John Lazanby Guest 1861-1906

GUEST, PRICE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/29/2014 at 01:39:53

John L. Guest Dead
On January 10th, at about midnight, John L. [Lazanby] Guest of Armstrong, died at his home of stomach and brain trouble after an illness of less than one month. Funeral was held from the opera house in that town, Saturday afternoon, being in charge of Esdrallon Commandry No. 52 K.T. of which order he was a most highly respected member, having but recently been elected to the office of Generalissimo, the second highest office in the commandery. There were about one hundred Masons in line of march to the grave, half of whom were Knights Templar in full uniform. The pass bearers were Sir Knights N.B. Egbert, Robert Hamilton, George Stewart, H.A. Kingston, Alex Dundas and J.J. Ports.

Mr. Guest had resided in Armstrong about fifteen years and was closely identified with the growth and up-building of the town. His acquaintance over the county was extensive and in all his business relations he proved himself a man of good repute and most highly respected. At the time of his death he was in the prime of life, being only forty-five years of age and until his late sickness was in perfect health. He had charge of the lumber yard of the Northern Lumber Company and was considered one of the company’s most trust-worthy agents.

A wife and ten children, two sons and eight daughters, are left to mourn the death of a devoted husband and loving father. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, January 17, 1906)

John L. Guest Dead
Passed Away at His Home in Armstrong Last Thursday [Wednesday]
One of Town’s Leading Citizens
Well Known and Highly Respected Throughout Emmet County
John L. Guest, manager of the Northern Lumber company’s yard at Armstrong and one of the leading citizens of that place died last Thursday morning in his forty-fifth year. He had been ill with the grip for two weeks and on Tuesday of last week suffered an attack of brain fever. He was in a critical condition Tuesday but rallied and on Wednesday hopes for his recovery were entertained by his friends but later in the day he grew worse and passed away Thursday morning.

He was born in Durham, England, January 22, 1861, and came to the United States ten years later, settling in Pennsylvania. Later he moved to Shawnee, Ohio. On October 5, 1882, he was married to Miss Cassie Price at Lexington, Ohio. The family moved to Sioux City in 1888 and in 1892 came to Armstrong, Mr. Guest being a pioneer businessman of the town, and has since resided there. He is survived by his wife and ten children.

Mr. Guest took an active interest in furthering the best interests of his home town and for six years was an active and useful member of the town council. He also served for a number of years as a member of the school board.

He was an enthusiastic Mason and has served four years as worshipful master of Emmet lodge No. 588 in his home town. He was a member of Jeptha chapter No. 128, Royal Arch Masons, and Esdraelon commandery No. 52, Knights Templar, of Estherville, and had been elected generalissimo of the commandery at the last election of officers.

The funeral services were held in Armstrong Saturday being in charge of the Esdraelon commandery.

The following Estherville Masons attended the funeral: O.D. Barnum, F.H. Morison, MG. Miller, Rev. Richard Ellerby, C.M. Brown, John Montgomery, L.R. Woods, William Tweedy, Frank P. Woods, M.K. Wehlan, E.E. Hartung, John Amundson, L.L. Lawrence, G.A. Lyon, N.B. Egbert, A.L. Houtshouser, J.H. Griffith, G.A. Nichols, Alex Johnston, R.R. Newbery, A.M. Jeffries, John Ross, E.B. Hall, L.J. Bennett and F.J. White; also C.E. Narey, P.E. Narey and John Miller of Spirit Lake.

Mr. Guest was a good citizen and a loyal friend and his death is a distinct loss to the town of Armstrong which he had helped to build and for which he was ever ready to give his best endeavors. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, January 17, 1906)

John L. Guest Dead
Prominent Armstrong Citizen Passes Away – Funeral Held Saturday
On Wednesday last at his home in Armstrong occurred the death of John L. Guest, one of the prominent men of his town and one of the very well known men of Emmet county.

Mr. Guest died after an illness lasting about eight days. The nature of his trouble was hemorrhage of the brain and he had been a very sick man during this illness. The funeral was held on Saturday under the auspices of the Esdraleon Commandry Knights Emplar of the masonic order and was a very large one, the entire city of Armstrong turning out and also about fifty from Estherville. The services were held in the Operat House Rev. Slosser of the M.E. church conducting the regular service and the Rev. Richard Ellerby of this city officiating in the masonic exercises. The passing away of this extremely worth gentleman has cast a deep gloom over the little city of Armstrong, for he was one of its highly esteemed and extremely useful citizens.

John L. Guest was born in Durhamshire, England January 22, 1861 and with his parents came to America ten years later, their first settlement was made in Pennsylvania where for a few years they made their home. Their next move was to Swanee, Ohio. In 18812 and at Lexington, Ohio he was married to Miss Carrie Price. In 1885 they moved to Streator, Ill., a year later they came to Sioux City and since 1892 they made their home in Armstrong where Mr. Guest had ever since been agent for the Northern Lumber Company. He was a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and had attained to many of its honors being a member of the Commandry of this city. For six years he served as councilman in the management of the affairs of his town. He leaves a widow and their ten children to mourn the loss of an extremely kind father and husband. The many manifestations in honor of his memory are ample indications of the kind of a man he was in business and social life for from all who knew him comes the words of deepest regret at his untimely death and the loss that both his private and the public interests sustain. He was not rich in the goods of this world as the estimate of the day demands but after all he left behind that which is in the degree of proper estimate more worthy and enduring – a good name – the immediate jewel of the soul. To the widow and her sons and daughters the sympathy of her sons and daughters the sympathy of a large circle of friends is reverently extended in the great loss that has come upon them and for their comfort and consolation we need but cite to them the record of their worthy parent and the many good deeds which marked the pages of his years. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, January 17, 1906)