyes as if to Sleep, and Death Comes.
The people of Waterloo were inexpressibly shocked this morning to learn of the death of Mr. R. A. Whitaker, which occurred last night at about 11 o'clock at his residence in this city.
The death of Romaine Adrian Whitaker is the passing of one who in the broadest and best sense of the term was a pioneer of Waterloo, a man who was one of the makers of this city and who was in every way helpful to its development and progress; a man who put his shoulders to the wheel when Waterloo became a city and who in after years, when the burden was shifted to other shoulders, did not try to shrink, but stood ever in the front rank of those who sought to make Waterloo the home of thrift, enterprise and advancement. And he did all this modestly, unostentatiously and with a single purpose, the common good of all the people and the progress of Waterloo.
Death came unexpectedly. There was no warning of failing health, tottering steps or weakening senses. To him it seemed that the pulse of life beat with the vigor of early manhood while hope and ambition had not waned. Though he had passed the limit of three score years and ten, he was-active and vigorous and knew not but that there were years to be added to his earthly portion. Only two days ago, in the course of a long and interesting conversation with an intimate friend, he referred to himself and said that he felt as strong as he had at any time in his life, he was able to attend to his business affairs without undue weariness, ate heartily and when night came enjoyed peaceful and refreshing slumbers.
Last night he attended the play of Monbars at the opera house and on returning to his home seated himself fn an easy chair to rest a moment before retiring. As he did so he raised his handkerchief towards his face. At that instant his head fell back, his lips parted. The muscles relaxed. The handkerchief fell, and fluttered to the floor as if waving a truce to death. He was dead.
His housekeeper noticed the handkerchief fall and was at his side in an instant, but he was gone. Neighbors were called and a physician summoned, but nothing could be done. The spirit had departed, and thus, without a murmur, without a struggle, he had passed away. It was eminently fitting that death should come in this manner. He was ready at all times for the ghostly visitant and it is a pleasure to his friends to know that he was spared all pain and suffering that to him the physical transformation men call death was but a dropping to sleep— "As one who wraps the drapery of his couch about hint And lies down to pleasant dreams."
Romaine Adrian Whitaker was born at Holland Patent, Oneida County, New York, August 26, 1828. He was the eldest son of Jerome and Lydia N. Whitaker and when he was seven years of age his parents moved into Jefferson County, New York, where, as a farmer boy, Romaine spent the years of his life until he became 21. Like other farmer boys he attended district school during the winter months, and when he became a man he taught school for some time and finished his education at Lowville Academy, New York.
In 1853 Mr. Whitaker came to Iowa and in April, 1856, settled in Waterloo. Until 1860 he was engaged in farming and operating a saw mill. In 1860 he was appointed clerk in the office of the county treasurer and recorder, a position he held until 1864. The following two years he was employed in D. B. Stanton's Hardware Store, but in 1866 he returned to the county treasurer's office as deputy and in 1867 was elected county treasurer. For four terms he held the very responsible position. In 1876 and 1877 Mr. Whitaker and W. W. Edgington were engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in this city, and in February, 1878, Mr. Whitaker was elected grand recorder for Iowa for the Ancient Order of United Workmen. This position he held by re-election for 15 years, resigning in May, 1893. He then became interested in the wholesale hardware establishment of the Cutler Hardware Co. and took tho position of treasurer for the company. In this position he was engaged at the time of his death.
Mr. Whitaker and Miss Mary E. Clark were married at Great Bend, New York, Sept. 17, 1856, and he at once brought his bride to the home he had prepared for her in the little village which during their lives has grown into the busy city of Waterloo. She became in the fullest sense of that good old term a helpmeet to the industrious young man who had begun to carve out for himself a career in the west. To them were born three children, two sons who died in infancy and one daughter, Ardelle Genevieve, who afterwards became Mrs. George A. Goodell, and died March 24, 1893. Mrs. Whitaker died August 24, 1893.
There is a strange coincidence in the dates of these deaths. Mrs. Whitaker died six months to almost an hour after the death of their daughter and now Mr. Whitaker's death comes six years, lacking only a few hours, from the date of his daughter's death.
The loss of wife and daughter was a severe blow to Mr. Whitaker, for his home was a model one, crowned with that greatest of life's blessings, the love of two hearts united with the ties of affection supplemented and made all-powerful by a mutuality of tastes, desires, hopes and ambitions. Their lives were marked with hospitality and sociability towards friends and, associates and to all they were cordial and sincere.
Mr. Whitaker was the first mayor of Waterloo. The city was incorporated June 22, 1868, and on July 20, following, he was elected mayor. In 1869 came the memorable contest over the mayoralty in which both Mr. Whitaker and Hon. Horace Boies were candidates. Mr. Whitaker was re-elected by a majority of 20 votes in a total poll of 840. He was re-elected in 1870, 1871 and 1872. In his connection with city and county affairs as well as in business and social life he was the soul of honor and always exercised common sense as well as business ability, conservatism and good judgment.
The history of the growth of the Masonic orders in this city gives frequent testimony to the worth of Mr. Whitaker as a man and a Mason. He early became a member of the order and has held many high positions in the local lodges and upon important committees of the grand bodies of the order. He was the first to hold the position-of Worshipful Master of Victory Lodge, No. 296, A. F. & A. M., which was united with Waterloo Lodge in 1879. He was the second High Priest of Tabernacle Chapter, R. A. M., Frank Neely being the first to hold that position. For some time past Mr. Whitaker has been secretary of the blue lodge. He took great interest in the erection of the Masonic Temple now about completed, and looked forward to the time when the Masonic bodies should be installed in a home of their own with pleasurable anticipations.
The organization of the Blackhawk County Early Settlers' Association was one to which Mr. Whitaker gave special attention. In fact it was owing to his exertions in arousing interest in such an organization among the early settlers that the first meetings were held and the association formed. Mr. Whitaker was also last president of the association. After a few years the meetings of the association were omitted for a time until February of last year when a meeting was held and a reorganization effected. In this work Mr. Whitaker was an important factor and he was selected as first vice president At the annual meeting held last August Mr. Whitaker was elected president, an honor fittingly conferred upon one who had done so much for the success of the association. There will be none outside the circle of the home who will mourn his death with more sincere sorrow than the members of the Early Settlers' Association whose tears will flow in genuine sorrow for their departed president.
Mr. Whitaker leaves two brothers, one in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and the other in New York. There are also two grandchildren, Romaine and Mary Goodell. This morning G. A. Goodell and his mother, Mrs. M. W. Goodell, and Romaine and Mary Goodell came from Cedar Rapids, and Mr. Goodell's sister, Miss Mary Goodell, is expected tomorrow.
The detail of the arrangements for the funeral has not been fully completed, but the services will be held at the late residence on Mulberry Street at
2:30 p.m. next Sunday.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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