JOHN RALPH STEWART

STEWART, COWL

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 9/12/2002 at 20:02:36

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
May l5, l924

Leon was terribly shocked last Thursday morning when it became known that FRANK S. STEWART has received a telegram announcing a fatal accident to his son, RALPH, at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the more so from the fact that only six weeks before, RALPH was found in his father's garage overcome by gas from an auto, and was thought to be dead. The message simply said, "Fatal accident. Come at once." and MR. STEWART left at once to catch a train at Osceola. On the way, he got in touch with Irwin T. Gilruth, an attorney in Chicago, and a warm friend of RALPH's, asking him to get in touch with Oconomowoc and wire him particulars. Late that evening MR. STEWART phoned from Chicago that RALPH was drowned, but MRS. STEWART and RALPH MCGINNIS had started that evening before the word came. He also said the body had not been recovered, and the suspense to friends in Leon was intensified, but the body was recovered Friday evening about 6 o'clock, and was brought to Leon Saturday evening, a very large number of friends motoring to Osceola to meet the funeral party and accompany them to Leon.

After RALPH was gassed in this city, he returned to Chicago to continue his law studies at the Chicago University, from which he was to have graduated in June, but his physician there refused to allow him to enter college, and sent him to Oconomowoc to a health resort where he could spend much time in the open air to recover from the effects of the gas, and he was expecting to return to Leon for a short visit this week. For several mornings prior to the accident, RALPH and a friend of the same age, who was also staying at the same hotel, had been paddling around the lake in a conoe for a few minutes before breakfast. The previous evening his friend had said that perhsps he would take the early morning car to Milwaukee, and that he would not join RALPH at the lake if he did so. Accordingly, RALPH, on arising, left a note to his companion saying that if he changed his mind he should come to the lake as RALPH was going out anyhow. RALPH went out with the canoe as usual and did not appear for breakfast, but this fact did not cause any surprise as they occasionally skipped breakfast, or were late in coming in. His friend arose and went to Milwaukee as planned, and left RALPH's note on his dresser, where one of the maids found it some time later in the morning. She mentioned the fact at the hotel office, and someone was sent to the lake which is quite a little distance from the hotel to see if RALPH was coming in. On arrival at the lake the overturned canoe was seen floating about l25 feet from the shore. Near the canoe was a broken canoe paddle showing it had snapped about where the handle meets the blade. Help was summoned immediately and a search began. It was thought that inasmuch as the water had no current, and there was no wind blowing, that the canoe was probaby floating about where it upset. Accordingly the lake was dragged for some distance around the canoe, but owing to the depth of the water, about 35 feet, and the steepness of the shore, the efforts were unsuccessful until the services of a former coast guard from Milwaukee were secured and within a few minutes he located the body between where the canoe was found and the shore, showing that the struggle to swim to shore had been unsuccessful, and the drowining occurred in water 25 feet deep and only about 30 feet from the steep bank of the shore. No one witnessed the accident, and the lake was at such a distance from the resort that cries for help would have been unheard. RALPH's watch was found in his pocket and it had stopped at 6:35, an hour when traffic had not yet begun on the highway that runs but a short distance from the lake shore. He was wearing heavy clothing and a heavy belted coat, and it is thought that the weight of these water soaked articles combined with the chill of the water, made the struggle for the shore unsuccessful.

RALPH STEWART had spent his life since a small boy in Leon, and we never had a finer boy or young man. He graduated with honor from the Leon High School, then took a collegiate course at Lake Forest University, and was completing his law course at the Chicago University, and would have graduated in June. He was a conscientious student, and ranked at the very top in his class. He had been invited by MR. GILRUTH to enter his law office, and MR. GILRUTH had already purchased his desk, name plate, and made all arrangements for him to have a private office with him, as he regarded RALPH as having a great future in the profession and his death is a great loss to the profession and community. He was a great favorite with everyone in Leon, and with his college chums. The heartfelt sympathy of everyone goes to the grief-stricken parents, relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the home in this city, Monday afternoon, being brief but impressive. A scripture reading and prayer by Rev. W.B. Paterson, of the Presbyterian Church, two songs, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" and "Asleep in Jesus" by Dr. John C. Parsons of Creston, accompanied by Miss Mabel Bradley. An immense throng of friends, many of them coming long distances were in attendance, and the floral offerings were the most elaborate ever seen in this city. The American Legion acted as an escort, and had charge of the service at the cemetery. Interment was in the Leon Cemetery.

