Samuel Thomas Farmer (1867-1933)

FARMER, STAHL, BEANE, DREYER, UPDYKE, CRUMP, OSBORN, EASTMAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/20/2024 at 21:22:37

From Story City Herald November 9, 1933 (page 1)

S. T. FARMER IS LAID TO REST

Well Known Canning Factory Owner Died Suddenly Last Saturday

Samuel Thomas Farmer, aged 66 years, five months and 17 days, passed away at his home here at 3:30 a.m., Nov. 4th. While he had not been quite well for a couple weeks, it was not until the day before his death that his condition was considered to be serious, so his death came as a great shock to his family and the community at large.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon, at 1:30 at the home and at 2 o'clock at the Grace church, Rev. Fuller officiating. The daughter, Mrs. Dreyer, read portions of scripture at the home service. "Throw Out the Life-line," a favorite song of the deceased was sung by Margaret and Ruth Fuller, with Mrs. Sweet at the piano, and at the close of the service Ruth Fuller sang a verse of "God Be with You till We Meet Again." The pastor read Paul's chapter of the resurrection and in his sermon dwelt on the Christian's faith in the life to come.

The floral tributes were exceptionally large and beautiful. The pall bearers were: Arvie Jacobson, J. C. Jessen, Iver Egenes, Dr. W. A. Craig, Harold Paulson, all of this place, and Roy Chard of Audubon. Interment was made in Fairview cemetery.

All the members of the immediate family were present at the funeral. Among the many from a distance were noted the following:
Mr. and Mrs. Ward Harold, Marshall, Mo.; Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Reiff of Omaha, Neb.; Mrs. P. Banta of Moberly, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Updyke, and daughter of Grand Island, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard M. Reed of Menlo; Mr. and Mrs. Allan T. Percy, Mrs. J. Yaple and daughter Mrs. Lloyd Drew, Mr. and Mrs. Neal and son Maurice, all of Dexter; Mrs. N. R. Nelson, John de Jong, William Clapper, Donald Searle and Mr. Scott, all of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Dell Grebs and Mill Alma Behrends of Cedar Rapids; George Kelly of Grinnell; Paul Reed of Waterloo; Pete Pederson of Marshalltown; Sic Cliff of Ames; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Chard of Audubon; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pfeister of Carroll; Mrs. W. E. Nye of Onawa; J. J. Thompson of Roland; Mrs. C. Crump of Moberly, Mo.; Mrs. Martha Eastman and Mrs. Rachel Osborn of Kansas City, Mo.

Mr. Farmer has been interested in and operated the local canning plant for many years. He was a friend to everyone and loved by all who knew him. He was very energetic to the last hour. While he has been successful, he never quit work. He loved it. He was a home man who dearly loved his family, always putting everyone ahead of himself.

At the time of his death he was operating a large 1600 acre farm northwest of Jewell, known as the Mud lake farm, as well as actual management of the S. T. Farmer Canning Company here. He was known for his outstanding frankness and fair and honest dealing.

Mr. Farmer was born near Winchester, Kentucky, on May 18th, 1867, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Upton S. Farmer, being the fifth child of a family of 14 children. He left a crowded log home at the age of 13 to make his own way. His schooling was short termed, but he was willing to learn and applied himself to every opportunity.

His canning career began in Nebraska City, Neb., in 1888, and his first job was that of making tin cans by hand. He was united in marriage at Nebraska City on Nov. 10th, 1890, to Ella T. Stahl, to which union five children were born and reared. In 1900 he moved to Auburn, Neb., where he built and operated a successful canning business for nine years, always takin an active part in local enterprises, building homes, serving on Board of Education, as well as fostering canning association work. He has been connected with many canneries in Iowa, Nebraska and Florida, operating during the summer in the North and the winter in Florida. He purchased a home in Miami, Fla., where he went to rest and spend the winter, but could not stay idle, and returned to his residence in Story City.

At the time of his death he was a member of the Canner's Old Guard Society, the Iowa-Nebraska Canner's association and the National Canner's association, having always been vitally interested in association work.

He is survived by his entire immediate family of wife and five children, namely: Ella T. Farmer, Story City; J. LeRoy Farmer, Cedar Rapids; Verden F. Farmer, Mt. Pleasant; Mrs. Leta Farmer Beane, Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. LeBlanch Farmer Dreyer, Story City and Mrs. Devera C. Farmer Canny, Miami, Fla.; also four grandchildren and four of his sisters, Mrs. R. W. Updyke, of Grand Island, Neb.; Mrs. Chas. Crump, Moberly, Mo.; Mrs. Rachael Osborn, Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Martha Eastmen, Kansas City, Mo.

In Tribute to Dad
A finer, more honest man never lived;
He never took--would always give;
Therefore by his example
Let more of us so live.
--J. LeRoy Farmer.