Scharf, George Adam 1863-1905

SCHARF, HANKE

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 11/20/2004 at 16:12:33

After an illness of but five days George Adam Scharf died this morning at 12:40. He was born in Newton March 2, 1863, making his age 42 years, 1 month and 18 days. Last Saturday he was taken ill and in a short time the trouble was declared to be appendicitis. Tuesday afternoon an operation was performed, but he failed to rally and the end came this morning forty minutes after midnight.

Adam, as he was familiarly called, was known to almost every one in Newton. He had an inexhaustible fund of good nature, was big-hearted and always ready to respond to a call for aid and was liked by all, both old and young. The news of his untimely death was a shock to all.

As a boy he attended the public school but on Saturdays and holidays he was always at work earning money. He left school at the age of fourteen and went to work for David McCalmont in his grocery store. Adam was not tall enough to reach over the counter, but he worked along just the same and has the record of being in the employ of one man for eighteen years. He spent some time in Monroe, Colfax and Kansas City and the balance of the time was spent in Newton. For the past twenty years, with the exception of two years in the employ of I. A. Gates, he has been with Robert Burns, being in his employ at the time of his death. He was a member of the I.O.O.F and Canton, also the Woodmen.

Adam Scharf was a single man and has made his home for the past eleven years with his oldest sister, Mrs. Kate Hanke, who will feel the loss very deeply. He was one of seven children of Mr. Mrs. Adam Scharf and his is the first death in the family. The other members of the family are John A., William P., Phillip W., Charles, Mrs. Kate Hanke and Miss Anna. There are also two nephews. He is at the home of his father and mother on North Spring Street where the casket will be open on Saturday morning from 10 to 12 in order that friends may call and see him if they desire.

The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at two o’clock at the Lutheran Church and will be in the charge of the Odd Fellows. Rev. M. L. Tate will conduct the services. ~ The Newton Daily News, Thursday, April 20, 1905, Page 1, Column 5
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Death of George Adam Scharf

He passes away Thursday morning after illness of but five days.

Last Wednesday we announced in the Record and alarming illness of Adam Sharf Jr., coupled with the hopeful assurance that the worst stages of his disease had been safely passed and his recovery might be expected; but also, the ink with which the announcement was made had scarcely dried before the word came to us that a change for the worse had come suddenly and that the young man who had five days before had been in the flush and bloom a vigorous young manhood, had passed the great beyond.

Adam was taken violently ill on Saturday morning, his symptoms growing more alarming until Tuesday afternoon, when an operation was performed for appendicitis, from which he rallied and his friends had every reason to hope for his recovery until way late Wednesday night, when the sad change came and a few minutes after midnight he sank into the sleep that knows no waking in this world.

Adam was born in this city March 2, 1863, and with the exception of a few short intervals the entire forty-two years of his life have been spent in Newton. Through all his childhood, youth and young manhood, he always maintained the genial disposition and cheerful, whole-souled characteristics that made him popular with everybody, especially among those whom he was intimately associated. When but fourteen years of age he left the public school and became a clerk in the grocery store of David G. McCalmdin- his first work as a clerk in which capacity he afterward became one of the best and most reliable in the city.

For the past 18 years he has been with Robert Burns, and between the two the warmest ties of friendship have existed, Adam’s death coming as a great personal sorrow to Mr. Burns. He was a single man, and for the past 11 years has made his home with his older sister, Mrs. Kate Hanke.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Scharf Sen. who were among the early settlers of Newton. Besides his parents, he leaves four brothers and two sisters: John A., Wm. P., Philip W., Charles, Mrs. Kate Hanke and Ms. Anna Scharf. This is a first time death has entered the family and the hearts of the age parents and children are crushed by the sad below.

Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon at the Lutheran Church; an excellent discourse was delivered by Rev. M. L. Tate, the music being rendered by Mrs. Geo. Guthrie, Miss Lettie Early, Miss Ella Himes, and Messrs. Sloanaker and Hartman with Prof. Crammond as organist. The Odd Fellows and Canton, with the Knights Templar band, escorted the remains from the Scharf home to the church where they assisted in the service, and hatful charge of the solemn ceremony at the cemetery. There was a large attendance and sympathy of friends was attested by the profusion of beautiful flowers and lovely floral designs. The pallbearers were Messrs. C. H. Boerstler, J. L. Broderick, J. M. Rippetoe, J. H. Hand, E. J. Failor and J. A. Clutter. ~ Newspaper name and date unknown.