Place, R. C. 1835 - 1887

PLACE, DURKEE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/29/2022 at 09:21:36

Elkader Register, Thur., 26 May 1887.

The death of R. C. Place, - which we briefly announced in a part of our last week's issue - occurred at 4 o'clock, on Thursday morning, May 19th, 1887, after a protracted sickness with that fatal disease, consumption. Deceased had been in bad health for months previous to the beginning of last winter, and all that time all symptoms indicated consumption, which gradually but surely accomplished its fatal mission. The end was not unexpected by a devoted brother and ministering friends who watched constantly at his bedside, and death was a welcome relief to the patient sufferer.

The funeral last Friday occurred at the East Side cemetery, the remains being followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of the most prominent citizens of central Clayton county. Appropriate services were conducted by Rev. Lusk, with singing by the choir.

R. C. Place was born at Highgate, Franklin County, Vermont, on the 24th of April, 1835, and was aged 52 years and 25 days at the date of his death. His aged parents with three brothers and three sisters live in Vermont, while a brother, ex-Sheriff, L. C. Place, resides here. He came west in the fifties, and after a visit of inspection to Minnesota, finally located here in 1858, the early part of his residence being as clerk in a store. Later, he became a merchant and a stock buyer, and for six years was a member of the board of supervisors, of which body he was chairman for several years. He was married in the sixties to Miss Eunice A. Durkee, who died at Decorah in 1882. Three sons and a daughter are left of the family, but none of them reside in this state.

In the death of Mr. Place, Elkader loses one of its most noted characters, one who (was) a chief factor and promotor of its prosperity during and for several years after the late civil war. As a merchant and a stock buyer he was known for his liberal fairness and absolute integrity. Those with whom he had dealing all attest his worth, and this class will ever gratefully revere his memory for that open hearted honest liberality that ever characterized his career. As a county supervisor under the old law of township representation, he was a leading member, and it was largely through his efforts that the first appropriation was secured to build the offices that are now a part of the county court house. As a citizen, he was a natural born leader, and for many years was at the head and front of nearly every movement that secured such a building and commercial boom to Elkader from 1866 to 1869. His charity and assistance to the needy, his enterprise and devotion to the local interests of Elkader, are matters of history which we all are proud to accord him. In affluent circumstances at a time, when commercial disaster overtook him, his every dollar of his large property was used in faithfully discharging his obligations.

And thus has the reaper of time again taken from us a prominent landmark, and while we bury his faults in the grave of death, we will ever cherish his memory for his many rugged virtues, Requescat in pace.