DIED--At Van Wert, Iowa, December 22, l887, of heart disease after an
illness of about two weeks, JAMES IRVING, who was born in New Jersey, In
the month of November l805; came to Decatur County, Iowa in l853; was
one of the proprietors of the original plot of Van Wert, and was one of
our most prominent and yet one of our most peaceable and quiet citizens.
Coming here as a member of the Presbyterian Church, he opened his house
as a preaching place to a minister of said church by the name of
SPRINGER, who preached the first sermon (as I suppose)that was ever
preached in Van Wert.  Although BRO. IRVING lived to pass his 82nd year
and was quite feeble, yet he proved faithful unto death.  About May,
l886, he stopped in the street near the Christian Church to tell me what
a wonderful Christian experience he had.  He said he did not know what
was going to happen and I feel confident he now knows that he has got to
his beautiful Home in Heaven, where sickness and sorrow, pain and death
are felt and feared no more.  As he neared the fatal hour, he gave
positive evidence that all was well and he was ready.

Now, friends and neighbors, will you meet him when we gather at the
River, yes, yes, yes.  I fancy I hear from many friends, "By the Grace
of God I'll meet him and help him pluck and eat the embrasial fruits of
life and live forever with God".

The relatives wish to return their sincere thanks to the friends for
their assistance in their great affliction.

The funeral was preached by the writer from II Cor. 5:l, to a large
attentive and sympathizing audience, assisted by BROS. SAMSON,
THROCKMORTON and BULLARD on December 23, l887.

                                    JAMES BLAIR
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(What does embrasial mean? My Webster's doesn't show it. N)