James Espeset 1862-1917

ESPESET, GRAVES

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/20/2011 at 00:09:08

Prominent Business Man Passed Away
James Espeset Called Suddenly Tuesday Afternoon
A Pioneer of the County
Came to This County inEarly Day – His Life One of Activity and Usefulness
The news of the sudden death of James Espeset, one of the few remaining pioneer settlers of Estherville, came as a great shock to the people of the community yesterday afternoon, and cast a shadow of gloom over many a home in this city. Mr. Espeset has not been in the best of health for some time past, but it was not thought that he was in immediate danger of death by his friends and relatives and the end came most unexpected. He had been about his business as usual in the morning and after dinner he and his son had taken the car from the garage and drove up town together. The son remained in the office, while Mr. Espeset drove the car back home and put it in the garage. He was tinkering around the car when the fatal hemorrhage struck him down and he died shortly after being assisted to the house.

In the taking away of Mr. Espeset, Estherville loses one of her most prominent citizens, a man loved and respected by all who knew him. He had been in business in this city for many years and by his square dealings and uprightness made a host of friends who are deeply grieved at the sudden loss of this good man. For the past seven years he had been one of the partners of the Graves and Espeset firm of abstractors and took an active part in the work at the office which was conducted by himself and son, Howard. Previous to going into this business he was cashier at the Estherville State bank for many years. It was in this position he met many people and they were his loyal friends through life.

James Espeset, son of Mr. and Mrs. Knute Espeset, was born at Lansing, Alamakee county, Iowa, on August 13th, 1862, being at the time of his death past 57 years of age. The first three years of his life were spent on a farm at that place. In 1865 the family moved to Emmet county and settled in Emmet township, two miles north of Estherville. Here he grew to young manhood. He was educated at Carlton college, at Northfield, Minnesota, where he graduated with honors. After receiving his education he returned to Emmet county where he taught school for some time in the rural districts. He later went into the county auditor’s office where he served four years as deputy under his father who had been elected to the office. After leaving the auditor’s office he went into the post office and took charge of the office for two years under the administration of Mr. Graves. From the post office he went to the Graves, Burdick & Co. bank where he worked for several years. At the time of the incorporation of the bank he was assistant cashier. After the bank incorporated in 1887 and renamed the Estherville State Bank, he was made cashier a position he held until about seven years ago, when he entered the abstract business he was engaged in at the time of his death.

In 1881 he was married to Edith, daughter of Hon. Howard and Mary Blackman Graves. To this union one child was born, a son, Howard, who, with the wife, is left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving father and true and noble husband. His mother, Mrs. Hannah Espeset, and a sister, Mrs. L.V. Brown, of Spokane, Washington, are also left to mourn the loss. In earlier years, Mr. Espeset took real interest in music, at one time being leader of the Estherville band. He was a cornet player of no mean ability and loved music in all its forms. He was also leader of the choir in the Presbyterian church at one time. He was always active in the circles of the Presbyterian church and will be greatly missed by congregation and pastor alike. Funeral services will be held from the home Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The bereaved family have the deepest sympathy of the entire community in these dark hours. The only consolation left them is the memories of a devoted life that has been filled to the utmost with kind deeds and acts of which none but the family ever knew. May He who knows the fall of every sparrow look down and spread a ray of sunshine in the stricken home and make the burden easier for the loved ones left behind. To Him and Him alone may the bereaved ones turn and find comfort in this hour of sorrow and despair, (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, October 10, 1917)

James Espeset Drops Dead
Was Feeling Well and Intended to Motor to Country.
Found Dead in Yard
James Espeset, another of Estherville’s and Emmet County’s pioneer residents passed suddenly to his great and deserved reward at three o’clock yesterday. Mr. Espeset was not only a pioneer resident but he was reared to manhood here and has been one of the active men who in the early years assisted greatly in mounding the destiny of this city. He was the only son of Knute Espeset and was born in Lansing, Iowa, on the eleventh day of August, 1862. He came with his parents and only sister Mary to this county in the year 1865, and has resided here since, with the exception of the time he spent in receiving his classical education in college at Northfield, Minnesota. After returning home he was an instructor of the young in the schools here and then accepted a position with his father, then county treasurer in the county office. He was united in marriage to Edith Graves, a daughter of one of the highly respected families of Emmet county in the year 1881. To this union there was born one son who, since his graduation from the State University has been engaged with his father in the abstract business in this city. For a quarter of a century Mr. Espeset was cashier in the pioneer bank of this city, then the Graves bank and now the State bank. He was, in years past, greatly interested in the politics of this county and while he never sought office for himself he was at all times interested for his friends.

The deceased was feeling in better health than he had been for a year at the time of his death. He went to his garage to get the car to drive to the Moore sale. A few minutes later the lady assisting at the home found him dead near the door of the garage and notified his son who was at the office.

Word has just been received from the sister of Mr. Espeset that the mother was too feeble for her to make a trip and too feeble for her to leave. The funeral services will be from the home on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, October 10, 1917)