Van Nostrand, Charles 1871 - 1898

VAN NOSTRAND, MCDOWELL, BENNETT, MANATROY, JENKS, FUNCK, YOUMANS, CUMMINGS, FULTON, LONG, HIGBEE, HOLLISTER, RANEY, FRY

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 10/4/2010 at 09:26:04

Fairfield Ledger
August 17, 1898

First Death in Company M.

Charles VAN NOSTRAND of Company M, Fiftieth Iowa volunteer infantry, whose serious illness was noted in the last number of The Ledger, died in the division hospital at Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday evening (sic. August 13, 1898). He had been ill for about two weeks with typhoid fever. Alarming telegrams were received Tuesday night concerning his condition, but they were followed by messages which were more assuring, and there was a very general hope among friends here that the crisis was past. The announcement of his death Saturday evening brought sorrow to many a heart at the old home.

Deceased was a son of the late Lewis VAN NOSTRAND, and his mother, Mrs. Ethelinda McDOWELL, now resides in this city. He was born in Jefferson county October 4th, 1871, and grew to manhood in this community, most of his life being spent on a farm in Buchanan township, five miles east of Fairfield. Mr. VAN NOSTRAND was married to Miss Mary H. BENNETT February 21st, 1895. The young wife died Februrary 12, 1897, and a daughter, Helen, now a child of three years, survives her parents and makes her home with the grandmother in this city. Other surviving members of the family are Jesse K. VAN NOSTRAND of Benedict, Neb.; Mrs. S.H. MANATROY of Cromwell; Mrs. E.S. JENKS of Davenport; and Mrs. C.L. FUNCK of Buchanan township.

Mr. VAN NOSTRAND was a member of the Christian church in this city, and of Fairfield lodge, I.O.O.F. He was one of the early members of Company M, Second regiment, Iowa National Gueard, and, when the call came for troops to defend the nation's honor against the attacks of a foreign foe, resigned a good position with the Louden Machinery company in order that he might respond. He was a man of most exemplary habits and splendid character, and no one who formed his acquaintance could do other than place the highest estimate upon his worth as a citizen and a member of society. With him, much more than with the average man, enlistment for the defense of the nation was a matter of painful duty from which he had no thought of shrinking, and he bade a tearful farewell to aged mother and baby daughter that he might discharge his obligation to his country. Among his comrades in the camp he took that high place which he had borne among his associates in civil life. He responded promptly and cheerfully to all the demands made upon him, was considerate to the utmost degree of the rights of his messmates, and ever thoughtful of their comfort and convenience. In the memory of his friends and comrades there will ever remain pleasant recollections of this splendid young man as citizen and as soldier. His death has touch the heart of this great community as no death in recent years has touched it, and there is a universal feeling of sympathy expressed for the family which mourns the loss of son, father and brother.

The remains arrived in this city Tuesday after midnight, escorted by C.S. YOUMANS and C.C. CUMMINGS, comrades of the dead soldier in Company M. The party left Jacksonville Sunday at 7 o'clock p.m., and came via Chicago.

Funeral services were held at the First M.E. church, the largest audience room in the city, this morning at 9:30. Flags were flying at half-mast all over the city, and every business house was closed during the services. The church was filled to its upmost capacity, and hundreds of people gathered on the streets about the building. George Strong Post, G.A.R., and old soldiers acted as an escort to the remains, and the Odd Fellows of the city were out in full force. Rev. Leander Lane, pastor of the Christian church, had charge of the services at the church, and was assisted by Rev. J.F. Magill, Rev. A.F. Marsh and Rev. W.J. Funkey. The music was rendered by a mixed double quartet composed of singers from the various choirs of the city. The Odd Fellows took charge of the remains at tthe close of these services and they were interred with the ceremonies of the order. The pallbearers were Messrs. C.C. CUMMINGS and C.S. YOUMANS (sic. Charles Sumner YOUMANS, who himself died less than two months later from disease contracted during the same war) of Company M; C.J. FULTON of the Louden Machinery company; A. D. LONG and F.H. HIGBEE, Odd Fellows and fellow employes of deceased; and F.C. HOLLISTER, a boyhood friend. A martial band rendered the instrumental music.

The church was apppropriately decorated with the national colors, and there was a profusion of flowers about the room and casket. A very handsome wreath was the gift of comrades in Company M. Young ladies of the city volunteered their services for suitable decoration of the grave and their work was very tastily (sic. tastefully) done. The arrangements for the funeral were made by a committee from the Soldiers' Relief society, Messrs. H.C. RANEY and W.W. FRY, the wishes of the family being consulted in every particular. No citizen of this community has ever been shown greater honor in death than has been manifested toward Charles VAN NOSTRAND, the first Jefferson county soldier to lose his life in the war with Spain.

* Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not directly related to the person(s) mentioned, although the VAN NOSTRANDS' are distantly on my family tree of Jefferson County relations.

Note: Charles VAN NOSTRAND was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. Old.P.156