Trager, Purd McElvan - 1849-1925

TRAGER

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 9/12/2023 at 12:20:50

War Veteran Dies
Funeral Services for Purd Trager Held Sunday Afternoon
Purd McElvan Trager, veteran of the Civil War and pioneer resident of Newton, died Friday afternoon at the Skiff hospital following an illness of two weeks suffering from a complication of ailments incident to his advance age.
Mr. Trager was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, March 10, 1849 and died January 9, 1925 at the Skiff hospital.
He came to newton with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Abram Trager in the spring of 1857 and made this his home since that time.
He leaves one son, George Trager of Denison, Iowa, who has been with his father during his illness and three grandsons.
The death of Mr. Trager removes the last of his father’s family and one of the county’s oldest settlers. He was a soldier in the Civil War and it was necessary for him to put the figure 18 in his shoe so that he might be eligible for service. He was only 14 when he fought with the northern army.
Mr. Trager was the engineer at the first electric light plant in Newton. The electricity which supplied the city of newton was made in an old canning factory building located on the plug track south of First Avenue.
Funeral services for Mr. Trager will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Morgan Funeral Home.
Dr. Robert L. Stuart, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, will have charge of the services.
Burial will be made in the newton cemetery.
Source: Jasper County Record (Newton, IA); Thursday, January 15, 1925, page 1