GENTRY, Edgar N. 1885 - 1931

GENTRY, WERNER, JOHNSON, RITTMILLER, MCCABE, ROBINSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/3/2023 at 21:20:48

"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Monday, January 19, 1931
Page FIVE, Column 2

JUST AMONG

... --E. N. GENTRY underwent an appendix operation yesterday at the Jefferson county hospital. He was reported as getting along fine today. ...

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, January 20, 1931
Page FIVE, Column 1

JUST AMONG

... --E. N. GENTRY, who underwent an operation at the Jefferson County Hospital Sunday, was reported as being a little better this afternoon. ...

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Thursday, January 22, 1931
Page EIGHT, Columns 1 and 2

DEATH SUMMONS IOWA ELECTRIC MANAGER HERE

E. N. GENTRY Passed Away Last Night After Short Illness

Edgar N. GENTRY, local manager of the Iowa Electric Company, passed away last evening at 10:55 o'clock at the Jefferson County Hospital following a short illness with appendicitis, followed by an operation. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the First Presbyterian church in charge of Rev. Gilbert Voorhies and Rev. U. S. Smith. Interment will be made in Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. GENTRY was born November 17, 1855, in Quincy, Illinois. He was united in marriage with Miss Walburga WERNER, at Quincy, November 26, 1907, and in the fall of 1911 he moved his family to this city. He is survived by his wife and the following children, Ruth Corrine and Edgar at home, and Hollis. Hollis is service inspector for the Iowa Electric Company. He also leaves his father Robert H. GENTRY of Quncy, Ill., two sisters, Mrs. Irene JOHNSON of Columbia, Mo., and Mrs. Anna Mae RITTMILER (sic), of Bloomington, Ill., and two brothers, Horace B., of Fairfield, and Richard of Ottumwa.

Mr. GENTRY was active in all civic interests of the city, serving faithfully in positions of responsibility in the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. At the present time he is Exalted Ruler of Fairfield Elks lodge. He is a past president of the Lions club, a member of the various branches of the Masonic Order and of the Yeoman lodge.

"The loss sustained by the Iowa Electric Company is a heavy one," said General Superintendent Ray Ingham, of Cedar Rapids, who arrived here last night. "It is a shock to us; he was a very valuable man. Mr. GENTRY had so thoroughly organized his office here that the efficient force will 'carry on' temporarily. He has been our manager here for the past twelve years and he will be greatly missed." Mr. Ingham will remain in Fairfield temporarily.

From a recent issue of the magazine "Along the Line," published at Cedar Rapids, by the Iowa Electric Co., the following interesting article is taken:

"The subject of this sketch, E. N. GENTRY, received his early training in the great school of experience, his first lessons some thirty years ago, being received at the business end of a scoop shovel in front of a battery of boilers, graduating to the engine room and serving as an engineer in plants at Quincy, Chicago, Kansas City, and Columbia, Mo.,, and for a time on boats on the Great Lakes. His work included the maintenance and operation of electrical machinery and it was not long before he acquired sufficient knowledge of construction to be classed as an electrician.

"In 1911, a local company which was operating the gas and electric systems in Fairfield under the name of Fairfield Gas and Electric company was having considerable trouble in the operation of its electric plant when a salesman recommended Ed to them as the fellow to get them out of their difficulties. He was employed by this company as chief electrician and placed in charge of the operation of the plant, and continued to do so under various changes of ownership until 1916 when the property was sold to the Iowa Electric company. He was then made manager of the division which was formed to operate the Fairfield property together with a number of towns in that vicinity. Since that time he has been continuously in charge of the Fairfield Division.

"During the early years of his operating experiences he was employed by a small local plant which was at many times hampered by the lack of necessary funds and whose generating equipment and electric lines were not the best. During this time he encountered and overcome (sic) the usual number of problems and difficulties which are the lot of all operators of the earlier types of electrical equipment.

"In addition to the electrical operation on his division, he has handled the operation of the gas plant in Fairfield. This has been his hobby as he has made a thorough study of gas generation and distribution and we believe that there are very few gas operators who have better knowledge of the business than he had.

"Mr. GENTRY has the faculty of being a friend to everyone he came in contact with. His popularity was deserved as he had always taken an active part in forwarding any movement that was for the good of his home town or its people."

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, January 23, 1931
Front Page, Column 6

GENTRY FUNERAL AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TOMORROW

Funeral services for E. N. GENTRY, who passed away Wednesday evening, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the First Presbyterian church in charge of Dr. Gilbert Voorhies and Dr. U. S. Smith. The body will lie in state at the church from 1:30 until 2:30 o'clock. Burial will take place in Evergreen cemetery.

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Friday, January 23, 1931
Page SIX, Columns 7 and 8

Notice!

