STEPHEN IRWIN 1888-1918

IRWIN, MCKEE, LEBRON, NEWCOMB

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 19:04:50

The Daily Gate City and Constitution-Democrat
Keokuk, Iowa
Nov 22,  1918

STEPHEN IRWIN
DIED AT NOON

----

His Death a Shock of Surprise to City
in Which He Was Highly
Respected and Had a Host
of Friends.

-----

FROM PATRIOTIC PARADE

----

He Marched In the Celebration and
Went to Bed Next Day With
Pneumonia Which
Proved Fatal.

----

Stephen Irwin died just before noon today from pneumonia after ten days illness.

He had a severe cold three weeks ago and was in the house for several days, but was able to be at the office on the day the armistice was signed. He marched in the parade and was back in bed the next day as a result of exposure and fatigue. Pneumonia developed which resulted fatally today.

He was one of the best known young men in Keokuk and was a very likable, friendly man whose friends were legion.

He was born in the house in which he died, on January 28, 1888, and would have been thirty-one years of age his next birthday.

He attended the public schools after which he attended the Lawrenceville academy at Lawrenceville, N. J. He entered the state university of Illinois, but was called home by the serious illness of his mother, to whom he was most devoted. After several weeks at home he decided to go into the wholesale house with his father, instead of returning to college.
He was married Nov. 6, 1915, to Mildred McKee of Quincy, who survives him.

Prominent in Affairs.
He was assistant secretary of the Irwin-Phillips Co., and of much help to his father until the death of the latter.
He was president of the Unity club and was an officer of the Iowa Manufacturers' association. He was at one time a director of the Industrial association and always had an active interest in all civic affairs.
He was a member of the First Westminster Presbyterian church. He belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Elks.
One particularly sad feature about his death is that his father, Wells M. Irwin, died four weeks ago today, which makes a double burden of grief for the family.
Besides his young wife other relatives are his mother, Mrs. Wells M. Irwin, and two sisters, Mrs. Frank LeBron and Miss Mary Wells Irwin. Mrs. LeBron is in the city, having been here since before her father's death.

Full of Energy and Patriotism.
Stephen Irwin was a young man of unusual promise on account of his personal character and those characteristics which made him a host of warm and strong friends. Always cordial and friendly, he held fast the friends he made, and his energy and industry won him the respect of everybody. He was always ready for any work for the good of Keokuk, or the benefit of any of his acquaintances.
Since the war began, he has done an immense amount of work as chairman for Keokuk of the National Security league, the organization of a few men in every community to detect and prevent German activities and propaganda. The membership of this league is kept secret, but the death of Mr. Irwin removes that ban and makes it possible to say that few men worked harder for his country during the last eighteen months than Stephen Irwin.

The Daily Gate City and Constitution-Democrat
Keokuk, Iowa
Nov 18,  1918

IRWIN FUNERAL TO BE SUNDAY 
~~~~
Last Rites Over Stephen Irwin Will 
Be Held in the Old Family Homestead
Tomorrow.
~~~~
The Funeral of Stephen Irwin will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home of his mother, 726 Orleans avenue, Rev. Dr. Ezra Butler Newcomb officiating.
  From this home have been held the funerals of Stephen Irwin’s father, Wells M. Irvin, his grandfather, Stephen Irwin, and his grandmother.
  Burial in Oakland cemetery will be private.