List, John A. 1882-1937

LIST, MURPHY

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 2/20/2015 at 07:22:22

Source: Sioux County Capital (1-21-1937)

Born: August 23, 1882
Died: 1937

John A. List, Alton businessman since 1912 and the man largely responsible for Alton’s sanitary sewer system and paved streets, passed away at his home in Alton last Thursday morning after an illness of five weeks with malta fever. Everything that medical science afforded was used in the endeavor to save his life. He received three blood transfusions which gave him temporary strength and improvement but he became very ill last Wednesday afternoon and failed to rally.

Mr. List was born on August 23, 1882, at Galena, Illinois; famous as the home of General U.S. Grant, but came to Sioux County with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. John List, prominent farmers in the East Orange township, at a tender age. He married Miss Gertrude A. Murphy of Alton on June 16, 1910, and started his business at Alton-- the Independent Remedy Company--in 1912, together with his partner, the late J.M. McCarthy. Manufacturing good stock remedies for hogs and cattle, the business prospered and some years later the family purchased the fine, large home built by John Meyer a few years earlier.

During 1919 and 1920 when interest in a sanitary sewer system and paved streets was at a high point, Mr. Lost was mayor and successfully piloted both of these municipal improvements, giving largely of his time and attention to town affairs during this period with the result that the town has splendid system of sewers and sewerage disposal that has proven practically trouble-proof and a system of paved streets that total more than a mile of Jasper rock concrete.

Genial, and with more than the average of common sense and a keen sense of humor, Mr. List was a favorite with everyone who knew him. He was public spirited and had an unusual capacity for managing public affairs. He was chairman of the Democratic county central committee for a time. During the past 12 years or more he found it necessary to devote more of his time to his business and had retired from public service, feeling that he had done his share. His name will go down as a public benefactor here in Alton because of his great service during a critical period in the development of the community and his unselfish devotion to municipal affairs at the sacrifice of his personal business interests during that time.

He is survived by his widow, eight children and three brothers and three sisters. The children are Mrs. George Wathier, Alton; Mrs. Thomas Adams, Miss Margaret Lucille List, both of Omaha; John, Genevieve, Robert, Douglas and Mary Joan, all at home.

Brothers and sisters of this notable Sioux County family who survive are: Jake and Joe List, both farmers in East Orange township; Dr. Theodore List of Cumberland, Maryland; Mrs. George Callenius of Granville; Mrs. Jacob Minten of Los Angeles, California; and Mrs. Hattisdorf of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

Funeral services, in charge of the Very Reverend M.A. Schemel, were held at St. Mary’s Chapel at Alton on Saturday morning. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery here. A life-long member of the Catholic Church, Mr. List was a devoted part of the local parish and faithfully and gladly observed the tenets of his religion.

To the sorrowing members of the family of which he was the foundation rock, a veritable host of friends extend their sympathy. A fine citizen and a firm and steadfast friend, a great many feel his passing keenly.