Johns, Lazarus – 1880-1950

COULTER, DAVIS, JOHNS, MORGAN, WHITTEN

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 5/31/2009 at 13:33:12

Laz Johns Died Thursday Morning; Funeral Held Sunday
A Native of Wales; A Mining Engineer by Profession; Water Commissioner Recently
Laz Johns, 69 died at his home in this city Thursday morning, April 13th, following an attack of asthma, from which he had suffered greatly in the past few years.
Mr. Johns was born in Wales and was a mining engineer by profession. He spent the greater part of his life working at this line of work, but in recent years in his retirement he had worked as City Water Commissioner of Colfax, Justice of the Peace and was also in charge of the cemetery lots and business transactions.
One of the fine works of Mr. Johns in recent years was his surveying and placing in blue print the Colfax cemetery, following its purchase by the city. The work is valuable to the city and will stand as a memorial to Mr. Johns for years to come. His efficient work in the Water Department was of equal merit, and his knowledge of these and many other details of the city government will be sorely missed.
Lazarus Johns was born in Wales, December 29, 1880. He has lived in the city of Colfax since 1931, serving the community as Water Commissioner and Justice of the Peace during those years. During previous years he was a mining engineer, serving with mines at Chariton, Tracy, Knoxville and Bussey before coming to Colfax to stay. He learned this latter trade in a mining school in his native land of Wales.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Colfax, the Masonic and Eastern Star Lodges.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Sarah Johns; three children, Wm. J. Johns of Oskaloosa; Gwyneth Whitten of Lake City and Margaret Coulter of Colfax; two sisters, Elizabeth J. Davis and Janet Morgan, both of Wales, 1 granddaughter and 2 grandsons and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Presbyterian church with the pastor, Rev. W. E. Dutton officiating.
Music was furnished by Gomer Williams, soloist, with Mrs. S. E. Tennant organist.
Pallbearers were, Cleo Wall, C. L. Graham, Thomas Hughes, Howard Shipley, Fred Sayre and Ronald Carroll.
Flower committee, Mrs. Joseph Pratt and Mrs. Harold Wharff.
Burial was in the Colfax cemetery.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Tribune; April 20, 1950, page 1, col. 1