Among the many friends from out of town who were in attendance we note the following, but many names are omitted as they motored here, and mingled with the grief-stricken assembly:

Dr. Robert P. Sibley, Ithica, New York; Irwin T. Gilruth, Chicago; Dr. C.S. Leech, Misses Lucille Leech, Cora Henry, Winterset; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coen, Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. Vet Brown, M.D. Coen, Harry Manley, Mrs. J.W. Lauder, Mrs. E.M. Johnson, Afton; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Coen, Dr. and Mrs. John C. Parsons, Mrs. John Detrick, Harry Edaburn, Lawrence McGregor, Al Bryan, Scott Armstrong, Creston; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Watson, Mrs. Eugene Harlan, Indianola; Dr. W.C. Boone, Ottumwa; L.C. and Fred Fesler, Monroe; Dr. and Mrs. Forney, Dr. Sells, W.S. Riinehart and sons Paul and Harry, Frank and Dan Doran, Osceola; Mr. and Mrs. James Jamison, Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Gavin, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. W. Hurst, George D. Boone, Misses Ione Noble and Florence Oney, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Mecham and son Frank, the latter a classmate of RALPH STEWART at Lake Forest, Mrs. Elmore Markley, Centerville.

Many of the undertakers from surrounding towns were in attendance, among them Rhoades, of Mt. Ayr; Edwards, of Tingley; Beardsley, of Chariton; Phillips, of Lucas; Greenlee, of Lineville; Crew, of Diagonal; Tuttle, of Van Wert; Rineharts, of Osceola; and Otis White, of Lamoni, who was in charge of the funeral.

A number of representatives of wholesale furniture and casket companies were in attendance, among them Fred Chew, of Burlington; Lee Tucker, Sidney and Max Helm, James Root, of Des Moines; E.J. Larson, Springfield, Ohio; Wm. Osborn, Creston.

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OBITUARY

JOHN RALPH STEWART, the second son of FRANK S. STEWART and GRACE COWL STEWART, was born at Afton, Iowa, on the 23rd day of February, in the year of Our Lord l899; died at Oconomowoc, Wis., May 8, l924, aged 25 years, 2 months and l4 days.

He was baptized in the Christian Faith and became a member of the Presbyterian Church during childhood after his parents removed to Leon, Iowa, in RALPH's twelfth year.

RALPH attended the Leon Public Schools, and graduated from Leon High School in l9l6. In the fall of l9l6, he entered Lake Forest College at Lake Forest, Illinois, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts on June 8, l920. RALPH then entered the Law School of the University of Chicago, and a letter from the Dean of that Law School to his parents says that RALPH would have graduated with honors, in June of this year.

During his college course, RALPH became a member of the Kappa Sigma, undergraduate college fraternity, and in his professional school, a member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.

While at college in Lake Forest, he enlisted in the service of his country in the World War, and was assigned to The Student Army Training Corps, from which he was honorably discharged at the end of hostilities. He was a member of the John O. Cowl Post of the American Legion.

RALPH was made a Mason during his college career, and became a member of Grand River Lodge No. 78, A.F. & A.M. the Leon Chapter of the Royal Masons, No. 33 and of Tripolis Commandery No. 60; and the Zagazig Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Des Moines.

During his college and professional courses RALPH was associated with and assited his father in business at Leon, and in l92l upon examination was licensed and given authority to practice the profession of licensed undertaker.

RALPH met his death by drowning in an accident to his canoe in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, on the eighth day of May, l924.

The deceased leaves his mother, father, one brother and many relatives and friends to regret the loss of a life that was so high in its purpose, so rich in affection, so notable in its courtesy, and of such great promise for successful and useful service.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
List Administrator; Decatur County, Iowa GenWeb
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
September 9, 2002