Pruden, George A. 1849-1914

PRUDEN, LEISURE, WEAVER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 3/16/2014 at 08:52:57

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Feb. 20, 1914

GEORGE A. PRUDEN

It was a shock to all Grinnell when the news was flashed over the wires from Guernsey that the big, bluff, genial George Pruden had died suddenly there. Mr. Pruden was one of Grinnell's well-known citizens, a man generally respected, and his general state of health, even that morning, had seemed to be such that there was no reason for suspecting anything else than that many useful years were left him. Heart failure caused his sudden death.

Mr. Pruden went to Guernsey Tuesday morning to do a job of surveying for W.H. Hillman. He enjoyed the day's work, chatting pleasantly with Mr. Hillman, and finished in ample time to take the train for home. He and Mr. Hillman started to walk to the station, Mr. Pruden carrying his transit case and overcoat. Suddenly he stopped, sat down on the case and remarked that he was very warm. Mr. Hillman offered to help him, but he refused aid, got up and started on. A little farther along, he again stopped and sat down on the case. Mr. Hillman hurried to help him, but he was almost immediately unconscious and died within ten minutes.

The body was brought to Grinnell overland on Wednesday and the funeral was held yesterday afternoon from the home of Mrs. Pruden's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Leisure, where Mr. and Mrs. Pruden have been living. Rev. P.F. Marston spoke words full of comfort and assurance. The pall bearers were A.C. Harriman,, G.H. Hamlin, A.C. Child, Frank Child, John Hastings, D.S. Morrison. Interment was in Hazelwood.

Mr. Pruden would have been 65 years of age, had he lived until the 26th of next June. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Mrs. Walter L. Weaver of Iowa Falls, who with her husband, was present at the funeral.

George A. Pruden was born in Chelsea, Mass., June 26, 1849. He was an only child and at the age of six years was left fatherless. He lived with his mother until in his young manhood, he came west to take a position as civil engineer with the Iowa Central railroad, then just being constructed. He assisted in the construction work and for many years remained with the road, a trusted and valued employe. On Oct. 5,1875, he was married in Grinnell, to Laura Leisure, and for a number of years during that period the family home was in Grinnell.

In 1893 Mr. Pruden moved to Joliet, Ill., to take a position on the engineering staff of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern railroad. Here he made his home for nine years then returned to Iowa, with headquarters at Iowa Falls, to work on the construction of the Short Line to Des Moines. From there he was called south to take a position with the Illinois Central on the line which was being built from Corinth, Miss., to Birmingham, Ala. He was here three years, and seven years ago he and Mrs. Pruden returned to Grinnell, called by the growing feebleness of Mrs. Pruden's parents.

In due course of time Mr. Pruden became city engineer, a capacity in which he served faithfully and well. When the office of county engineer was created by the legislature, the board of supervisors chose him to be the first incumbent of the office in Poweshiek county. Here also he rendered efficient service. His term of service was interrupted by his death.

Mr. Pruden could trace his ancestry back to the Puritans of the Mayflower and some of the Puritan strain seemed to have persisted in him giving him at times a sternness of manner which was forgotten when one knew the warm heart beneath. He was a man of strong religious convictions. In his youth he joined the Methodist church but after he came West became a faithful and consistent member of the Congregational church. He was an active and interested worker in the Men's Brotherhood of the Grinnell church and also in J.W. Gannaway's Sunday school class.

He will be sadly missed by all those who have learned to know him during the many years in which he has been identified with the life of Grinnell.