Alfred J. Barrett (abt 1851-1894)

BARRETT, BOYD

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

A few days since all Sanborn was amazed to learn that Alfred J. Barrett was seriously ill. No one was less subject to physical derangements. No one was in better health.
But no man knoweth what a day may bring forth and as sudden as the lightning's flash Alfred Barrett was seized with a pain caused by a strangulated hernia. The intense sufferings that followed was alleviated as much as possible by the attending physicians, but owing to the rarity of the ailment and the consequent lack of adequate facilities to assure a safe operation in Sanborn Mr. Barrett was taken to Chicago, accompanied by his physician, Mrs. Barrett, and her brother R. M. Boyd. He was taken to the Presbyterian hospital, where as eminent and skillful a surgeon as wields the scalpel successfully operated on him. All the indications pointed to a speedy recovery and he had so far recuperated that he was pronounced out of danger and Mrs. Barrett returned to Sanborn, expecting her husband to follow her in about three weeks quite as well as ever.

But she had scarcely reached her home, full of hope, until a telegram came announcing that Mr. Barrett was failing rapidly. And before Mrs. Barrett could reach him an accumulation of gas at the affected part so distended the organ as to tear the stitches and in a moment he was beyond all human skill and device.

The deceased was born in Buffalo New York, about forty-three years ago, and was left an orphan at an early age. He found his way westward and settled in Lynn county Iowa. During his residence in that county he was united in marriage to Mary Boyd, and accompanied by her he came to Grant township some twenty years ago, and from there he removed to Sanborn, where he divided his time between railroad office work and farming.

Mr. Barrett has been a member of the Presbyterian church for more than twenty years, he was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, under whose auspices the funeral was conducted. Members of the lodges in surrounding towns joined the local fraternity in meeting the remains at the depot, and conducting them to the Presbyterian church, where a large concourse of friends had assembled to pay their respects to the dead, and extend their sympathy to the bereaved.

After the ritualistic service by the Odd Fellows, Rev. Chas. Williams spoke briefly from the text in the book of Proverbs XXVII:I.

The remains were followed to the cemetary by a large number of friends, besides the members of the lodge, who cast their sprigs of evergreen into the grave to signify that they would keep fresh in their memory the virtues of the deceased.

To know the deceased was to become his friend. He was a loving husband and a kind father. And the bereaved ones have the sympathy of the community in an unusual degree.

RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. The following resolutions of condolence and respect were passed by Sanborn Lodge No. 43-1, I. O. O. F., of which the deceased was an honored member: WHEREAS, God in His infinite wisdom has seen fit to remove from our midst our esteemed brother Alfred Barrett.
-Resolved, That we cordially give testimony to our brother which was manifest in his daily life, and affirm that he has left a legacy to his lodge in his many virtues that will be ever remembered by his brethren.
-Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the bereaved family also spread upon the record of our lodge and a copy furnished our local papers.

ED. R. WOOD,
DANIEL MOODY,
R. A. CUSHMAN.

Sanborn (Iowa) Pioneer, 12 Apr 1894, p5