DIAMOND, Sam 1860-1930

DIAMOND, CANDY

Posted By: Jan Cox (email)
Date: 7/8/2010 at 13:24:01

Oldest Veteran Passed Suddenly
Sam Diamond Found Dead in Hotel Room Monday
Death Caused By Stroke
Body Of Oldest Veteran Of World War Found By Hotel Man. Had Been Ill From Worry

Taps sounded Monday afternoon for Reinbeck's oldest World War vet- [sic] dead in his room at the Windsor Hotel. Discovery of the body was made by James Fletcher, proprietor of the hotel who became alarmed when Diamond failed to appear that afternoon and did not answer knocks on his door.

Mr. Diamond, who has made his home at the hotel since the death of his wife in 1927, had been in poor health for several months. Worry over straitened finances which made it necessary for him to apply for admittance to the Soldiers Home at Marshalltown was the cause of much of his illness, it was thought.

Monday morning he did not come to breakfast, saying he did not feel well enough to eat. At noon, when he seemed no better, Mr. Fletcher summoned E.F. Hoht,, Legion post officer who had been looking after Mr. Diamond's affairs. Mr. Koht visited with him about noon and secured medicine for him, and was the last person to have seen him alive.

About four-thirty that afternoon, Mr. Fletcher went to his room but the door was locked and no answer was given to calls. He looked over the transom and saw Diamond stretched on the floor beside his bed. Town officials and physicians were summoned and the door broken open, but he was dead when picked up. Coroner Hoffman was called from Grundy Center, but decided no inquest was necessary. Death was due to an apoplectic stroke, it was decided, and he had been dead for some time when found.

Mr. Diamond was probably the oldest veteran of the World War in the state. He was fifty-seven years old when he enlisted, although in enlisting he had to forget some of those years. A railroad telegrapher for most of his life, and able to pass rigid physical examination, his years were no bar to his acceptance by the signal corps, although he failed to get overseas during his service.

Sam Diamond was born in Ogle county, Illinois, August 8, 1860. He came to Ackley, Iowa, in 1870 with his mother, his father having died in service in the Civil War. In 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Candy and to this union one daughter, Elva, was born. The daughter died many years ago and Mrs. Diamond preceded him in death by three years. Mr. Diamond was a continuous resident of Reinbeck since 1897, most of that time employed as railroad telegrapher and for a time as operator in a board of trade office. He is survived by a brother, George Diamond, of Morrison, and two grandsons, Clarence and Wayne Newton, of Grundy Center. A son-in-law, Sam Newton, of Grundy Center and two nephews, Earl Diamond, of Morrison, and Will Diamond, of Faulkner, also survive him.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Gange funeral home, conducted by the Rev. R. B. Fisher, of the First Presbyterian church of Grundy Center. Burial was in the cemetery at Grundy Center, where his wife and daughter lie. Action Post, American Legion, turned out in numbers to render a last tribute to their comrade, who was a charter member in the post and the following Legionaires took part in the services:
Pall bearers--J.J. Mulder, Leon Green, Harry Verly, Carl Mulder, Emil Nissen and Sherman Cooper.
Color Guard--Warren Mitchell, Gedis Murray, James Schmidt.
Firing Squad--Otto Brandt, Harry Saltau, Robert Jackson, E.F. Koht, Harld Paton, Lindsey Kieth, Hubert Young, Roy Snyder.
Officer in Charge--Tom Harris

--probably the Waterloo Daily Courier, about June 6, 1930