Gillespie, Eugene 1848-1910

GILLESPIE, PARDO

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/29/2005 at 14:00:03

Newton (IA) Journal Wed 9 Mar 1910
Old Resident Dies
GILLESPIE, Eugene

Eugene Gillespie died at his home Friday morning. Altho'he had been sick with heart trouble and dropsy a long time and many knew that his condition was serious his death came suddenly and was sad surprise to many of his friends and acquaintances of one-half century. The day before he sat all day in a chair, watching the passers by or talking cheerfully with his home people and callers.

For a number of weeks it had been hard for him to sleep lying down. That night, as the doctor wished, he went to bed and remained until about 12 o'clock. Then being very restless and urging so hard to do so his wife let him set (sic) up and sit in a chair and it was there he passed away about 5 a.m. without very much suffering.

The last time he was down town was on New Year's day. He went as far as the Robert's grocery.

Mr. Gillespie was born in New York City in 1848 and died in Newton in his sixty-second year. In his childhood his parents moved to Durant, Iowa a town not far from Davenport. He came to Newton in the year 1876 and with his brother, J. M. Gilllespie, opened up a drug store on the east side of the square. After the fire in the Mershon block they did not open up again but Mr. Gillespie went into the Harvey Skiff drug store on the westside of the square. Twelve or thirteen years ago he changed his location and became head clerk in A. M. Hough's variety store.

The seventh day of last May, on account of the disease which at last caused his death, he left his work there. With his wife he visited several weeks at the son's home in Chicago and returned home somewhat improved in health but it was not for long and tho' he could walk around the hous and yard the real trouble did not improve. Mr. Gillespie was an Odd-Fellow and a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He was at one time a member of the Episcopal church and was an honorable citizen. He loved his home and was a good husband and father. Twenty-five years ago he married Miss Allie Pardo and had he lived they would have celebrated on the 13th of this month their silver wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his wife and son, Dr. Forrest Gillespie of Chicago and one daughter, Bessie. The son was here five weeks ago to visit his father and Bessie, who is in a store in Des Moines, was home all last week helping her mother and cheering her father. He also has one brother, J. M. Gillespie, of Witchita, Kansas. This is the brother who was in the drug business in Newton a quarter of a century ago. When his brother went into the Harvey Skiff drug stgore, J. M. went to Kansas and was engaged in the drug business for many years.

It is a strange fact that this sole surviving one of the family be afflicted in the same way as Mr. Gillespie was and at this time his condition is so critical that the reltives here expect any time to receive the message of his death.

Originally submitted on Sun Aug 23 09:28:51 1998 by Mrs. Geraldine A. Fair, gerryf@jps.net