Jay Hale 1875-1901

HALE, SEHORN, LACEY

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 8/16/2021 at 08:39:56

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, April 11, 1901
Page 8

Mr. and Mrs. John Hale were about ready to start for Longton, Kas., Tuesday evening, to the bedside of their sick son, Jay, when that morning a letter came from their daughter, Nellie, who was with Jay, saying that he was a great deal better; so they concluded to postpone their starting until last evening. But on Tuesday afternoon a telegram came saying that Jay was dead. Jay Hale was a boy, a young man, whom everybody liked he had scarcely an enemy anywhere. This does no evidence that he was not strong in character, but on the contrary it was the result of his bright, happy and unselfish disposition. He had no really bad habits, but was a clean, square young man. While he saw others faults and mistakes, yet he did not harshly criticize. He was true to his parents and their family, to his home and to his friends. He was free hearted, witty and possessed a bright, reasoning mind. Those who liked him the best were the ones who had known him the longest in his 25 years or more of life. But he is gone, and his whole circle of acquaintances mourn.

Jay Hale was born in Wapello, October 18, 1875, and died in Longton, Kas., April 9, 1901, so he was between 25 and 26 years old. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 1 o'clock at the home of his parents in Wapello, and the remains will be laid away in the family burial ground, the Mallory cemetery, five miles east of Wapello. The disease which caused his death was the tropical malarial fever, which started while he was with the army in the Philippines. His home coming strengthened him for a time, and it was not until September that he began to feel very poorly. During that month he took a two weeks vacation from his duties in the drug store at Wapello, after which he returned to his work and remained at it until the latter part of October, when he was compelled to leave off entirely. He remained at home most of the time, gradually growing weaker. The day after Christmas he went up town, which was the last time he was out of the house until the day he started for Kansas, on the 22d of February. His sister Nellie and Mr. Clint Price accompanied on his trip. It is there in Longton that his brothers Hal and Lauren live. He stood the trip well and the change appeared to help him a very little time, but there was scarcely a perceptible change in his condition until just shortly before his death. He remained in the house, in the sun as much as possible, nearly all the time he was away, but for the last week he was confined to his bed. This malarial fever especially attacked his left lung almost burning that member up.

The remains were brought home last night, coming from the west at 8:57, and going south at 10:52. They were accompanied by Hal and Nellie Hale. After leaving school Jay followed the trade of printing, which he had partially learning during previous school vacations from 1889. He worked in the Wapello office, and in 1895 was an employee of the Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa. He enlisted in Co. F., 51st Iowa, June 15, 1898, sailing for Manilla on the 3rd of the following November. He took part in every engagement in which his company participated, some 15 or 16. He was in the hospital in Manila for one month sick with the same trouble which finally proved fatal, being discharged a few days before starting home. With his company he left Manilla September 22, and was discharged at Presidio, Cal., November 2, reaching his Wapello home November 9. After his return he went to work in the H. E. Blanchard's drug store, where he remained until he was too poorly to work longer.

He leaves his father and mother, four brothers, Rush, of Vallisca, Iowa, Lauren and Hal, both of Longton, Kas., and Oscar, who is associated with his father in law business in Wapello; and three sisters, Mrs. Izola Sehorn, Mrs. Lydia Lacey and Miss Nellie Hale, all of Wapello. All are present at the funeral except the brothers, Rush and Lauren. He was an active member of the football and baseball teams, and a member of the fire company. Rev. Matthews of Wapello conducts the funeral, assisted by Rev. Pool of Letts. The pall bearers are Robt. Wilcox of this place, and Tom McLaughlin, of Wapello, his army comrades, Frank Ives and Ware Stephens, of the fire company, and James McLaughlin and Will Bishop of the football team.