Marquis, Jesse Shafer 1897-1931

MARQUIS, THOMPSON, SLAVENS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/11/2015 at 13:59:16

J. S. Marquis, Prominent Young Man, Died Friday Afternoon

Was Supt. of Schools at Bridgewater, Iowa

Prominent In American Legion, Masonic Order, Church, School, and Other Community Activities

Word came to this community Friday afternoon that Jess Marquis, 33, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Marquis, had passed away at the Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. For the past three months his family and friends have been anxious about his condition and a number of times physicians thought it impossible for him to live longer than a few hours, yet with his strong constitution he would rally and hopes would be held out again for his recovery.

The unusually large assembly of friends at the Presbyterian Church, Monday afternoon, for the funeral service and the large banks of flowers was a testimony of the high esteem he held in the community.

Jesse Shafer Marquis, was born in Colfax, January 13th, and died in Des Moines, January the 9th, 1931, at the age of 33 years, 11 months and 27 days.

He graduated from the 8th grade of the Colfax schools in 1911, at which time he read the Class Prophecy. In September of the same year having gone to Des Moines with his parents, he entered West High, and finished with the class of 1915. The following September he matriculated at the Iowa State College at Ames. He left college in the spring of 1918 to enter naval service. He remained in the Navy until March of 1919, and after having received his commission as Ensign at the Phalan Naval School, in New York City, was discharged. Between the signing of the Armistice and (some of this obituary is torn off)

associated with the Colfax schools in this way, with the help of the Commercial Club, he was able to promote successfully the Corn and Poultry Show. The fall of 1929 he began his work at Bridgewater, Ia., as Superintendent of Schools under the Smith-Hughes plan, a twelve month schedule of supervision. He was in charge of the Bridgewater Schools when stricken with the affliction that accomplished his death.

June 2nd, 1928 in the city of Des Moines, he was united in marriage with Miss Irene Thompson. To this union on Nov 15th, of last year, there was born a daughter Mary Jesse Marquis who together with the wife and mother, survive.

During a furlough from Navy service, the deceased was made a Mason by Riverside Lodge and in due time he was passed into the Chapter. For a number of years he was Secretary of the Chapter, and one year saw his brother George, High Priest, while he served as Secretary. He was a member of the American Legion, and was active in the Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.

In the spring of 1920, together with his father, he joined the Presbyterian church of this city, Jesse receiving the sealing ordinance of Baptism. He has been a member of that church since that date.

In May of 1930 he experience trouble with his eyes and during the summer took treatment. In September he entered the Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. A short stay seemed to benefit him so much that he left and was treated at his brother’s home in Mitchellville. He even went back to his work, but soon found a continuance of work impossible. And the last of November saw him again in the hospital, where everything that medical skill, and care of nurse could do, was done. But from the first it was a losing battle, and after weeks of patient suffering, release came early Friday afternoon, January the 9th, 1931.

Besides his wife and infant daughter, the deceased is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Marquis, and one brother, George of Mitchellville. To this group can be added a never ending list of comrades, companions from boyhood days, college and Fraternity men, pupils, friends, and neighbors. As the roll is called each and all have only words of highest praise for their departed friend and associate. For he was quiet of manner, cheerful in disposition, upright in character, well informed, and did well what ever he undertook. The school, church and the community suffer distinct loss in the passing of such men as Jesse Marquis.

But we of the Christian faith can only say with the one who penned the lines of that beautiful poem, entitled,
Away

“I cannot say, and I will not say
That he is dead-He is just away!
With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land,
And left us dreaming how very fair
It need must be, since he lingers there.

And you-O you, who the wildest yearn
For the old-time step and the glad return,
Think of his faring on, as dear
In the love of There as the love of Here;
And loyal still, as he gave his blows
Of his warrior-strength to his country’s foes.
Mild and gentle, as we was brave,
When the sweetest love of his life he gave
To simple things; Where the violets grew
Blue as the eyes they were likened to,
The touch of his hands have strayed
As reverently as his lips have prayed:

When the little brown thrush that harshly chirred
Was dear to him as the mocking bird
And he pitied as much as a man in pain
A writhing honey-bee wet with rain.
Think of him still as the same, I say;
He is not dead-he is just away!
-Riley.

The scripture that runs through the mind as one read this obituary is this, “As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you” And surely one who sought comfort of his mother, must have been a comfort to her. And more than this, such an one must have proven himself a true and faithful husband. And had God in his infinite goodness seen fit to have spared his life, he would have been a true and loving father. Wherefore comfort yourselves, I say, with these words.

Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon from the Presbyterian Church. The scripture and history of Mr. Marquis was read by Dr. Theodore Morning, with prayer by Rev. C.L. Thomas of the M. E. Church at Bridgewater, Iowa. Dr. E. G. Williams of Des Moines preached the sermon.

Following the church service there was a Masonic service with L. F. Van Hoesen, of Des Moines, Senior Grand Warden, acting as Master of Riverside Lodge and giving the service.

Mr. Marquis was buried with all military honors, Jones-Willis Post American Legion having charge of the service.

The pall bearers were: Fred Sayre, H. E. Bell, L A. Martin, Hugh Thompson, L .P. Hausner, and Dick Tripp.

A male quartet composed of Frank Woods, Ray Barber, Fred Sayre and Dr. Theodore Morning furnished the music.

Burial was made in the family lot at Rose Hill Cemetery.

As the funeral cortege passed the Colfax school buildings on the way to the cemetery, it passed through two rows of school children and their teachers who were lined on each side of Walnut Street the full length of the block. They stood at attention, in memory of the one who had gone to his eternal rest and out of respect to his family.

The school at Bridgewater was also closed during the day and the building draped in honor of the one so recently their Superintendent.

To Mother Marquis
Written by Hugh Thompson, brother-in-law of Jesse marquis.

To you-Mother of this stalwart son
These words are written for praises won!
This son, our friend, has gone away;
We all shall meet another day
This son of honor, nobly born,
Has passed beyond this world of scorn
His body dead, his sight restored,
He holds communion with his Lord.

His soul has passed to other lands;
The will of him who understands.
His memory shall a challenge be,
His victory-Life thru Eternity.

Good mother, who long vigils kept
And gave him comfort ‘ere he slept.
We sadly bid this man adieu,
With kindest loving thoughts of you ~ The Colfax Tribune, Colfax, Iowa Thurs 15 Jan 1931.
==============================================
Birth: unknown
Death: Jan. 9, 1931

Iowa; Ensign, USNRF

Family links:
Parents:
Abram Shafer Marquis (1863 - 1938)
Jessie Slavens Marquis (1867 - 1942)

Sibling:
Jess S. Marquis (____ - 1931)
George Slavens Marquis (1892 - 1974)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Colfax Cemetery Colfax
Jasper County Iowa, USA

Created by: clio
Record added: Dec 12, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 81847329 ~ Find A Grave.