Verbeck, Luther Meredith

VERBECK, MEREDITH, TRACY, STRATTON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/7/2010 at 09:05:43

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Jan. 10, 1937

L.M. VERBECK PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY

Life of Gentleman and Scholar Reaches Its Close.

It is a hard blow to be called upon to announce the death of Luther Meredith Verbeck, one of Grinnell's Spanish-American war veterans, who died quite suddenly in a local hospital Sunday of heart trouble and complications. Luther has not been in good health for a long time and had only recently returned from the Veterans' hospital in Des Moines, where he had gone for treatment. It was thought after his return that he was showing a little improvement and his death was unexpected.

Luther Verbeck was one of Grinnell's characters. No one will readily forget the tall, angular frame, the rough hewn features and the sharp eyes, back of which lay kindliness and quaint humor. Few more lovable men than Luther Verbeck have ever lived, when one came to know him well. Of late years he has lived in partial retirement on account of his health and has found his chief recreation in wood working of various kinds. He was a handy man at the lathe and turned out some wooden puzzles and beads that were beautifully finished. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to show you a puzzle and when you had acknowledged defeat, to put it together for you.

His life was one of kindly impulses and kindly acts. He didn't have an enemy on earth. He was a man of education; an able chemist; a thoughtful, cultured gentleman.

Luther Verbeck, the son of Mr. C.H. and Emily Meredith Verbeck, was born on a farm near Malcom to which his parents had come in a covered wagon from Illinois, having bought the land from the government. C.H. Verbeck was a prominent and progessive citizen in his day. He owned one of Grinnell's first "horseless carriages," the name being well deserved, because it was built like a buggy, and Mr. Verbeck had many adventures in trying to drive it.

Luther graduated from Grinnell college in 1890 and received his Master's Degree two years later. He pursued graduate study in Harvard in 1892-93. He majored in mathematics and chemistry. He was a member of The Boston Chemical club and The Graduate club of Harvard university. He was a fine student of chemistry and collaborated with Professor W.S. Hendrixson on several published pamphlets, just before the latter's death.

Following his work at Harvard he was chemist for a time with the Illinois Steel Company in South Chicago. In 1895-96 he taught chemistry in Grinnell college while Professor W.S. Hendrixson was abroad.

Later he went to Florida with T.J. Darby and was chemist for a phosphate company in Ocala. The writer has heard him discourse most interestingly and amusingly on his experiences there.

After leaving the phosphate company he started a peach orchard at McClenny, Fla. and while in this location met the lady who was later to become Mrs. Verbeck.

The fruit enterprise failed at the time of the Spanish-American war and he enlisted in the hospital service and served in Cuba until May 1, 1899, when he received his honorable discharge. On May 22 of that year he was married to Ruth Tracy and returned to live in Grinnell, later moving to the farm where he was born. The family moved back to Grinnell in 1913 and in 1917 he built the home where he has lived ever since.

Mr. Verbeck is survived by his wife and daughter, Mrs. Roscoe Stratton. One son, Pierce, died in 1927.

Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning from the Congregational church, conducted by Rev. Robert Inglis. Burial will be in Hazelwood.