Iowa Old Press
Hawarden Independent, December 11, 1913
All Hawarden is in mourning because of the passing away of L. L. Harlan on
Monday afternoon at two o'clock, at his residence on Gladstone hill. The
heart
of the whole community throbs with deepest sympathy for the bereaved wife,
son
and daughter, his nearest and dearest who are left to bear this overwhelming
sorrow as best they may. Mr. Harlan came with his young wife to this city
when
it was in its infancy. Every question of vital importance to the town has
met
his hearty co-operation.
So closely were the fibers of his interest bound up with the community that
it
could almost be said of him that he was “its bone and flesh of its flesh.”
He
has been an example to the youth of this city in clean living, and business
and personal integrity that has been of inestimable value, although his
natural modesty would have forbidden the thought to have crossed his mind
that
his life was especially praiseworthy. Truly he was one of "nature's
noblemen,"
doing his duty always as he saw it.
He has built up a successful drug business from a little country store to
one
which any city, might envy. His close attention to the details of his
business, his courteous manner and his earnest desire to serve his patrons,
together with the knowledge that his word was as good and his has brought
him
the success which comes to but few people in one lifetime. A few years ago,
realizing that the buoyancy of youth had left him, he incorporated the
business and took in with him as partners, his son Leon and Guy Burkett,
both
young men who had been practically brought up in the store, thus assuring
the
safety and permanency of the business structure which he had spent the best
years of his life in erecting.
Mr. Harlan became conscious of failing health early last spring but so
cheerful and uncomplaining has he been that no one but those closest to him
knew how ill he really was so that he death came as a shock and surprise to
most of the community.
The Independent has been privileged to call Mr. Harlan friend for nearly
thirty
years and it suffers a keen personal loss in his passing away and words are
to
weak for it to express the sympathy it feels for the wife who has come all
the
way with him, from young maidenhood to matronly maturity, and for the son
and
daughter, who, grown though they be, must sorely miss their father's tender
love and guidance.
Lawrence Laurado Harlan was born Jan. 8, 1862, at Ottumwa, Iowa. His parents
were S. H., and Samantha Harlan. At the age of fifteen he commenced learning
the drug business in his home town. After being an apprenticed pharmacist
for
a period of three years he registered, at the age of eighteen, pharmacist
No.
1695. Three years later, when he became of age, he received his certificate.
He then went from Ottumwa to Macedonia, Iowa, where he became manager of a
drug store for J. M. Kelly and company, In 1883 he married Miss E. May Mason
of Corson, IA. They soon after moved to Henderson, Iowa where for a period
of
about two years Mr. Harlan managed a branch drug store for J. M. Kelley and
Co. This store was the foundation for the present successful business which
stands a a monument to his business acumen and energy. It was located on the
corner where the Hawarden Reality Co. offices now stand. In the spring of
1888
Hawarden had her big fire and his little drug store was a part of the ruins.
For several months following the fire Mr. Harlan looked about for a more
favorable location and then returned to Hawarden fully satisfied with hits
surrounding and future prospects, and resumed business no occupied by George
Knight as a pool hall. In a short time Mr. Harlan purchased the interest of
his partner and became the sole owner of the business. In 1890 the business
had grown so that it needed more pretentious quarters and the store was
moved
into its present location and fitted up according to his well defined ideas
of
what a model drug store should be. It was then said that it was one of the
finest drug stores in the state in a town the size of Hawarden. Many
enlargements and improvements to store, stack and business have been made
since that time until it reached that acme of business perfection by which
it
is so well know today. A drug store, perfect in every detail was one of his
early ideals and that ideal was attained in the eyes of everyone save
perhaps
his own.
Some months ago he discovered that insidious disease had crept into his
system
and he at once dropped all business cares in the endeavor to regain his
health. With wife and daughter he went to the shores of Lake Okoboji,
enjoying the
boating, the fishing and the out-door life that it gave him. He returned
home
filled with renewed buoyancy and hope, but not for long. Two months ago he
went to Chicago to consult a well known physician and specialist. He was
advised that his life might be prolonged by a return to his own fireside and
there remain perfectly care-free and in quiet. But the seeds of disease were
too deeply seated to be thus uprooted. Last Saturday evening the high blood
pressure burst a blood vessel and formed a clot upon the brain, causing
paralysis of the right side of the body and rendering him unconscious from
two
that held him at that time. Medical skill could not allay the determination
of the
..destroyer, and the once strong constitution and inbominitable will that
had
served him so well in the past, slowly, but surely, gave way and at o'clock
Monday afternoon Maker's call was answered.
Funeral services were Wednesday afternoon at Presbyterian church, Rev. A. W.
Miles, pastor of the Congregational Church, preaching the funeral sermon.
Members of the Knights of Pythias lodge, of which Mr. Harlan was a charter
member in Hawarden, acted as pall bearers, and members of the Masonic
order,
of which he was also an honored member, were honorary pallbearers after the
services at the church the Masons took charge from there to the grave. The
large church was filled to overflowing with the friends he had gained during
his long and active life in this community. The business houses of the city
were all closed and the wheels of industry stilled during the funeral hour.
The floral offerings and other tributes to the high regard and esteem in
which
Mr. Harlan was held, were but mild expressions of the keen loss which the
whole community suffers.
His wife, May Mason Harlan, his son, Lawrence Leon Harlan, and his daughter,
Verna M. Harlan, are all residents of this city. Besides his immediate
family
he leaves three sisters, Mrs. E. C. Allen and Mrs. B. W. McCain of Spokane
and
Mrs. Wayne Secrest of Denver.
L. K. Mason, a brother of Mrs. Harlan, and his wife, of Hastings, Iowa, and
Mrs. W. S. McCord, a relative of Mr. Harlan, of Spencer, Iowa, and Mrs. W.
S.
McCord, a relative of Mr. Harlan of Spencer, IA, were here to attend the
funeral.