Mack, Edgar Eugene 1850-1918

MACK, AYERS, VANWAGENEN

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 5/20/2016 at 11:24:09

Storm Lake Pilot Tribune - Aug 2, 1918 - Storm Lake people were shocked and sorrowed on Tuesday noon by a telegraphic message from Addison, PA announcing that Edgar E Mack had been killed in an automobile accident.

It will be remembered that Mr Mack, Mrs VanWagenen, daughter Margret, Misses Grace and Beatrice Mack and little Newton Mack left a short time ago on an automobile trip to Maryland to visit Frank and his family. They arrived to find that he had just been commissioned a major and after a delightful visit, they started on the long journey home.

When but 200 miles from Franks camp, an accident, details of which are yet unknown in this city, occurred which resulted in the death of Mr Mack and which the message says left the others unscathed. Further messages have announced that Frank had caught up with the stricken party an would accompany them home. Guy left on Tuesday evening to meet them in Chicago.

Edgar Eugene Mack was born at Leicester, Vermont, June 14, 1850 of Scotch Irish ancestry, many of whom served in the colonial army in Revolutionary days. At the age of 11 years, he moved with his family to Lake county, IL. The family remained there for 2 years, moving to Alden, Iowa in 1863 and 7 years later or in May 1870 they moved to Buena Vista county, where the father James M Mack homesteaded in Coon township. In the fall of 1874 he was elected to the office of clerk of the district court and as the county seat was then located at Sioux Rapids, he took up his abode there, where he remained until the county seat was moved to Storm Lake in Oct 1878, when he moved to this city which continued to be his home until his death.

On Sept 13, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen B Ayres and to them were born six children, all of whom are living: Mrs Nellie E Van Wagenen, Grace E, Guy E, Frank W, Burt M, and Beatrice J, all of whom are residents of this city although Frank, now a major, is with the colors in Maryland.

Mr Mack held the office of clerk of the courts for 14 years, after which he engaged in the real estate and loan business until 1890 when he formed a partnership with James DeLand, the firm for many years carrying on a large legal business together with an abstract and loan business. This partnership existed until 1907, when Mr Mack formed a partnership with his son, Guy, then practicing law at Newell.

Mr Mack was instrumental in the organization of the original electric light company in Storm Lake which built the first plant and he afterwards acquired the interests of his associates and became the sole owner of the business which he successfully conducted until a few years ago when he sold out to the Iowa Light, Heat and Power company. Then he became a heavy investor in Buena Vista county land.

Mr Mack found time to attain political prominence. In 1889 he was elected to the state senate from this district serving for 4 years in the capitol city.

But it was in the home and home circle in which his real life was lived. The home circle was sorrowfully broken on Feb 6, 1906, with the death of Mrs Mack. The family devotion upon the part of the Macks has been almost a community tradition. His active years almost ceased following a stroke of paralysis a few years ago which has left its unrelenting marks upon his body.

The remains arrive in this city on Thursday afternoon from the scene of the accident and the funeral will be held at the Lakeside church on Sunday afternoon. Interment will be made in the Storm Lake cemetery with Masonic honors.