Suter, Martin 1820-1917

SUTER, WITEN

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/13/2013 at 09:14:41

From the January 20, 1917 Alton Democrat:

The funeral of Capt. Suter occurred Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the M. E. church. The Masonic order, of which he had long been a member, had charge of the service in accordance with a request of his own of long standing.

The relief corps, bearing the stars and stripes and the local Masonic lodge marched to the house at 1 o'clock and the Masons there took charge of the remains. Both orders then formed in procession and proceeded to the church which when all were seated, was filled to capacity. Rev. D. M. Simpson preached the funeral sermon and the male quartet sang some appropriate songs. At the cemetery, the Masons took charge and T. J. Reeves, as acting worshipful master of the lodge, went through the beautiful and impressive burial service which is invariably used for Masonic dead. Thus Captain Martin Suter was laid in his last resting place wrapped in the folds of Old Glory, which he had so faithfully defended and with the lamb skin which is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason and the sprigs of evergreen which is a symbol of the immortality of the soul deposited upon his casket. Thus may the angel of the resurrection find him on the last day.

Martin Suter was born November 20, 1820 in Hagerstown, Md., and died January 11, 1917 at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Wm. Twillman. In these two statements of fact, the “was born” and "he died" is compressed a human life of more than ordinary eventfulness and achievement. As a young man, he was ""bound out" by his father as a tailor's apprentice in accord with the custom of the time and served his time learning the trade. Later, possibly because he did not like tailoring, he adopted the vocation of butcher and followed it for many years. As a young man he was of a clean, manly habit earning the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was elected and served several terms as sheriff of Baltimore, county, Md.

He was married November 24, 1843, to Miss Ann Witen and eight children were born to them, six of whom survive. They are Rufus W. Suter and Mrs. Catherine Malonee of Baltimore. Md., Mrs. Ed Orton of Ireton, E. C. Suter, of Rock Valley, Ia., John H. Suter of Chicago, and Wm. M. Suter, of Malta, Montana. One died in infancy and Mrs. Annabelle Orton died three years ago.

When the Civil War broke out Mr. Suter raised a company and enlisted with them on the union side and served through the war. He was in 4 battles and it is related that in the battle at the wilderness he, with his company crept on their hands and knees through the burning timber and escaped death. He was made captain and later major and held this rank when he was mustered out in I865. After the war the family moved to Chicago to the new west, where he followed his occupation of butcher. He later came to Sioux county .with some of his sons and has for several years made his home with Mrs. Wm. Twillman. The Masonic lodge In Chicago, of which he was a member, sent him last November, on the occasion of his 96th birthday, 96 roses and for the funeral they sent a beautiful floral emblem of the square and compasses. The other floral offerings were many and beautiful.

Poster's note: This obituary was taken from the Saturday, January 20, 1917 Alton Democrat; however, date of the paper is incorrectly given as January 13, 1917 in the Sioux County newspaper database.