Allen, Jeff M. died 1904

ALLEN, JEWETT

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Elkader Register, Thur., 24 Mar. 1904. Strawberry Point column,

Our citizens were shocked Tuesday morning when the news was announced that Jeff M. Allen, or Uncle Jeff as he was better known, had passed away Monday evening at twelve o'clock. It was a surprise to the family and relatives as he had been up and around attending to his work the day before. He sat down to supper and had begun eating when he was taken suddenly ill. Dr. Billmeyer was summoned at once and found that apoplexy was the cause and did all in his power to help him, but as life is uncertain, death relieved him at the above hour. Had he lived until October he would have been 65 years old, and he has been a resident of this place the greater part of his life. He was engaged in the blacksmith business for a number of years. He was united in marriage to Laura Jewett at Grand Meadow township forty-one years ago. Three children were born to this union, one dying in infancy. Herbert and Francis with the bereaved wife mourn the loss of a good and kind father and husband. During the long years he was among us he made many friends and it was his aim that none should be the worse for his having lived among them. He had a theory of moral right which he tried to live up to as near as his surrounding conditions would permit. He made a large circle of friends wherever he went who respected him for the honest opinions he expressed in the affairs of life, although they might differ largely from those enjoyed by others. He was a strictly temperant man and an earnest worker in the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah lodges, and half of his life was devoted to those lodges. Funeral services occurred at the M.E. church Wednesday afternoon, Rev. O. C. DePuy officiating, the members of the I.O.O.F. attending in a body. To the family and relatives our sympathy goes out and we can only console them with the thought that the parting is only for a short time and the reunion will be in a place where there will be no parting and sorrow never comes. All that was mortal of J. M. Allen was consigned to our beautiful cemetery. A good man has gone to his reward. Several of the I.O.O.F. members from surrounding towns were in attendance at the funeral.