To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com>

Subject: OBITUARY - FRANK GARDNER.

Date: Friday, June 22, 2001 10:30 PM

Decatur County Journal

September 2l, l899

"FRANK GARDNER is dead" were the words which dimmed many eyes with tears

last Thursday evening, for numerous were the friends who possessed more

than ordinary sympathy for the sick man who had fought for life so noble

through the long, hot, weary summer, only to be cut down by the grim

monster in the first breath of the cooling autumn breezes which meant so

much to him.

The deceased had been confined to his bed since April l, at which time a

delicate surgical operation was found necessary to relieve a peculiar

derangement. Long weeks were passed in a St. Joseph Hospital, and

suffering from the wounds of the operation had ceased but physical

strength with which to combat the long confinement and pain was lacking

and death occurred only three weeks after the sick man was returned to

the sacred environments of his home.

Funeral services at the family residence on south Main Street at 2 p.m.

Sunday were conducted by Elder Clark of the Christian Church who spoke

words of comfort from the text, "He Is Not Here." Interment occurred at

the Leon Cemetery, the procession headed by the K.P. Lodge, of which

deceased was a member, comprising over seventy vehicles--one of the

largest ever seen on the streets of Leon. At the grave, the K.P. Lodge

had charge of the ceremonies. After the beautiful burial service of the

order had been read by Dr. A. Brown, a quartette composed of Dr. J.W.

Rowell, Dr. H.R. Layton, W.J. Edwards and H.J. Vogt softly sang "God Be

With You Till We Meet Again." The singers were accompanied by a brass

sextette composed of C.M. Kohler, Geo. Jackson, J.E. Penniwell, G.R.

Farquhar, R.L. Clark and E.H. Schenck.

JEHU BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GARDNER was born in Sparta, Stark County, Ohio,

Aug. l6, l853, and died at Leon, Iowa, Sept. l4, l899. His parents

moved to Iowa in October, l853, and to Decatur County in l854. He

graduated from the Leon High School with the class of l874, after which

he taught school until his embarkation in the grocery business in Leon

in the year l882. In l868 he united with the Leon Christian Church of

which his father is one of the only two surviving charter members. He

was united in marriage to MISS MARTHA HAMILTON, August 5, l88l. Two

daughters are the fruit of this union, who with the wife, a father,

sister and several brothers are left to mourn their loss. Who can but

feel that "his sun is gone down while it is yet day?" He will be missed

in the business circles of the town, in society, in the home. His death

is untimely and his brethren mourn.

Soft and safe be his narrow bed until we shall meet again on that bright

day whose sun knows no setting, where tears and farewells are unknown.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

June 22, l899