EBERLINE, Fred C. 1863-1938

EBERLINE, BENZ

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/15/2016 at 17:49:57

Fred Eberline, Former Mayor Of Wellsburg, Passes Away Monday

Came To Iowa From Illinois At An Early Age And Became One Of Our Successful Farmers

Was A Friend Of All

A Great Legion Of Friends Will Mourn His Departure From Our Everyday Life

Fred C. Eberline, for many years a resident of the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, and since 1923 a Wellsburg citizen, passed away on Monday, March 21, at the hospital in Marshalltown. He had reached the age of 75 years, 2 months and 7 days at the time of his death.

Mr. Eberline was a native of Illinois, being born in Aurora, in that state, on January 14, 1863. He came to Iowa in 1878, and in the year of 1883 was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Benz who preceded him in death in 1921. Since that time his daughter Edna has kept house for him and his other daughters at home, Hilda and Hazel.

After forty-five years on the farm in Pleasant Valley Mr. Eberline and three daughters moved to Wellsburg in 1923, and during the fifteen years he made his home here took an active interest in public affairs, serving a term as mayor of the town and always taking an active interest in questions of the town's welfare.

His health was robust throughout his life until the past two years when he began to fail, his heart troubling him from time to time. He had been confined to his home for some little time before being taken to the hospital in Marshalltown.

He leaves to mourn his departure seven children; three sons Harry, of Marshalltown; Lester, of Bristow, and Ford, who lives on the home place in Pleasant Valley; four daughters, Mrs. George I. Harms, Edna, Hazel and Hilda, all of Wellsburg. Two sons, Freddie, died 32 years ago; Willie, died as an infant; and a daughter, Viola, Mrs. Albert M. Ross, passed away a few years ago. Eleven grandchildren and a great-grandson also survive.

Funeral services are being held today (Wednesday) at one o'clock at the house and later at the Second Christian Reformed Church with the Rev. A. Beuerman and Dr. J. C. DeKorne in charge of the services. Interment will be made by the side of his wife in the Evangelical church cemetery. The next issue of the Herald will have a complete obituary.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 23 March 1938, pg 1

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Former Mayor Was Buried Wednesday

Had Been A Resident Of The County For The Sixty Years Since His Coming In 1878

Passed Away March 21

A Church Full Of Friends Gathered To Pay Their Last Respects To A Valued Friend

The funeral of Mr. Fred C. Eberline was held Wednesday afternoon, March 23, at the Second Christian Reformed church, in Wellsburg, after a short service at the home. Burial was made in the Pleasant Valley church cemetery. Dr. J. C. DeKorne and the Rev. A. Beuerman were in charge of the services. Mrs. Clarence Beecroft and Miss Minnie Meyer sang two of Mr. Eberline's favorite songs during the ceremony, "Going Down the Valley" and "Does Jesus Care," with Mrs. Ben Peters as accompanist.

Pall bearers were George H. Geerdes, Geo. Lindaman, Dick Claassen, R. W. Ross, John W. Ross, and Ben F. Peters. Flower girls were Mrs. C. J. Filer, Mrs. Sander DeNeui and Miss Bertha Doyen.

That Mr. Eberline will be missed among Wellsburg people is certain. He was a quiet man, simple in his tastes, a firm friend and enduring. His private and public life was exemplary, and his passing was a distinct loss to Wellsburg.

Mr. F. C. Eberline was born in Aurora, Illinois, January 14, 1863. In 1878 he moved to Iowa. Of the sixty years which have passed since then, forty-five were spent on a farm in Pleasant Valley Township, and fifteen in retirement in Wellsburg.

On October 14, 1883 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Benz. This union was blessed with ten children. Three of the children and his wife preceded him in death. Frederick died April 1, 1905; William died December 23, 1886; his wife died January 10, 1921; Viola, Mrs. Albert M. Ross died May 27, 1928. The surviving children are Mrs. George I. Harms, Wellsburg; Harry Eberline, Marshalltown; Lester Eberline, Bristow; Ford Eberline, Wellsburg; Edna, Hilda, and Hazel Eberline, Wellsburg. There are eleven grandchildren and one great-grandson. Also one sister, Mrs. A. R. Kuter, of Aurora, Illinois.

For the past fifteen years the deceased living in Wellsburg with his three unmarried daughters. He was a member of the Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church. He served a term as mayor of Wellsburg. During his residence here he was a regular attendant at the services of the Christian Reformed Church.

Up to two years ago he always enjoyed good health. Then he began to suffer from heart trouble, and for the past few months he realized that he would not be able to remain with his family much longer. The last few days of his life were spent at the Deaconess Hospital, Marshalltown. He passed to his eternal home Monday, March 21, 1938.

Those who attended the funeral from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Long, of Matlock; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Eberline Jr., and Mr. Clarence Eberline, of George; Mr. and Mrs. Milton Carsud, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Lambert Bowman, of Little Rock; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Eberline Jr., Mrs. Phillip Brunsma, Mrs. Geo. Martin, of George; Mrs. Manning Parmely, of Waterloo; Mrs. Louie Hauth, of Hawkeye; Mrs. Joe Menges, of Alta Vista; Mrs. A. R. Kuter, of Aurora, Illinois; Mrs. W. F. Benz, of Grundy Center; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Harms of Bruce, South Dakota.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 30 March 1938, pg 1