All members of the Elks lodge will
meet at the club rooms Saturday at
two o'clock to attend the funeral ser-
vices of E. N. GENTRY, exalted ruler,
which will be held at the Presbyterian
church.

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Monday, January 26, 1931
Page TWO, Column 6

CITY GATHERS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO E. N. GENTRY

Many Out-of-Town Friends Attended Funeral Services Saturday

The Presbyterian church was crowded Saturday afternoon for the funeral of E. N. GENTRY, manager of the Iowa Electric company, who died Wednesday evening after a short illness.

The services were in charge of Dr. Gilbert Voorhies, a friend and former neighbor, assisted by Dr. U. S. Smith. The floral tributes were most profuse and elaborate representing personal friends, relatives and the various fraternal organizations to which Mr. GENTRY belonged as well as many pieces from the corporations with which he was associated in a business way.

The casket attendants were: Ray Ingham, M. L. Nolan and H. W. Stewart of Cedar Rapids; Charles Metcalf of Anamosa, J. E. Anderson of Ft. Dodge and Verne Lear of Muscatine. Interment was made in Evergreen cemetery.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were: R. H. GENTRY, the father, Quincy, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. R. F. GENTRY, a brother, Ottumwa; Mrs. Walter RITTMILLER of Bloomington, Ill. and Mrs. Irene JOHNSON of Columbia, Mo. sisters; and Mrs. Pete McCABE, an aunt, and her son, Miles McCABE of Quincy, Ill.

The out-of-town friends and business associates who attended were: John A Reed, vice-president of Iowa Electric Co.; Ray Ingham, superintendent; Oliver Longueville, manager of Securities dept.; Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Stover, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Nolan, commercial manager; Harry Concannon, B. Munroe and Hugh White. Accounting department; Chester Myers, purchasing department; Ed Temple, and Mr. Kurz of the General Electric company; all from Cedar Rapids.

Mr. and Mrs. Vern Lear, Mr. and Mrs. Gallapin, Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker and Mrs. Elizabeth Jarvis of Muscatine; Otto Gossman, M. D. Mendenhall, and Harry Purvis of Des Moines; R. E. Williams, Creston; Mr. and Mrs. Jay Matthews, Manchester; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Metcalf, Anamosa; Eugene Moore, Maquoketa; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Anderson, Ft. Dodge; H. F. Kellogg, Iowa Falls; Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Collins, Knoxville; Ed Marsh, Cedar Falls; Nick Smolley, Davenport; W. A. Milroy, Eldora; T. D. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Fordemwalt, Lineville; Mr. and Mrs. George Carnahan, Keosauqua; Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Cook, Farmington; John Arthur, Oakland Mills; Tom Snoddy, Drakesville; Mr. Peterson, Kansas City, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Lester Rees, Moberly, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Hess, Miss May Cornelius and Edward Hess, Quincy, Ill.; Dr. and Mrs. L. A. Coffin and L. O. Thero of Farmington and Hugh Sloan, Chester Barker, G. F. and Glen Harbridge, Lester Therme, Dick Therme, J. H. Strickling and Stanley Workman all of Keosauqua.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Talley, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Harris, Mr. and Mrs. James Hammon and Mr. and Mrs. X. C. Nady were in charge of the flowers.

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, January 28, 1931
Page THREE, Column 2

MEMORIAL FOR GENTRY HELD

Lions Club Had Sigourney Guests at Meeting Last Evening

An informal service for the late E. N. GENTRY was a part of the program of the Fairfield Lions club meeting held last evening in the Leggett hotel dining room. Among those who spoke in high praise of Mr. GENTRY was L. E. Wallace of Sigourney, former Lions district deputy governor, who had had a personal acquaintance with Mr. GENTRY lasting over a period of years.

An enjoyable music program was given by an orchestra of Fairfield High school pupils under the direction of Prof. William Laurier. The orchestra is composed of Eleanor Greef Amy Williamson, Helen Linn, Dallas Laurier and William Laurier Jr.

Mr. Wallace, with J. K. Arnold, Leo Pfoff and Luke Vittotoe composed a delegation from the Sigourney Lions club. They extended the local Lions a personal invitation to attend the district meeting of Lions clubs to be held at Sigourney on Tuesday, February 10.

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Friday, January 30, 1931
Page THREE, Column 3

CARD OF THANKS

We desire to express sincere thanks to all the friends who were so kind and thoughtful at the time of our recent bereavement. What was done by neighbors, organizations and friends, in floral tributes, the use of automobiles and in other ways, is very deeply appreciated.

Mrs. E. N. GENTRY and Children and Other Relatives.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 3rd.168. Wife Walburga subsequently married Claire ROBINSON, died in 1944, and was buried with Edgar.