ADAMS, Bernard 1871-1935

ADAMS, STEIGER, VONDERHIDE, DELANO, BARTHOLMEY, LOECHER

Posted By: Darla Richardson Donovan (email)
Date: 4/1/2011 at 15:33:23

Bernard Adams, a well-known Stacyville man about 64 years of age, passed away at his home on Sunday, following a week's illness.

Mr. Adams had attempted to take his own life about ten days ago by drinking a quantity of liquid shoe polish. He had apparently become unconscious, or unable to summon help, and lay for a number of hours on a concrete basement floor. Pneumonia developed and he passed away after a week of suffering.

Mr. Adams was a well-known and respected Stacyville citizen, and had operated a shoe repair shop for some years. He had been in poor health for a long time, the only known reason for his act. Surviving are his wife and several children.

Bernard Adams was born at McHenry, Illinois in 1871. While very young his parents moved to a farm near Stacyville, where he labored as a young man, then began the mason's trade, continuing in this work over a period of forty years, when he retired and operated a shoe store and repair shop.

On January 10, 1895, he was united in marriage to Helen Steiger, also of Stacyville. To this union ten children were born, nine surviving him. One son, Edward, passed away in 1918.

Children present at the funeral were: Mrs. Robert Vonderhide (Ida), DeKalb, Ill.; Mrs. Hugh DeLano (Rose) Eagle Grove; Albert Adams, Hayward, Minn., Mrs. Joe Bartholmey, Jake, Carl, Frank, Mrs. Aloys Loecher (Julia), and Fred, all of Stacyville. Nineteen grandchldren will miss the genial presence of Grandpa in his home.

Mr. Adams, as we all knew him, took great pride in his music, and was always generous in giving his services on any public occasion by playing his violin, a much-prized Stradivarius. He was a good neighbor and friendly to all; a conscientious workman, insisting that his work be done well and to the satisfaction of those he served.

The shoe store on Main street was the meeting place of both old and yong, where one was welcome to talk over the ball games and political affairs. His genial presence will be missed by his business associates, his friends, and in his home.

Business conditions, the country's general welfare, all weighed heavily on his mind at times, but as a general rule one found him in a happier, cheerful mood. We shall remember him in his happy musical attitude. Everyone in Stacyville and surrounding communities has been lifted out of the blues at some time by his violin music.

All business places in Stacyville were closed during funeral services at Visitation church. Mass was read by Father Manternach.

(This obituary was in my Grandmother Anna Matson Richardson's scrapbook. Newspaper unknown.)