Elon C. (Fargo) Button (1870-1937)

FARGO, BUTTON, MCCAW, HALL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/15/2014 at 13:09:21

From unknown newspaper August 1937

E. C. Button*, 67, for over two score years engaged in the mercantile business in Nevada, died at his home, 728 Seventh street, Sunday* morning about 11 o'clock from heart and other complications.

Funeral rites will be held at Central Presbyterian church on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock with Rev. Jos. M. Kennedy in charge and burial will be in the Nevada cemetery. The commitment will be under the ritualistic rites of the Masonic lodge.

Mr. Button, whose health had been failing for the past few months, had consulted with specialists at the University hospital, Iowa City a few weeks ago, and was advised to return home and take needed rest from the cares of business.

Returning home, in strict accordance with that advice, he spent the most of the time in bed resting and was under constant observation by his family physician. His condition had not appeared alarming and it was not until Saturday night that there was a change for the worse.

Early Sunday morning he appeared to get some relief and finally sank into sleep from which he failed to awaken.

Elon C. Button* was born near Conrad, July 14, 1870, and spent his boyhood days there. He was about 20 years of age when he went to Marshalltown and accepted a clerkship in a drygoods store.

There he remained until September 22, 1894, when in company with a young man named Boldes, he came to Nevada with a stock of drygoods and clothing, which was located in the corner room of what was then known as the Patton block, which was to become the permanant place of business for Mr. Button.

Closing out that stock Mr. Button formed a partnership with I. L. Bigelow of Conrad and they started in the general mercantile business in the same room. During this partnership, the stock was changed to an exclusive drygoods stock. About 1900 Mr. Button purchased the interest of the partner and conducted an exclusive drygoods store.

He was married to Miss Martha McCaw of Marshalltown on August 20, 1902 and they established their home at 505 Seventh street. One daughter, Helen, was born to this union and she with the wife survive. Mr. Button also leaves one half-sister, Mrs. R. B. Hall of Marshalltown.

In 1910 he took in as a partner, A. W. Banks, who had been previously engaged in the drug business. The firm name became Banks & Button, the room to the north was leased and a clothing department was added.

Within the first two years of this partnership, the drygoods stock was closed out and they continued to occupy the corner room with a stock of clothing. In 1923, Mr. Banks withdrew from the business and Mr. Button continued to operate an exclusive clothing store until the present time.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Elon C. Button was actually born Elon C. Fargo, son of Wilton Fargo and Charlotte Elizabeth Button. At some point (presumably after his father died or divorced his mother and before his mother's remarriage in 1884), Elon took his mother's maiden name and used that the rest of his life. He died on 1 August 1937.