Walter John Price (1929)

CACHIARAS, PIATT, PRICE, REED, SHIFFLETT, STOCKWELL

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 12/30/2005 at 16:28:24

Earlham Library Obituaries
Earlham, Iowa
April 1929

Walter J. Price

Walter J. Price, only child of the late William and Esther Piatt Price, was born October 17, 1857 on the Squire Piatt Homestead at Red Oak, in Henry County, near Bishop Hill, and Cambridge, Illinois. It was in this neighborhood that he grew to young manhood among aunts and uncles and cousins whom he loved dearly and who took the place of brothers and sisters in his life and affections. Many were the joys that came to young and old in these early associations and in the sharing of the Pioneer Life in the days of the log cabin. It was the custom of his father to prove a claim, erect a cabin, sell, then repeat this performance from time to time. In 1879 it was decided to migrate farther west. Accordingly, the family started driving through with team and wagon, fording streams that are now bridged, and crossing immense stretches of timber land which now lie in richly cultivated land. They drove through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa, and finally after making one trip as far west as Colorado, purchased and settled on the farm southwest of Earlham, which goes by the name of the "Old Grout House," described in the late "Pioneer History of Earlham."

In 1885 the son, Walter John, returned to the neighborhood of his birth, and on December the 2nd took for his bride a young school teacher. Nancy Elizabeth Reed, bringing her back to the new home in Penn Township. Here were born three children; Raymond Robert, Mabel Joy, and Mary Elizabeth. There was an interim of time during this period when the young father was in business with J. E. Chamness; late local postmaster in Earlham,Iowa.

In 1895 the little family purchased the homestead of Rev. Stribling in west Earlham, and remained there; while the grandparents located in a little home across the street. Four other children were born into this home, which the father remodled from time to time to suit the need. Those children were: William Ford, Esther Ellen, Walter Reed and James Sterling. A spirtiually minded mother and affectionate and loving father united in building into the lives of their children the qualties without which life is all a hollow mockery.

The beloved youngest child died in September 1911 at the age of four and one-half years. On December 26th, 1918, the wife and mother was called Home, and the grandfather passed away later, in the winter. In a few months, on September 19th, 1919, the eldest son died. These crushing blows did much to break the physical endurance of Mr. Price. Many times when the once busy home was peopled only by memories, he would turn to his violin for consolation, often breaking off from the lively strains into the refrain of "Home Sweet Home" while the unbidden tears streamed down his face.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, April 4, 1929

Mr. W. J. Price, long time resident of Earlham, passed away quietly at his home sometime Tuesday night. He was uptown Tuesday for the first time in several weeks and was apparently enjoying much improved health. An attack of acute indigestion caused him great distress in the afternoon and evening, but he was resting easier when his children left him shortly after nine o’clock to retire for the night. Death must have come quietly and mercifully during the night, for in the morning his son and daughter-in-law who resided with him found that life had departed.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock at the Church of Christ. Rev. and Mrs. Arthur Stockwell, of Lewistown, Ill. and Rev. and Mrs. G. H. Cachiaras, of Minneapolis, Minn., daughters and sons-in-law, arrived Wednesday evening.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, April 11, 1929

HUNDREDS MOURN MR. W. J. PRICE

Beloved Citizen Who Passed Away Last Wednesday Received Tribute of Fellow Townsmen and Friends in Rites Friday. A Life of Extraordinary Service.

The community paused Friday, in its round of busy spring activity, to pay homage to one whose affairs had been akin to those of the town for nearly a half century. Mr. W. J. Price, though retired from active participation in politics and business, has left a mark so indelible it is not lightly to be erased.

The Church of Christ was filled to capacity with friends and relatives who mourned the generous life that had passed. Mr. Price was generous in his dealings and kindly always. The spirit of sacrifice which was nurtured in his early pioneer years, the friendliness of understanding, came to rest upon his shoulders, a badge of honor sequel to the many roles he subsequently played in the town’s affairs and in the work of the Odd Fellow Lodge of which he was a charter member.

Words tell but little of this splendid life. The following biography read at his funeral give insight into a character that stood staunch through adversity.

Walter J. Price, only child of the late William and Esther Piatt Price, was born October 17, 1857 on the Squire Piatt Homestead at Red Oak, in Henry County, near Bishop Hill, and Cambridge, Illinois. It was in this neighborhood that he grew to young manhood among aunts and uncles and cousins whom he loved dearly and who took the place of brothers and sisters in his life and affections. Many were the joys that came to young and old in these early associations and in the sharing of the Pioneer Life in the days of the log cabin. It was the custom of his father to prove a claim, erect a cabin, sell, then repeat this performance from time to time. In 1879 it was decided to migrate farther west. Accordingly, the family started driving through with team and wagon, fording streams that are now bridged, and crossing immense stretches of timber land which now lie in richly cultivated land. They drove through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa, and finally after making one trip as far west as Colorado, purchased and settled on the farm southwest of Earlham, which goes by the name of the “Old Grout House” described in the late “Pioneer History of Earlham.”

In 1885, the son, Walter John, returned to the neighborhood of his birth and on December the 2nd, took for his bride, a young school teacher, Nancy Elizabeth Reed, bringing her back to the new home in Penn Township. Here were born three children: Raymond Robert, Mabel Joy, and Mary Elizabeth. There was an interim of time during this period when the young father was in business with J. E. Chamness, late local postmaster in Earlham, Iowa.

In 1895 the little family purchased the homestead of Rev. Stribling in west Earlham, and remained there; while the grandparents located in a little home across the street. Four other children were born into this home, which the father remodeled from time to time to suit the need. Those children were: William Ford, Esther Ellen, Walter Reed, and James Sterling. A spiritually minded mother and an affectionate and loving father united in building into the lives of their children the qualities without which life is all hollow mockery.

The beloved youngest child died in September 1911, at the age of four and one-half years. On December 26th, 1918, the wife and mother was called Home, and the grandfather passed away later, in the winter. In a few months, on September 19th, 1919, the eldest son died. These crushing blows did much to break the physical endurance of Mr. Price. Many times when the once busy home was peopled only by memories, he would turn to his violin for consolation, often breaking off from the lively strains into the refrain of “Home Sweet Home” while the unbidden tears streamed down his face.

September 6, 1927, Mr. Price suffered a slight stroke of paralysis from which he partially rallied but never fully recovered. Last December, shortly before Christmas, he fell victim to the “Flu” epidemic, and for some time his life was almost despaired of. He has recently suffered attacks of acute indigestion brought on by natural consequences of previous sickness, and early Wednesday morning, he slept peacefully away, passing on to one of God’s many mansions that he loved to talk about.

At various times during his residence in Earlham, Mr. Price has rendered conscientious and efficient service on the school board and the City Council, also doing his share toward the building up of the business district. He became a member of the Dexter I.O.O.F. March 7, 1883, being a Past Grand, and having served as secretary. Transferring to the Earlham Lodge in 1895, he was a Past Grand, and was secretary from 1907 to 1928. Both Mr. and Mrs. Price were charter members of the Earlham Rebekah Lodge, believing in and putting into practice its principles.

He departed from this life April 3rd, 1929, at the age of 71 years 5 months, and 17 days. There remain to mourn five children, Mabel Cachiaras, of Minneapolis, Mary Shifflett, William Price, of Earlham; Esther Stockwell, of Lewistown, Ill.; and Walter Price, Jr., of Earlham; twelve grandchildren, and many relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Simpson and Rev. Bock. Interment was in the Earlham cemetery.

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