Gillespie, Arthur D. 1872 – 1903

GILLESPIE, SWENSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/8/2018 at 16:25:16

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Sept. 18, 1903, FP, C4

Arthur Gillespie passed away yesterday afternoon, at the Ole Swenson home, shortly after 1 o’clock. His remains will be taken today, probably to Spencer, their home, for interment. The sorrowing wife and relatives have the deep sympathy of all in their sad affliction.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Sept. 25, 1903, LP, C3

Death of Arthur D. Gillespie.
Cresco Republican.

Arthur D. Gillespie died at the home of his father-in-law, Ole Swenson, in this city Thursday, Sept. 17, 1903, at about one o’clock p. m., where with his wife he was visiting. Mr. Gillespie, who had been failing in health for the past two years with heart disease, was confined to his bed only about one week, death coming quite suddenly, but not entirely unexpectedly. He was united in marriage to Miss Etta Swenson in this place, April 5, 1899; he leaves a wife and one child to mourn his loss.
Mr. Gillespie died on his 31st birthday. His father’s two brothers also died on their 31st birthdays, and all three of the men died of the same disease. Mr. Gillespie was engaged in the banking and real estate business at Spencer.
Short funeral services were held at the home of Mr. Swenson, Friday evening, Sept. 18 at 8 o’clock, conducted by Rev. Gammons and Rev. Eakin, and the remains were taken on the 9:20 train to Spencer, Iowa, the home of the deceased, for interment. The K. of P’s, of which order Mr. Gillespie was an honored member, and the society of the P. E. O. were present at the funeral services at the house and escorted the remains to the depot The floral tributes were very beautiful. The K. of P’s. sent a floral design of the order, and the P. E. O’s. a shower bouquet of white and yellow roses—the colors of the order. Funeral services were held at Spencer Sunday afternoon at 2:30, conducted by the pastor of the Congregational church of that place, the K. of P’s. and the ladies of the P. E. O. society taking part in the funeral ceremonies.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Sept. 29, 1903, FP, C7

THE FINAL SUMMONS.
A. D. Gillespie Passes Away While Visiting at Cresco. Funeral Held Sunday.
Thursday afternoon Sept. 17, at one o’clock occurred the death of Arthur D. Gillespie at Cresco, Ia., where he and Mrs. Gillespie has been visiting her people.
His demise resulted from heart failure after a week’s illness, during which he was tenderly cared for by wife and father, aided by loving relatives. Their ministrations, though comforting to the husband and son could not avail to save the precious life.
Mr Gillispie{sic} had for some years been in poor health, and since the first of July had been traveling with the hope of recuperation; it also being his intention to spend the winter in Cuba, with a view to benefiting his health. The announcement of his death was received in Spencer with surprise and deep sorrow.
A committee of the Knights of Pythias lodge of which he was a member, met the train Saturday morning when the remains were brought home, and accompanied the grief stricken wife and his family to the home on East Sixth street.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at two o’clock in the Congregational church, where words of sympathy and consolation were tenderly spoken by the pastor, Rev. E. E. Day, and prayer offered by Rev. D. M. Yetter. The house overflowed with those who wished to show by this last act, their high respect and esteem to the one who had been called to the life beyond, and their honest and heartfelt sympathy to those who mourned their loved one’s absence. Sixty seats were reserved for relatives and members of the banking institutions with which deceased was connected, while over sixty members of the lodge were present. Kindly hands had decorated the church with greenery and white wild flowers, and the numerous floral tributes from friends were beautiful in the extreme. One especially lovely token was from the local K. of P’s, being a large circle of white roses, enclosing an open bible of the same, crossed by a sword of red roses. Another handsome tribute was received from the Cresco K. of P. lodge; also a design in roses and ferns from the Mason City order of the K. of P.
The pall bearers were from the ranks of the K. of P. lodge, being Messrs, S. W. Bemis, C. C. Bender, H. E. Glover, W. H Annett, A. E. Moerke and G. E. Phelps.
The deceased was a young man of exemplary life and conduct and was universally respected and honored for the integrity of his manhood. In every relation of his part he acted the better and nobler part and passed from it with a firm reliance in the divine love of his Master. Though we believe in the greater happiness and more beautiful life beyond, yet it cannot but seem inexpressibly sad that his life which was all in all to the bereaved wife and child as far as human relations are concerned should be taken in the bloom of young manhood’s endeavor and ambition.
Arthur Daniel Gillespie, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Gillespie, was born on the old homestead, four miles north of Spencer, Sept. 17, 1872. It was here that his youthful days were spent until a boy of 11 years, when the family moved to town. He attended the public schools in Spencer, also Upper Iowa University at Fayette, from which place he returned in December, 1890, having been called to take a position in the Clay County Bank. He remained with that institution until about two years ago, when, July 1st, he was made cashier of the People’s Savings bank, which position he still held, though not in active service for some months, owing to failing health. With W. E. Phelps he was associated in the real estate firm of Phelps & Gillespie. He was married to Miss Etta Swenson, of Cresco, Ia., April 5, 1899. One daughter has blessed this union. Death came at the end of just thirty-one years.
He is survived by his wife and baby daughter, father and mother, three brothers and three sisters.
Friends and relatives from away who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Stevens and daughter, Blanche, and Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Harroon, of Mason City, Thos Gillespie, of Kilburne City, Wis., J. S. Eakins, of Forrest City, Iowa; Arthur Wherry, of Swea City, Iowa, and Mrs. Ole Swenson and daughter Winnie, of Cresco.—Spencer Reporter.
CARD OF THANKS.
To our many kind friends and relatives who assisted us in our sad affliction in the loss of our husband, son and brother, we wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation of the same.
MRS. ETTA GILLESPIE and DAUGHTER
MR. and MRS. D. C. GILLESPIE
OLE SWENSON and FAMILY.

Transcriber's Note: Mr. Gillespie is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, IA.