Josiah W. Waters 1849-1921

WATERS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/24/2019 at 17:41:16

Josiah West Waters
(February 8, 1849 – November 10, 1921)

West Liberty Index, Nov 17, 1921
Obituary
The funeral services for J. W. Waters were held Saturday afternoon from the Presbyterian Church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Robert McInturff. Interment was made at Oakridge Cemetery. IN the course of his service, Mr. McInturff read the following sketch of Mr. Waters, and took for his text, Prov. 10:7 – “The memory of the just is blessed.”
Josiah West Waters, son of James K. and Jane Waters, was born near New Paris, Ohio, February 8, 1849, and died at his home in West Liberty, Iowa, November 10, 1921, at the age of 72 years, 9 months and 2 days.
In the year 1861, when Mr. Waters was twelve years of age, the family moved to Marion County, Illinois, where, April 4, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Smith. To this union four sons were born; Charles Edward, dying at the age of three years; Herbert E., of Golden City, MO.; Frederick C., of Minneapolis; and William Ward of Oak Park, Illinois. The mother of these children died December 28, 1890.
February 12, 1893, Mr. Waters was married to Miss Ella C. Smith, and they were blessed with two children: Catherine Lillian, of Minneapolis, and Carl Leonard, who died at the age of three years. Their mother passed away March 3, 1901.
Mr. Waters and Miss Mary Frances Millett were joined in marriage July 29, 1903, and for the past two years have lived in West Liberty, where they have made many friends. Mr. Waters was for 26 years employed as express agent of the American Express Company in Champaign, Illinois, and the company never had a more capable, honest and faithful employee. Falling health compelled him to make a change in his employment, and he went to the farm, but finding farm life too strenuous, he visited Florida in search of health, and after a brief stay came to his town, and his coming has been a benediction to this church and to the entire community.
In former years he held a responsible office in the church, and in his declining years he never lost interest in the affairs of the kingdom of God. A few days before his death he was talking about the need of more people that love the church and engage in its work. He raised his children to attend the Lord’s house and live a righteous life. One son is an influential preacher of the Gospel; another son is a man of distinction on the lyceum platform; and the other children have made noble marks in the world, showing the wholesome influence of Godly parents. All the children are at this service except one, who found it impossible to be here. Besides his loving wife and the children named, he is survived by two brothers and one sister: John Wesley Waters of Neosho Falls, Kansas; William S. Waters of Salem, Illinois; and Mrs. Emma Besant of Los Angeles, California.
From the time of his conversion Mr. Waters has been a consecrated member of the Presbyterian Church, he and his wife uniting with the local church soon after they came to West Liberty. The pastor can conscientiously say that he has never known a church member more willing and anxious to do his whole duty. He was quiet and unassuming, but active to the full extent of his physical strength, and perhaps sometimes beyond it. He was a leading factor in the Sunday School and high school orchestras, besides having more than a score of music pupils, all of whom loved him and are almost crushed by his death. He was a splendid musician, for many years playing the cornet as director of good bands, and of late years playing the violin, and his last work in the church was a violin solo by request of the pastor. Happy memory! As a church we know that a good and useful member has been taken from us. The pastor feels keenly the loss that he has personally sustained. Mr. Waters’ place in the church will be hard to fill, and he will be greatly missed in the public schools. His pall bearers are young men who cherish his memory as their teacher and friend. Today we pay the last tribute of respect to one who lived a noble life among us and died the death of the righteous. His violin strings have ceased to vibrate here below, but the music of his life goes on forever. He goes beyond to beckon us, and with him and all who are the assembly of the Church of the Firstborn we may finally take our appointed place in the paradise of God.