David William Phares (1883-1945)

PHARES, DOLPH, BENSON, CROSBY, MEACHAM

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/11/2016 at 23:21:25

From Nevada Journal October 11, 1945

Funeral Services For David Phares At Collins Oct. 7

Funeral services for David William Phares were held Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the Church of Christ, Collins, Iowa with Rev. Charles Lehman and Rev. George Adkins officiating. Surrounding and covering the casket were beautiful floral offerings bespeaking good will of generous friends and relatives.

In an unusually fine blend of voices, a quartette composed of Helen Cummings, Wanda Huntrod, R. A. Long, and Milton --ale, accompanied by Virginia F--- sang "Rock of Ages," "Lead Kindly Light," and "Shall We Gather at the River."

The pall-bearers were William Carver, Lloyd Cummings, Clark Dickinson, John Donnelley, Earnest Martin and Floyd Oswalt. Interment was in the Collins Evergreen cemetery beside his parents.

David is survived by four sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Geo. Dolph, Mrs. T. J. Benson, Benjamin H., Harry G., Mary L., and Minnie R. Phares. Also, being mourned by seventeen nieces and nephews, seven grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and several cousins. Of the nearest relatives, all but four were present at the funeral. Preceding him in death were his father, John William Phares in 1908 and his mother Didama Dickinson Crosby Phares in 1932, and a half-brother, Edgar Crosby in 1937. With David in his last illness were his two sisters, Mary and Minnie, at the residence south of Colo where the three maintained their home. He has been under medical care for heart disease since the early part of this year and received rest and special treatment at the Mary Greeley hospital in Ames for short time this past August and forepart of September. He returned home to continue the rest and heart treatments, but on Thursday morning of October 4 was seized with an attack of heart-blocking late that afternoon, he was seized with another attack and passed away quietly about 5:40 p.m.

David William Phares was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 23, 1883, and departed this life October 4, 1945, aged 62 years, 2 months and 11 days. He was baptized in the Episcopal Church at Columbus, Ohio.

The Phares family numbers among the pioneer settlers of New Albany township. David, at 3 years age and his half-brother, Edgar, then 9, came with their parents and settled on prairie land, an estate purchased from federal tracts by his paternal grandparents, Laura Meacham and William Sargeant Phares of Columbus, Ohio. David father, John William Phares, left his apprenticeship at law in Columbus to stake claims and maintain the Phares' legal rights to their government tracts in Illinois and Iowa as required by the early federal homestead laws, but really planning at that time to return to his law practice in Columbus. But John and Didama Phares remained on the Iowa farm where all their other six children were horn and reared. On this same homestead, most of David's life has been spent in active farming.

David is known throughout this section in his special farm interest of dairy and port production. Large herds of high-grade hogs he himself raised every year to the very last day of his life. He did his share, and much more, in the great Iowa food production work throughout two world-wars. David's untiring effort and success placed him as one of Iowa's master farmers never content to stay on a level but progressed with the years into bigger and better ways of promoting his chosen industry.

Although David never married he manifested always a kindly fatherly interest in his numerous nephews and nieces as well as in his brothers and sisters. He, and the maiden sisters, assumed the responsibility of carrying on the old homestead before and after their mother's death in 1932. His integrity was unexcelled and perhaps one of the best tributes that may be said of him is that if all able-bodied persons need their energies and talents only half as...

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