Fredric Clifton "Fred" McCall (1868-1923)

MCCALL, FERNER, CRONENWET, KENNEDY, KLOVE, MILLS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/28/2014 at 01:14:35

From unknown newspaper September 24, 1923

PROMINENT NATIVE SON OF NEVADA DIED SUDDENLY

FRED C. MCCALL LAID TO REST SUNDAY AFTERNOON--DIED FRIDAY NIGHT

The people of Nevada and other parts of the county were shocked Friday night when the news spread that Fred C. McCall, 55, prominent banker and landowner, had passed away at 3:30 o'clock from cerebral hemmorage during the afternoon.

Mr. McCall had suffered a stroke of paralysis the evening of March 7, and was for some weeks continued to his home, for a time in a very serious condition. He made very remarkable recovery, however, and for some months had been able to be at the First National bank of which he was president and actively engaged in business.

While he had not been so well for the past ten days he had been at the bank Friday forenoon and came up again in the afternoon. He left the bank about two o'clock for his home doubtless suffered the hemmorage on the way and had difficulty in reaching his destination.

Knowing that Mrs. McCall was away for the afternoon he went to the home of Mrs. McCall's mother, Mrs. J. D. Ferner, nearby the McCall home, and as he started to mount the steps was seen to stagger and fall. A neighbor lady phoned the bank and Messrs. Fawcett and Markland hastened to the McCall home. Not finding him there they went to the Ferner home which he had entered.

In the meantime he managed to get up and into the hall, where he was found seated on a chair when Miss Ferner came down in answer to his call.

The family and a physician were hastily summoned and it was realized that the end was very near. He soon lost consciousness and passed away at 8:30.

The funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon at 3:00 and in spite of the short notice to many, the neighbors and friends gathered from a great distance and it was one of the largest funerals that has been held n Nevada for many years.

The services at the house were in charge of Rev. Jackson Giddings of the First Methodist church. Interment was under the ritualistic ceremonies of the Masonic order, of which he had been a long time member. Mr. Arthur Pickford sang two solos during the service at the house.

The floral offerings were many and most beautiful and the appointments and services were simple yet very impressive.

Fred C. McCall, native and mush beloved son of Nevada, was laid to rest, under a bright September sky and amid the rustling of the autumn hued leaves of the huge oaks which tower over the family lot on the brow of the will on the western edge of the Nevada cemetery. it was a fitting service and impressive interment of one of the prominent and respected factors of the community.

The sister, Mrs. Minnie B. Cronenwet, was here at the time and the arrival of Judge McCall from Ft. Dodge completed the family circle at his bedside when he was called by death.

In the death of Fred C. McCall, Nevada and Story county loses a man who has been a very strong factor in the upbuilding of the community and a man whose place will be indeed hard to fill. He was a man whose friends were numbered by his acquaintances, even his business competitors and political opponents recognizing and acknowledging his integrity, honesty and true worth as a man among men.

Fred C. McCall

Fred C. McCall, was born at Nevada, Iowa October 7, 1868, a son of Thomas Clifton and Mary A. McCall. The McCall lineage traces back directly to the Revolutionary war times. Samuel W. McCall, the grandfather, was a soldier of the war of 1812 and the great grandfather, Thomas Clifton served for seven years in the Revolutionary war under General Green. The family is Scotch-Irish descent.

Captain Thomas C. McCall, father of the subject of this sketch was born in Ross county, Ohio in 1827, but located in Nevada in 1858 and resided here until his death, August 17, 1892. Captain McCall left three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, John A. McCall, a son of the first wife, died later in Des Moiens. The others Fred C., Edward M. and Mrs. Minnie Cronenwet were children of the second wife, who was Miss Mary A. Boynton. Following the death of the second wife, Captain McCall was again united in marriage this time to Clara Kennedy of Ohio, who with the son, Judge Edward M. McCall and Mrs. Cronenwet, is left to mourn the death of Mr. McCall, Sr.

Fred C. McCall spent his boyhood in the schools of Nevada and later studied for sometime at Iowa State college, Ames. After spending a year in the west he returned to Nevada and engaged in the land and loan business with his father, who was an attorney as well as an extensive landowner and dealer. He was connected with his father until the latter's death in 1892, after which he continued the business under his own name until he was appointed postmaster February 1, 1892. He served as postmaster for 10 years or more when he was succeeded by Joseph M. Bricker.

In 1905 he was selected to the board of directors of the First National bank and served in that capacity continuously until hes death, being president of the bank and very active in the workings for the past few years.

On September 3, 1890, Mr. McCall was united in marriage to Miss Alice Klove, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Klove of Nevada. Her death occurred a few months later and May 7, 1895, Mr. McCall was joined in wedlock to Edith V. Ferner, born in Nevada, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Ferner.

He leaves his wife, Edith V. McCall, a son, Thomas Clifton McCall Jr., and daughter, Mrs. Elva Hazel Mills, four grandchildren, Mrs. Clara McCall who had long been a mother to him, a brother, Judge Edward M. McCall all of this city, and sister, Mrs. Minnie Cronenwet, of Monrovia, Calif. The mother, Mrs. Clara McCall had been in ill health for the past several months and her condition has been recognized as serious for some weeks and was the cause of much concern on the part of the family.

Mr. McCall inherited the Republican faith of his honored father and he gave that faith his stalwart support. He had served in the councils of that party long and faithfully, had been honored in places of trust in the community in which he lived. His substantial qualities had won for him the high and enduring regard of the entire community, as well as that of a wide circle of acquaintances gained through his business and political activities. True to every trust imposed upon him he was recognized as one of the respected and public spirited citizens of the community, as well as prominent factor in the business and financial circles of the county.

He had been active in the Masonic circles of the county, being a member of the local Blue Lodge and Chapter of Excalibur Commandry at Boone and a carter member of t Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. He was also a member of and had long been a trustee of Central Iowa Lodge No. 104 I. O. O. F.