Alpha Alvord Halleck 1880-1955

HALLECK, MITCHELL, RATHMAN, LEWIS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/13/2012 at 22:36:33

Alpha A. Halleck
Worked for Rock Island 45 Years
Alpha A. Halleck, --, who died Monday evening at his home here worked for Rock Island railroad for 45 years before retiring June – 1948.

Mr. Halleck came to Estherville in 1903 [?] and was first employed as ----- for the -----.

[remainder of 1st page too faint to read.]

----- Packing Co., now Morell, P.G. Gray Produce and Golden Sun Milling Co.

An enthusiastic photographer, Mr. Halleck continued the hobby throughout his life and many of his photos taken in early Estherville are among the most valued photographic records of the community. Mr. Halleck worked with almost every type of camera, and many of his photos have been published in the Daily News. Mr. Halleck also took many colored pictures and transparencies. Another favorite hobby of his was fishing, which sport he followed actively throughout his life.

Before coming to Estherville, Mr. Halleck had worked for the Record Printing Co. in Cedar Rapids and also as a court reporter for Judge L.C. Smith who later invented the L.C. Smith typewriter. From Cedar Rapids, Alpha Halleck went to Maltby, Wash., where he was employed with the Gray Shingle and Lumber Co.

Alpha Alvord Halleck, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester O. Halleck, was born April 2, 1880 at Winthrop. Before being employed in Cedar Rapids, he had attended Business college there.

Married to Jessie Mitchell June 26, 1901, at Urbana, the Halleck’s had two children, Lucille and Harold. Mrs. Halleck died in 1944.

Mr. Halleck married Mrs. Carrie M. Rathman, June 9, 1945, in Washington, D.C.

Suffering from high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries for over a year, Mr. Halleck had been bedfast for the past month. Mr. Halleck had been very ill for four days preceding his death at 11:45 Monday [November 21, 1955] evening.

He was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, White Shrine, North Star Lodge, A.F. and A.M. Knights Templar, Kiwanis and Elks.

Surviving in addition to his widow are Mr. Halleck’s two children, Mrs. C.S. (Lucille) Lewis of New Orleans, La. and Harold of Lima, O.; one step-son, Howard L. Rathman of Washington, D.C.; two granddaughters and six great-grandchildren. A sister and brother preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at Sternborg funeral home at 1:30 p.m. Friday and at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock, the Rev. Harrison C. Dawes officiating with the Rev. Cecil J. Semans, former Methodist pastor here, assisting. Mr. Halleck was a member of the First Methodist church.

Pallbearers will be Dr. G.E. Tomhave, Marion Silcox, Elmer Jacob, Gordon Sheltren, Elwood Miller and F.E. Rosendahl. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery. Friends may call at Sternborg funeral home through Thursday. A memorial fund has been established. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, November 23, 1955)

Halleck, Former C.R. Railroad Worker, Dies
Estherville – Funeral services are planned Friday afternoon for Alpha A. Halleck, 75-year-old retired Rock Island division freight agent at Estherville, who died Tuesday following a two-year illness.

Halleck moved to Estherville from the Cedar Rapids office in 1903 and served as stenographer and traveling freight agent before assuming the position of division freight agent.

An amateur photographer, Halleck made a hobby of photographing historic spots in the Estherville area. He was a member of the Methodist church, Masonic organizations, Eastern Star and Elks.

Survivors are his widow, son Harold Halleck of Chicago, and a daughter, Mrs. Clarence (Lucille) Lewis of New Orleans. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, November 23, 1955)