Charles Willis Jarvis 1845-1929

JARVIS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/18/2015 at 21:42:57

C.W. Jarvis, Once Editor Here, Dead
Word has been received here of the death of C.W. Jarvis, former editor and publisher of the Northern Vindicator here, on Monday [May 6, 1929] at his home in Spokane, Wash. Mr. Jarvis was well known in this county and at one time was associated with Graves bank at Swan Lake and with Mr. Graves in the abstract business here. He was a partner also of William McFarland, who was later elected to the legislature and then to the office of secretary of state. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, May 9, 1929)

Former Editor of Vindicator Passes at Spokane, Washington
In the issue of the Blue Earth, Minnesota, Post of May 7th is the following concerning the death of C.W. Jarvis a pioneer editor of the Northern Vindicator.

“The Post editor received a telegram this morning conveying the news of the death of C.W. Jarvis at Spokane, Wash., Monday evening, May 6th. At this hour we have not been advised as to the place of interment whether in the west or at the old home, Estherville, Iowa. He will be remembered as coming to Blue Earth when the Andersons, George D. McArthur and S. Pfeffer opened the Farmers’ and Merchants bank, now the Farmers’ National. We hope to give a more extended notice of the passing of this stalwart Christian gentleman next week.” (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 15, 1929)

C.W. Jarvis, a Pioneer
As a member of the Jarvis household for nearly eight years during our younger days, we regret we are unable to publish a more fitting tribute to his memory than the mere news that he has passed to his reward. We have this brief mention from a Spokane paper.

Charles Willis Jarvis, 83, a pioneer of Davenport and owner of the Lincoln County Abstract and Title company, died last night from hardening of the arteries at the home of his son, M.B. Jarvis, W1730 Tenth. He had been ill three months.

Mr. Jarvis had lived at Davenport for 27 years. He was a member of the Lincoln County Bar association and the Masonic lodge and was active in the Methodist church.

He had belonged to the church for 62 years. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 29, 1929)

Tribute to the Former Editor of Vindicator and Republican
(Tmmi Bixby in Lincoln Journal)
It is the “way of the world,” but that doesn’t reconcile one to the loneliness that comes, with advancing years, in hearing of the slipping away of the friends who once seemed a vital part of life in the youth of the world now growing old. Back at Estherville, Iowa, in the spring of 1874, we were devil in the vindicator office when C.W. Jarvis became part proprietor by purchasing the interest of Frank A. Day. Mr. Jarvis moved to town from his homestead in Emmet township. And what a royal man he was! My boarding place had been the Emmet House, kept by Ed Wells, who entertained his guests of storie of battles in the Civil War, always ending with a more dramatic recital of his experiences when a boy. He was bitten by a rabid dog, and in due season developed a marked case of hydrophobia, and had to be put in a straight and tied fast in bed. His death was expected at anytime if not sooner, but at the psychological moment a root and “yarb” doctor from out in the country who had heard of his case, came in and drenched him with a decoction made from the roots of an esoteric growth that was death on any virus you ever heard. Ed, recovered almost in a night and had lived happy ever after. It was a great relief to find refuge in the home of C.W. Jarvis, where the stories of a real veteran of the Civil War were never of tedious length but had the ring of validity. Our successor in the Vindicator office and in the Jarvis home was Charley Dillman, a big-hearted boy who believed that alcoholic beverages were rather a blessing than a curse if one wanted to make a night of it. People loved Charley Dillman for his natural goodness of heart, but C.W. Jarvis could see what the future might have in store for the lad. He employed him on one condition. He must never while in his employ darken the door of a saloon. Charley promised and he kept his word. He worked for Mr. Jarvis for eight years living in his home and treated as one of the family. Last Monday Mr. Jarvis passed away from his home in Spokane to a land where they never grow old. Chief among old friends to mourn his death is Charley Dillman, veteran editor of the Blue Earth Post. Some men help to make a better world without raising much dust in doing it. Such a man was C.W. Jarvis whose quiet influence for good cannot be measured. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 29, 1929)