Louie J. Adams 1886-1920

ADAMS, WRATTEN, WHALEY, NEESE, CODNER, RICHARDSON, DICK, MCFARLAND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/6/2010 at 01:01:21

Lew Adams Passed Away This Morning, Funeral Arrangements Not Completed

Louis Adams passed away this morning at 6 o’clock at the Walter Wratten, Sr., home. He has been ailing for some time past but it was not thought death would come so soon. Arrangements for the funeral service have not been completed. Mr. Adams was well and favorably known here, and his death will be a shock to his many friends. The obituary will be published in our next issue. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 12, 1920)

Louie J. Adams
Louie J. Adams was born at Webster City, Iowa, January 4, 1886. He was the youngest of a family of twelve children – seven girls and five boys. He grew to manhood in his native community and about seven years ago came to Estherville where he received an appointment to the position of superintendent of bridge construction in the County, this position he held until the time of his death.

He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wratten of Estherville, on Jan. 14, 1915. To this union was born one child, a daughter, Jewell Margaret. Mr. Adams was a true and faithful husband and father and was very happy in his home life with his little family. In business he was prompt and straightforward and had made himself a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. As a man he was clean and upright and held in the highest esteem by those who knew him. As a friend he was dependable, having never betrayed any trust placed in him.

During the winter he was stricken by the Flu and although he quickly recovered from that attack he suffered a general collapse as a result of the Flu and soon began to decline in strength. Medical aid was called immediately and the most careful attention given him by family and friends, various doctors were called in consultation and finally he was sent to Iowa City for inspection and examination by specialists, but no relief was found, his case being considered hopeless he was returned to his home where he lingered but a few brief days, and on Wednesday morning at about 6:30 o’clock he slipped out and away from his earthly home to take up his abode in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, at the age of thirty-four years, four months and eight days. Although his sufferings had been great during his affliction, the end came as a deep sleep and he seems only to be resting from which he is to awake with great satisfaction.

During his sickness the Rev. J. LaGrone visited him and talked with him, reading the promises of God and the assurances we have of eternal life, they prayed together and found great comfort in the presence of Christ our Savior. Mr. Adams professed the deepest satisfaction at his faith in God and the saving power of the Christ. On March 28th at 10 o’clock, together with his family, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church in the presence of several neighbors and friends who gathered at his home for that purpose. He was greatly pleased at having taken this definite stand for God and the church.

He was very ambitious and longed to get well that he might continue in the labor of love for his family. He was perfectly reconciled to die if that were inevitable, but he longed to live that he might labor and carry forward his work.

He is survived by his wife and little daughter, Mrs. Mary Adams and Jewell Margaret; four brothers and five sisters and many other relatives in Iowa and scattered widely elsewhere in the country. Those who were present at the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Adams, Mrs. N. J. Whaley, all of Webster City; Mrs. P. R. Neese, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Guy Codner, Mrs. J. B. Richardson and Miss Merle Whaley of Webster City. Two brothers and three sisters were not able to attend the funeral – Mr. P. S. Adams, of Vancouver; Mr. J. W. Adams, of Nebraska City, Neb.; Mrs. J. M. Dick and Mrs. Hattie E. Neese of Carmen, Okla.; and Mrs. Wm. McFarland of Cleo, Okla.

The funeral services were held from the Methodist church on Friday, May 14th, at 2:30 p.m., Rev. J. W. LaGrone officiating. There were many beautiful flowers brought by his devoted friends who some time hope to meet him again in the land of beauty and promise. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 19, 1920)