Failor, Frank – d. 1937

ELY, FAILOR, FLAHERTY, PARSONS, TRONE

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:37

Frank Failor, Veteran Newton Merchant, Dies
Succumbs, Following Brief Illness, From Heart Disease
For Many Years Was Known for Vegetable and Flower Business; Engaged in Seed Store at Time of Death
Frank Failor, 79, veteran Newton business man and former prominent stock raiser, died Monday at 7:00 p.m. at the Skiff Memorial hospital.
Suffering with chronic heart disease for several years, he was taken suddenly ill about 24 hours before his death and removed to the local hospital.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. from the Morgan funeral home by Dr. W. H. Blancke, pastor emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Interment will be in family lot at the Newton Union cemetery.
Success and failure have both played their part in Mr. Failor’s life and a varied career of stock raiser, merchant and gardner has been his lot. At various times during his life, he was an extensive land owner in Jasper county.
He was born Dec. 26, 1858, on a farm in Malaka township, the son of Andrew and Mary Jane Failor, who came to Jasper county from Pennsylvania in 1854.
He grew to manhood on the home farm, but in early youth came to Newton where he was employed to sell binders for the Maytag-Bergman company.
Still in young manhood, he entered the hardware business with his brother, the late Charles Failor, on the present site of the Marshall hardware store. Later he operated the store by himself for several years.
When he was 27 years of age, he set out as a breeder of fine stock. Specializing in Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, he soon earned a wide reputation as a breeder and for several years served as president of the National Duroc Breeders aAssociation.
It was during the height of his success in this venture that he was united in marriage to Libbie Trone of Rushville, Ill. To this union was born one daughter, Ellamarye, an attorney, who is now located in Detroit, Mich. The daughter was formerly of New York City, where she at one time held the position of assistant federal district attorney of New York.
In 1904, Mr. Failor married Grace Flaherty and to them a son, Francis F. Failor, was born. Her death occurred Sept. 13, 1924.
A few years after this marriage, Mr. Failor left Newton and during the panic of 1907, was reported to have lost $40,000 in Kansas feeding steers.
About 22 years ago, Mr. Failor returned to Newton with but $26 in his pocket. At first he managed to obtain a meager living selling novelties from door to door.
In 1917, Mr. Failor, bought a plot of land at the northeast edge of Newton from the late Ed Goodhue and set up a small truck garden.
His business grew and he began the building of greenhouses to care for the floral business and for propagation of early garden plants. He was joined in this venture by his son.
Five greenhouses had been erected at the time of his retirement from the business three years ago. He retired at that time to operate a seed store, in which business he continued until the time of his death. The present store is located at 213 First Avenue West.
Mr. Failor was among the earliest members of the Newton Knights of Pythias lodge and was active in the early history of the lodge.
Surviving relatives include his son, Francis F. Failor of Newton; the daughter, Ellamarye Failor of Detroit, Mich.; and three brothers, Andrew Failor, 90, of Grand Forks, N.D., George Failor, 88, of Des Moines, and Samuel Failor, 79, of California.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mrs. Mary Ely and Mrs,. Emma Parsons, and by two brothers, Charles and Louis Failor.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, March 9, 1937

Conduct Failor Funeral Rites
Services For Frank Failor, 79, Held in Newton Wednesday Afternoon
Funeral services for Frank Failor, 79, veteran Newton business man, were conducted from the Morgan funeral home Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. by Dr. W. H. Blancke, pastor emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
Music was furnished by Ralph Miller, who sang, “Abide With Me” and “I’ve Done My Work.” He was accompanied by his sister, Ruth Miller.
Interment was in the family lot in the Newton Union cemetery. Those serving as pallbearers were Virgil Reynolds, Loren and Roy Failor, Harry Awtry, John Loupee, and Charles Kendall.
Died Monday
Mr. Failor died Monday night at the Skiff Memorial hospital, after a brief serious illness. He had been suffering with chronic heart disease for several years.
Mr. Failor, member of a pioneer Jasper county family, was here in Malaka township Dec. 26, 1858, and spent most of his life in this community.
His first business venture was in a hardware store in Newton with his brother, the late Charles Failor. Still a young man, he left that business to become a breeder of fine livestock, for which he became well-known.
Operated Seed Store
Having made and lost several fortunes, Mr. Failor in later years went into the horticulture business at the northeast edge of Newton. Three years ago he retired and had since been operating a seed store in Newton.
Mr. Failor’s family was active in the old German Lutheran church and he, himself, led the singing at church gatherings years ago. Mr. Failor also formerly played in the Newton band.
He was one of the earliest members of the Knights of Pythias lodge and was one of its active workers in former years.
Surviving relatives include his son, Francis F. Failor of Newton; his daughter, Attorney Ellamarye Failor of Detroit, Mich., and three brothers, Andrew Failor of Grand Forks, N.D., George Failor of Des Moines and Samuel Failor of California.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, March 11, 1937

Failor, Frank Fisher; born: 26 Dec. 1857; in Iowa; died: 08 Mar. 1937; Mother’s maiden name: Lauck; Death Cert # C50-0036