SARGENT, W. C. 1853-1933

SARGENT, WELLS, KNOWLES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/11/2015 at 18:09:45

Heart Trouble Results In Death Of W. C. Sargent

W. C. Sargent died at his home in Grundy Center at four o'clock Thursday morning following a brief illness from heart trouble. He suffered the first attack on Tuesday afternoon, after which he was kept confined to his bed. Following the second attack on Wednesday the family and the patient realized his serious condition, and their fears were realized when the third attack came and took the last spark of life with it.

Mr. Sargent had been in good health for many years before he was stricken. After giving up his work in the bank over twenty years ago, he took a great deal of outdoor exercise during good weather and this helped him keep healthy and vigorous up to so short a time before his death.

The sudden passing of Mr. Sargent removes another who figured actively in the community's activities for many years.

Funeral services conducted by the local pastor of the Presbyterian church, Rev. R. B. Fisher, were held at the home at three o'clock Sunday afternoon. Burial was in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Obituary
William Clark Sargent died at his home in Grundy Center, April 13, 1933, after a brief illness of less than two days. He was born November 11, 1853, at Felicity, Clermont county, Ohio. His parents were William R. and Mary Clark (Wells) Sargent. He was the youngest, and last survivor, of a family of seven children, five of whom, together with their mother, became citizens of Grundy Center. He was also the last living member, in his generation, of his grandfather's family.

Mr. Sargent's early years, until he was 24, were spent in the village where he was born. He was 11 years old when his father died, and at an early age he began to earn his living as a clerk in a village store.

He came to Grundy Center, Iowa, July 27, 1877, and opened a general store, being associated with his brothers Joseph W. and Elbert M. Sargent, under the firm name of Sargent Brothers. After a disastrous fire in 1879, the firm built the "Commercial Block," the first brick store building in Grundy Center. In that building the business of the firm was continued until the year 1896. During these 19 years Mr. Sargent became well known as an able and successful business man.

In 1896 Mr. Sargent became active as an officer in the First National Bank of Grundy Center, in which he had previously become interested as a stockholder. He served this bank successively as Assistant Cashier, Cashier and Vice-President until the year 1912 when he retired from active service as an officer of the institution, but continued to serve as a Director.

For the past 20 years, Mr. Sargent had lived a life of retirement, devoting himself chiefly to his family and home, to private business and to various public duties.

Mr. Sargent was married May 5, 1880, to Miss Stella G. Knowles of Felicity, Ohio. He brought his bride to Grundy Center where they established their home. To them was born one daughter, Bertha K. Sargent. His wife and daughter were with him when the final summons came to him.

For nearly 53 years Mr. and Mrs. Sargent had lived here in Grundy Center, a wedded life most beautiful in its mutual devotion. They had the great happiness of celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary on May 5, 1930, an event in which large numbers of their friends, neighbors, and kinsfolk joined them to share in the joy of the occasion and to testify to the esteem and love they bore toward Mr. and Mrs. Sargent.

During the entire period of his residence in Grundy Center, Mr. Sargent had been regular in his attendance at the services of the First Presbyterian Church and in earlier years, the Sunday School also. In 1897 he became a member of this church. He was an earnest, God-fearing, christian man, unpretentious and single-hearted in his devotion to the work of his church, which he served for many years as Treasurer and as Trustee.

With the business and community life of Grundy Center, Mr. Sargent had been identified for almost 56 years. He had seen the town grow from a struggling hamlet to a thriving little city and his life had been a factor in that growth. To the improvement and welfare of the community he had given of his time and his means. In his quiet and unobtrusive way, he aided in the establishment of various utilities and industries designed to promote the convenience and comfort of life in the community. Much of his time had been given of late years to the business of the Cemetery Association, in which organization he was a prime mover and an active director of its work.

Even in his retirement, Mr. Sargent could not be idle. By nature he was industrious and loved to be busy at work. Therefore he worked well and faithfully in all his undertakings, whether for Home and Family, or for Church and Community.

In all his labor he was painstaking and conscientious. His acts revealed the clear truth and honesty of his character, the uprightness of his motives, and the cleanness of his heart. His long, industrious life of nearly 80 years was in itself a testimony to the beauty and wisdom of the scriptural proverb: "Keep they heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Relatives and friends from a distance who were here at the funeral were Amor and Grace Sargent, Cedar Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Moffett and Mr. and Mrs. John Moffett, Eldora, Clifford Alexander, Conrad; and Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Finlayson, Red Oak.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 April 1933, pg 1