Lewis C. Hetzel 1850-1905

HETZEL, BRABHAM, TOWNSEND

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/18/2001 at 09:52:28

GONE TO HIS REWARD
L. C. HETZEL PASSED PEACE-
FULLY AND QUIETLY AWAY
THURSDAY EVENING AT
10 O'CLOCK

STUDENT, WRITER AND EX-CITY CLERK

The masterly sermon by Rev. J.
Longson, obituary And
Oration by A. E. Townsend

The Deadly Cancer Did It's Work.

The funeral services of L. C. Hetzel were held at the Baptist church at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. Longson preaching the funeral sermon and A. E. Townsend reading the obituary in delivering the funeral oration. The church was filled with sympathetic friends of the deceased, and Rev. Longson delivered one of his most masterly sermons on the dying words of Jesus, "It is finished." The subject seemed most appropriate on account of the patience and fortitude with which Mr. Hetzel approached the end, knowing for weeks and months prior to his death that the end must come. He calmly talked about it to his friends as one would speak of a contemplated journey into a far country.

He and Mr. A. E. Townsend were bosom friends and some years ago he requested Mr. Townsend to deliver his funeral oration, which Townsend had consented to do, thinking but little of it at the time. When the time came that Mr. Hetzel was compelled to quit work he called on Mr. Townsend at his office and talked freely of his condition telling him that he realized that his labors were practically at an end. His only regret seemed to be that he could not leave his family in better shape financially, and before leaving reminded Mr. Townsend of his former promise. The pledge was renewed, and at the close of the sermon by Rev. Longson, Mr. Townsend read the obituary and delivered an oration, which, by request of relatives and friends we hear print in full.

Louis C. Hetzel was born October 14th, 1850, at Romeo, Michigan. But little is known, by his immediate surviving friends, of his early or boyhood life, only that it was spent in Illinois and Kansas. In after years as he neared manhood, his father, Dr. O. Hetzel, then residing in Lawrence, Kansas and enjoying a successful practice there, encouraged his son L. C. to enter the Medical Department of the Iowa State University, where he was in attendance during the years 1868, '69, and '70. Having learned the printer's trade in Decatur, Ill., in his earlier life, on leaving the University he went to Fort Madison, Iowa, where for some years he was employed on the Ft. Madison Democrat. From there he went to Keokuk and entered the employ of Messrs. Hubbard and Thornber, editors of "The Peoples Dollar," thence to Burlington and worked on the "Railroad Reporter" which was being edited by E. O. Armstrong. He first came to Farmington in 1875 or '6 and began work L. M. Moores, on the "Farmington Gazette." On September 30, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Brabham, of this place. To this union were born six children, namely, Cassie, who died in infancy; Oliver, who resides in Palouse, Wash. where he has the foremanship on The Republic; Elda, who was a graduate of our high school and a successful teacher in the schools of the county; Edgar, Frank and Fay, who remain at home.

HIS CAREER

After spending some time in Farmington he went to Milton, Iowa, where he laid the first forms of the Milton Herald. Later he returned to a Ft. Madison and was employed on the "Plain Dealer" until 1887, when he again came to Farmington and entered the employ of F. W. Rockwell and Bro., on the "Farmington Herald," on which paper he spent 14 years of almost constant service.

He and his son Oliver, a few years ago, took charge of the "Farmington News" for short time, when Oliver decided to go west. Giving up the management of the "News" his time has been divided between the News and Herald until November last when he was compelled to cease work on account of failing health.

CAUSE OF DEATH

Aside from his own family, his most intimate friends knew nothing of the nature of his ailment until a short time before he gave up his work at the case of the Farmington News.

On careful inquiry by his friends it was learned that he himself had been conscious for some years past, that he was afflicted with a cancer on his tongue that was slowly but surely performing its deadly mission, and when asked why he had kept the secret so closely his only reply was "Why should I trouble my friends with my ills when it was not possible for them to render aid." The patience and fortitude he displayed in the face of the inevitable was heroic. His faithful, loving wife and children did all in their power to minister to his wants and kind friends were ever ready to extend sympathy or speak a word of cheer, all of which he so much appreciated, and which doubtless did much to allay his physical pain, and shed rays of sunlight into what might otherwise have seemed a darksome path. Notwithstanding all this, the end of this earthly career must come, and as sinks the sun behind the western hill at close of day, so quietly and peacefully he sank to rest, and at 10 o'clock, Thursday evening, February 16, 1905, the watchers by his bedside whispered "He is dead," and thus, in the very May time of life another heart has ceased to beat, another voice is forever stilled.

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A much longer version of this obituary and tribute to L. C. Hetzel can be found at the Van Buren County Library, Genealogical Department in the obituary files.

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I am NOT related and am posting this obit for those who may find this person in their family history.