Ervin Henry Chase 1844-1903

CHASE, MALLET

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 8/29/2002 at 13:39:29

ELVIN HENRY CHASE.

OBITUARY SKETCH.

Ervin Henry Chase was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 2, 1844, and died at his home in Bonaparte, Iowa, December 19, 1903, aged 59 years, 2 months and 17 days.

He served in the U.S. Army during the rebellion, Company A. 2nd Ill. Artillery, for two years. He received a gun shot wound in the right jaw, in the battle fought at Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7, 1862, and later was discharged for disability. He joined Elias Ware Post of Bonaparte, No. 516, June 22, 1895, being a charter member of the post, as follows: Post Chaplin, Post Commander, and Quarter Master, having been recently reelected to the latter office for the second time.

Mr. Chase came to Bonaparte, Iowa, in 1877, and lived for a number of years on a farm north of town, but the last few years of his life were spent in Bonaparte.

He was married May 19, 1892, to Frances M. Mallet. To this union was born one daughter, Vera Iva, who with her mother is left to mourn their loss.

He was converted in the early part of his life, and united with the Free [torn, missing] in 1877 [torn, missing] Methodist Episcopal [missing] Bonaparte, of which he remained a faithful member. He faithfully attended the means of grace.

It is an inspiration to look into such a face, all aglow with the heavenly light. He will be greatly missed at the class meeting, at the prayer meeting, and at the regular preaching service. It seems he was ripening for his heavenly home.

Last Thursday night after prayer meeting he repeated the lines of the following hymn: “Jesus can make a dying bed feel soft as downy pillows are,” and said he knew just what that meant, for he had been near death’s door, and the nearer the happier he was, for Jesus was right there. And at the morning family worship on the day of his death he stated in substance these words: “Lord, this may be the last gathering of our family around this family alter. Lord, if it is, may we be prepared, yea if it be in the twinkling of an eye.”

And so it proved. His call came so suddenly that he could not even say good bye to his loved ones. Though frail in body he was in his usual health when, without a moment’s warning, “He was not for God took him.”

Though suddenly called he was not found unprepared, but with the armor of God on, and his face towar5d the enemy he left us, a victor over death, to be forever with the Lord. He was one of God’s chosen vessels, a fruitful tree, one in whom the Master evidently took delight for He has said, “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.”

He was a devoted husband, a kind father, a loyal and patriotic citizen, and will be mourned by a host of friends so we say,

Dear brother farewell, farewell!
Our hearts are bleeding sore.
But God hath called thee to a better
House in which to dwell;
Rest in peace for ever more.

The funeral was conducted from the M.E. Church Tuesday at 2 P.M. after which his remains were laid to rest in the Bonaparte cemetery.

[note: given name listed in article both as “Elvin” and “Ervin” while 2001 stone transcription reads “Edwin”.]

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA