Charles Wells Hale (1892)

HALE, RANNEY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/18/2008 at 10:53:33

Winterset Madisonian – September 16, 1892
Winterset, Iowa
Page 7

Death of C. W. Hale

We had barely time last week to announce the sudden death, from some form of heart trouble, of Mr. C. W. Hale, the efficient bookkeeper of the First National Bank of this city. The shock came so suddenly that few had ever known of his sickness. On Saturday, September 3, he was feeling somewhat indisposed and left his work and went home. On Monday he came back and worked a few minutes, and, still feeling unfit for work, he went home again. On Tuesday and Wednesday he was reported as improving, and it was supposed to return in a few days, at the farthest, he would again be at his regular work. On Thursday evening, however, he was seized with a sudden attack, and assistance immediately summoned, but to no avail. In a few minutes, almost before he could be placed upon a bed, he became helpless, and soon passed away.

C. W. Hale has gone to rest. Scarcely fifty-four years of age, he seemed yet to be in the midst of an active career. While apparently far from what is usually considered an old age, his active life had been a long one, as he began a regular business life at fifteen years of age.

Mr. Hale was a man of the most scrupulously upright character, courteous and dignified in bearing; a man whose view was always on the bright side, a man devoted to the best interests of church and state and society. As a husband and a father, he was a model, and absent his hearthstone grew up a family of upright and intelligent sons and daughters, bound to one another in earnest love and mutual sympathy.

(Some unreadable) a rector Mr. Hale officiated as lay leader, and at his funeral on last Saturday the beautiful and impressive Episcopal burial service was read, and the funeral sermon preached by Rev. J. J. Wilkin, rector of St. Paul’s, Des Moines, an acquaintance and friend for many years.

He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and of that of the ------, both of which orders were in attendance at his funeral.

Charles W. Hale was born in St. Louis, Mo., October 2, 1838. He was married March 26, 1858, to Maria C. Ranney, daughter of Gen. Nathan Ranney, of St. Louis. In 1865 they removed to St. Joseph, Mo., where he became a bookkeeper in Ketchum’s wholesale queenstore establishment. In 1870 the family again removed and went to Savannah, Mo., where he engaged as bookkeeper and salesman in the lumber and grain business. In 1875 came another, the last removal. This time he brought his family to Winterset. For one year he was used as collector for Ainsworth & Honbright. Then for a year he was bookkeeper in the Getchell & Merrill’s lumberyard. For the last fifteen years he held the position of bookkeeper, and part of the time acting cashier, in the First National Bank of Winterset.