LOFT, E. W.

LOFT, WILLIAMS, MCLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 10/24/2004 at 13:20:31

July 23, 1890 Weekly Cherokean Democrat

E.W. Loft Dead

The Well Known Architect Passes Away at Sioux City-Consumption the Cause

Sioux City Journal, 19: E.W. Loft died at his home at 2101 Jackson street yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock of catarrhal consumption. He was 36 years of age and had been a resident of Sioux City since 1881.

Mr. Loft’s death was quite sudden, although he had been failing rapidly for a few weeks just passed, and had been a victim of consumption for several years. About a month since he went to Colorado, hoping that the mountain air and change of scene, together with the absence of all business cares, would induce an improvement of his health. He left Sioux City in high hopes, for he had never for a moment lost his courage, but always believed he would one day be cured. His hopes was doomed to be sadly disappointed. The light air of the mountain country proved too much of a change for him and he grow worse. He returned home in a short time. The fatigue of the journey and the unfortunate effect of the mountain climate weakened him very much, and from this he never recovered. He grew weaker day by day until yesterday, when he was very low. Toward noon, however, he rallied and seemed to be very much improved. He was at a better spirits than for some time, and his attendants felt confident that the improvement would be a lasting one. But is lasted only a short time and he again grew weak and at 1:30 o’clock breathed his last.

Mr. Loft was a native of Dubuque county, Ia., where he was born in 1856, so that he was yet a young man at the time of his untimely death. He lived at Beaver Dam, Wis., for some time, whence he removed to Cherokee, Ia., where his parents still reside. He resided in Cherokee from 1873 to 1881, when he came to Sioux City.

Mr. Loft was twice married, the last one on April 3, 1887 to Miss Nettie Williams, who has proved a most faithful and devoted wife. Through all his sickness and up to the time of his death she has devoted her every energy to the care and comfort of her husband. Her womanly ministrations and gently, kindly, attentive ways have done more than anything else could have done to lessen the burden of failing heath and increasing weakness.

Mr. Loft adopted the profession of an architect, and to this he gave the years that made up his life’s work. He was one of the most efficient of workers in his profession and ranked as one of the best architects in the west. He was the designer of many of the best buildings in Cherokee, and Sioux City he leaves among the monuments to his ability and unremitting labor a large number of the finest residences and best business buildings of the city. He was in addition to this the best designer of the first three Corn Palaces, whose originality of conception, artistic beauty and wonderful adaptability to the purposes to which they were built has made them models for scores of like structures throughout the entire country, and has made the name of their architect famous. He was an indefatigable worker, and up to within a few days of his death gave his personal supervision to his business. Among other important matters he had in his hand the work on the designs for several of the buildings of the Boston Investment company, which are now in process of construction. This work will be carried forward by W.D. McLaughlin who came here a few weeks ago, expecting to become a partner in Mr. Loft’s business.

Deceased has two brothers, Arthur Loft and H.L. Loft, both well known in the business circles of the city.