Kill, John Franklin 1866-1928

KILL, LEMBKE, REESE, MOULTON, CONNOR, KAUFMAN, KILBOURN

Posted By: Judy Moyna (email)
Date: 4/28/2011 at 17:39:37

John Franklin Kill

After a long and painful illness death came as a blessing and relief to John Franklin Kill in a cheerless hospital room in Iowa City Saturday morning, June 9th, in the presence of his two children and two sisters who promptly answered his call.

John Franklin Kill, the only son of a family of six of Peter and Mary Jane Kill, was born in Read township 62 years, 2 months and 1 day ago, on April 8, 1866, and with the exception of a few months Clayton County has been his home throughout his entire life.

Born of sturdy, honest, hard-working parents, the same characteristics were found in him. He was a man who enjoyed life to the fullest—loved the trees, the flowers, fields and streams and all creatures that inhabited each. He loved to see things grow; to see the trees and fields burst into blossoms and then ripen into fruits and grains and was an excellent judge of quality. The best was none too good. It was bitter grief to him, during the last days of his life, that he could not get out and near to nature’s heart; to hear the birds sing their spring sons, to see the apple trees in blossom and go fishing with his reliable friend, John Bock.

He received his education in the rural school near the old home—and nothing was more endeared to him than the scenes of his childhood; his boyhood companions; the songs they used to sing and reminiscences of his early life. He loved to tell about the “old cotton tent”; the narrow gauge; his first school days with Lilly Reese, Lilly Moulton, Lizzie Connor and Emma Kaufman as teachers. Even the songs that were sung, more than fifty years ago, were fresh in his memory and he sang and resang them during the days and evenings of his long illness.

He had a wonderful and powerful physique; the picture of health and strength, but the ravages of misfortune undermined his health and strength and as a result he was laid to rest June 12 beside his beloved and faithful wife (Louise M. Lembke) to who he was married April 8, 1903, and who passed away in Elkader, June 7, 1927. They made their home on the old homestead for twenty-one years. April 1, 1924, he entered business in Elkader, where they resided until her death. In March, 1927, he entered business in Benton, Wis., and continued to dwell in Benton until illness and suffering compelled him to withdraw from all pursuits of life.

He leaves two children, Ray and Ruth; five sisters, one being deceased, and other relatives and a host of friends to mourn his loss and untimely death.

Services were held Tuesday afternoon at the old home east of Elkader and interment was made in the East Side cemetery with Rev. A. S. Kilbourn officiating.

~The Clayton County Register, Elkader, Iowa, Thursday, June 14, 1928, p. 4.