P.A. Lee, died July 11, 1880

LEE, CRANE, BURNETT, SUTTON, TAPPAN, SPAHR, SNIDER, LYON, KETCHAM, MASON, BEATTIE

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 1/11/2014 at 13:54:25

DEATH OF P.A. LEE.

Mr. P.A. Lee, an esteemed citizen of this city, after a painful illness of three weeks' duration, with typhoid fever, died Sunday morning July 11th 1880, at half past twelve o'clock. Mr. Lee was a native of Chenango county, N.Y., and came to this place from Kalamazoo, Michigan, in March, 1864, where he pursued the grocery business, until about three years ago. He was ever since boyhood a devoted member of the Baptist church, and through life sustained the character of a christian and of an honest man. He leaves a widow and three children and a large circle of friends to cherish his memory. He was fifty eight years old.

The funeral of Mr. Lee took place from the First Baptist church, Monday morning. At ten o'clock the large audience room was completely filled by townsmen and neighbors of deceased, people of every religious denomination and all classes, gathered to pay the last tribute to their departed friend. The choir, accompanied by the great organ, discoursed appropriate music. Elder Crane opened the solemn services with prayer, when Elder Sutton delivered an excellent sermon from the text in Phillipians, 1st chapter, 31st verse: "For me to live in Christ, and to die is gain." He spoke feelingly of the religious character of Mr. Lee, one of the most faithful workers in the church, Sabbath-school, and church meetings, being also an honored deacon. He was always ready and willing to do his Master's will. Elder Burnett, the venerable father of the Baptist church in Mt. Pleasant, followed Elder Sutton in a brief but feeling tribute to the great worth of their fallen brother and co-laborer. The aged Elder referred to him as one who had made himself poor by his liberal contribution to the building of the beautiful temple in which his funeral services were being held, having given thousands of dollars thereto. Rev. Mr. Tappan, pastor of the Presbyterian church, closed the services at the house with prayer, when a procession of friends followed the form to its last and beautiful resting place in Forest Home Cemetery.

The pall bearers were G.H. Spahr, Chas. Snider, Dr. Lyon, Elder Ketcham, AP. Mason and John Beattie. Upon the casket rested beautiful floral wreaths prepared by Mrs. Elder Ketcham. The funeral was also attended by the Superintendent and managers of the Sabbath School at Koans [Keans?] school house, in which Mr. Lee has always taken a special interest. He was beloved by all who knew him, faithful to every trust, a man of child-like simplicity and kindness, vividly illustrating in his life and conduct the character of his Savior, into whose rest he has entered. Let the living cherish his memory and imitate the noble example he has left them.

["Free Press", Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July 15, 1880, page 3]