Francis E. Rich 1878-1899

RICH, COWGILL, MACK

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/16/2018 at 12:15:30

27 July 1899 - West Branch Times

Francis Earle Rich, son of Francis B. and Anna B. Rich, was born at West Branch, Iowa, Nov. 9, 1878. When he was four years of age his parents removed to Garden City, Kansas, where they remained twelve years, returning to West Branch. Earle graduated in the high school at West Branch in 1890, and the following year attended the State University at Iowa City. In 1898 he entered the Sophomore class of the California State University. Then he took a business course of six months and then entered an insurance office in San Francisco, where he remained until he was obliged to leave on account of failing health.

While in San Francisco, he lived in the home of his brother-in-law, Lewis I. Cowgill. On account of the damp atmosphere on the coast, they thought best to send him to Pasadena, where they hoped the mild climate would restore him to health. As he continued to fail very rapidly, he went to Garden City, Kansas, and remained under the care of his brother-in-law and sister, George and May Mack, until death releaved him of his sufferings on July 21st, 1899.

His father had been his constant companion for nearly three months, and everything was done for him that could be done, but all remedies failed and he passed from earth another victim of that dreaded disease, tuberculosis, or quick consumption, aged 20 years, 8 months and eleven days. He bore his sufferings with true Christian fortitude and died in the full hope of an endless life of bliss beyond the grave.

Lewis Cowgill wrote to his sorrowing parents, "No boy ever had a finer business prospect." He had adopted as his motto, "Do all things decently and in order," and "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well."

His father arrived home with his remains on the late train Saturday night, and on Sunday afternoon a large concourse of people met at Friends Downey Street Church to pay their last respects to one who two years ago left us with his heart filled with bright hopes and aspirations of youth. We quote from the Garden City Herald: "The death of Earle Rich is a particularly sad one. He was a young man just ready to enter upon the duties of manhood, his education complete, a strong moral characer formed and the plans for the future being laid, when death came and ended all this world had to offer. It is a terrible blow to his parents and friends who have the sympathy of our people. The remains were taken back to his home in Iowa, Friday afternoon."