JOHNSON, William J.: Died 1909

JOHNSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/22/2016 at 17:22:40

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Wed. 5 May 1909
FUNERAL OF WM J. JOHNSON
Large Attendance and Good Discourse.

There was a large attendance of old friends and neighbors as well as some from neighboring towns and the country, at the funeral Wednesday, of the late Wm. J. Johnson at Bonaparte. The funeral discourse by Rev. James Clark was an appropriate one. Mr. Clark, who had been the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Bonaparte the past three or four years, had left Bonaparte, but was visiting at Donnellson before departing for his new field at Dows, Iowa, and returned to conduct the funeral.

The floral tributes were many and very handsome. There was a pillow of flowers with the word "Father" and another with the word "Grandfather." Lynd Chapter, Order Eastern Star of Keosauqua, sent a lot of flowers, an offering that was much appreciated; and a great many others sent their tributes of esteem and love for this good man whose kindly heart went out in sympathy and good will to every human being.

The choir at the funeral was as follows: Mr. A.G. Roberts, Mrs. R.E. Meek and Misses Margaret Easling and Refa Packer, with Mrs. A.J. Page at the piano.

The pall bearers were Messrs. B.B. Vale, Benj. Ketcham, J.W. Fitzgerald, W.E. Smith, T.H. Hanback and W.P.L. Muir.

Mr. Wm. Page, the popular Bonaparte undertaker, attended to the details of the funeral.

"He hath bent him o'er the dead
Ere the first day of death hath fled,
The first dark day of nothingness.
The last of danger and distress,
Hath mark'd the mild angelic air;
The rapture of repose that's there."
--Byron

"But life is sweet, though all that make it sweet
Lessen like friends' departing feet;
And death is beautiful as feet of friend,
Coming with welcome at our journey's end."
--Longfellow.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 204, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA