Birchard, Rufus C. 1868-1934

BIRCHARD, WASSON, MILLET

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/27/2012 at 09:55:41

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

R.C. BIRCHARD OF KELLOGG DIES
(By a Staff Correspondent)
Kellogg, Ia., May 1, Special:

Rufus C. Birchard, prominent business man of this place for the past fifty years, died at his home Sunday morning at 6:30, following an illness of six weeks' duration.

He had been in failing health for several months and suffered a severe heart attack while at work at the store Saturday, March 17, from which complications developed which caused his death.

Born on a farm south of town March 16, 1868, he attended the grade school here and was graduated from the Callanan School of Pharmacy in Des Moines. He has been connected with the drug business since he was fifteen years of age, when he began clerking in a local drug store. Later he was in partnership with the late Dr. W.S. Adair of this place and also C.W. Woodward and since 1906 has been sole owner and proprietor of the Birchard drug store here.

He was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Wasson of this place in 1897 and to this union one son was born, Hollis T., now a druggist at Wilton Junction, Iowa. Mrs. Birchard died in 1921 at Rochester, Minn., following an operation. He was married a second time to Mrs. Eleanor Millet of this place, June 5, 1928.

Mr. Birchard has always been prominent in community affairs, having served as town clerk, township clerk, secretary of the school board, and at the time of his death was secretary of the Kellogg Mutual Telephone Exchange. He was active in all the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal church and Bible school and held numerous offices here, being chorister at the time of his death. Surviving relatives include his wife, a son, Hollis T., of Wilton; two brothers, S.G. and T.L. Birchard of this place, and a stepmother, Mrs. Mary C. Birchard, also of this place.

Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with the Rev. Ernest McAninch of Macedonia, a former pastor of the church here in charge. Burial will be made in Our Silent City.