GOTWALT, Lucius Henry 1856-1894

GOTWALT, SUTTON, WYATT

Posted By: Chris Tonn (email)
Date: 5/16/2014 at 21:31:49

Buffalo Center Tribune, Buffalo Center, Iowa Friday, January 4, 1895

Obituary

At a few minutes before 6:00 o'clock last Sunday evening, L. H. Gotwalt, one of our most highly respected citizens and a pioneer business man of the town, died at his home in this place after an illness of about eight weeks' duration. Notwithstanding it was well understood by many of those about him that the nature of his disease forbade any hope of his recovery, the tidings of his death falls like a pall upon all in the community.

He was first stricken down with typhoid fever, taking to his bed on the 4th day of November. The case was a severe one and seemed to yield but stubbornly to the treatment of the physicians. At last it had run its course and there seemed to be reasonable hope of his restoration to health when a weakness of the kidneys, which had all along been apparent to the medical attendants, began to take the form of acute Bright's disease, and all effort to successfully combat it was futile, and he gradually sank into the arms of death as above noted, peacefully and without a sign or a struggle.

Lucius Henry Gotwalt was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gotwalt and was born at Amherst, Erie county, New York, May 13th, 1856, and was therefore at the time of his death, thirty-eight years, seven months and sixteen days of age. In 1868 he came to Iowa with his parents, locating at Rockford, Floyd county, which place was his home until his removal here two years ago.

On the 23rd of June, 1883, he was married to Miss Ella Alberta Sutton, who, with her two children, Edna, aged nine, and Lee, about six years of age, survive him and mourn his loss.

In November, 1892, the deceased came to Buffalo Center and engaged with A.W. Dawson of Estherville, in the grain trade, erecting a large elevator now belonging to the firm and which stands near the B.C.R.& N depot at this place. He was a live, progressive and enterprising business man and an exemplary citizen, who identified himself with many of the interests of the town and earnestly sought. He was a member of the city council and a director of our schools and was conscientious in the performance of his duties as such. In many ways he proved a valuable member of our social and business world, and many are the expressions of regret at his untimely demise.

The remains were taken back to Rockford for burial on Monday and were accompanied by his family including his aged father and only sister, Mrs. Emma Wyatt, of Rockford, who were present at this bedside when he died, a delegation from the Odd Fellows lodge of this place, he being a member of that order, and several other intimate friends. The lodge comprising some forty members accompanied the party to the train, the following brethren acting as pall bearers to the train: H.G Gardner, Geo. Hoflus, E.E. Secor, G.H. Johnston, K.J. Hille, W.G. Ostrander.

The funeral took place at Rockford Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. C. Taggart officiating and the Odd Fellows following with their beautiful and impressive burial service. The pall bearers were: Geo. Hoflus, A. Thompson, W.G. Ostrander and Fred Dann from this lodge and Will Mathers and Dell Strait form the Rockford lodge.

Mr. Gotwalt was a fond husband and father, a good neighbor and friend, and many are they who sincerely join with the bereaved in their sorrow and extend to them their sympathy and condolences.