Jasper A. DOUGLAS

DOUGLAS, GLOVER, MERRIMAN, GRAY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/8/2011 at 18:01:16

Bedford Free Press
Bedford, Iowa
Thursday, January 1, 1903

Died of Tyhpoid Fever.

Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, December 21st, Jasper DOUGLAS died from the effects of typhoid fever, from which he had been suffering for about five weeks. Rev. GRIFFITH preached the funeral sermon at the home Monday afternoon. Interment in Bedford cemetery. For a long time Jasper had been employed as baker in the Stephens & Wertz restaurant, and leaves many friends and relatives to mourn his departure. He was a hard working, energetic young man, and had the entire confidence of his employers.

Jasper A. DOUGLAS was born September 21, 1882 (sic, should be 1881), in Ringgold county. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H[enry]. W[allace]. and Betsey [(GLOVER)] DOUGLAS, of Bedford. He was the youngest of five children. Of these there survive him as follows: William H., Clarence C. [harles], Mrs. Ida M. MERRIMAN.

His mother died December 1, 1901. The surviving members of the family have the sympathy of many friends in their hour of affliction.

Jasper was to have been married Christmas day to Miss Alice GRAY, of Grove Township. This young lady helped nurse him, and did all in her power to alleviate his sufferings and make his last hours as comfortable as possible. Sad indeed was the Christmas-tide for this girl, who has the sympathy of many in having to be separated from one she held most dear.

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Bedford Times-Republican
Bedford, Iowa
Thursday, December 25, 1902

EARTH TO EARTH.

One of Our Most Promising Young Men is Taken
from Our Midst by Grim Destroyer
That the hand of death is guided by laws and decrees superior to those of man is evidenced by its utter disregard of persons or conditions when it claims a victim. The strength and vigor of young and blooming manhood stands side by side with decrepit old age in its somber shadows, neither knowing the day nor the hour. Death calls us in the innocence of babyhood, from the joys of childhood --- it calls us as life's work is just begun or when we are in the midst of great enterprises, and it calls when ambition has been stricken by the storms of time — it is ever calling and leaving some circle desolate, some heart stricken.

OBITUARY.

Jasper A. DOUGLAS was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, September 21, 1881, and died December 21, 1902, at 2:45 p. m. at the home of his father. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. D. W. Griffith, of the Baptist church, at the residence — text Isaiah 43-2. Interment took place in the Bedford [Rose Hill] cemetery.

About one year ago his mother died and the young man lived with his father, H[enry]. W. DOUGLAS, and little niece, Grace, who some time ago found a pleasant home in this family.

His sister, Mrs. MERRIMAN and her husband, Rev. MERRIMAN, of Clearfield, were present at the funeral, as were his two brothers William H. and Clarence C. DOUGLAS.

Deceased was just entering young manhood and was one of our most promising youths, his good habits and excellent disposition pointing clearly to a pleasant and useful future. To know him was to be his friend.

One of the very saddest features, perhaps, in connection with the death of this young man is the fact that he was to have been married tomorrow evening to a most worthy young lady, Miss Alice GRAY, of Grove township. The bride-to-be showed her loving and lovable nature in her untiring care and devotion during the four weeks of illness. She proved "faithful unto death," and the tender cords were rudely sundered by the common enemy—death. Thus, in the very contemplation of happiness, we experience bitter despair, and before the echoes of glad laughter has died away, we hear the groans of affliction.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011