Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 248, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1911 — DEATH CAME THURSDAY TO JAMES MATHESON. [ARTICLE]

DEATH CAME THURSDAY TO JAMES MATHESON.

ening at 8:10 o’clock at his home on and each breath became weaker as he gradually passed into the life beyond. - • ■’V''■ J’ Mr. Matheson had lived in Rensselaer for about seventeen years and during all that time he maintained the respect of all. He was faithful 'to any trust imposed upon him and a man of lofty ideals and thus comman,led the admtatl™ of all with whom he btaipe He was first taken ill last April and from then until July he failed considerably. It was decided to take him to a hospital for examination and there he was advised that an operation was necessary. This was . undertaken but. a Condition was found that made it unadvisable to complete it, and' he was later brought home with the sad knowledge that there was no hope and thus he awaited the end. He leaves a wife and one daughter by-a previous marriage to mourn his death. The daughter is Mrs. George Reed, who lives northwest of this city, on the old Matheson farm; _■ 1

The funeral will be held at the Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, being conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. C. Parrett. The Masonic Order will also have part in the ceremony and the Modern woodmen of America, of which-he was a member for many years, will also attend th< funeral in a body. The following obituary was prepared by Rev. Parrett: . ■ v James Matheson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the eldest son of James and Margaret Matheson. At the age of seventeen, he with his parents, emigrated from Scotland to Ontario, Canada. In 1871 .he removed from- Canada and settled in Urbana, 111. Nineteen years later he moved to Havana 111., After remaining there for four years he came to Rensselaer, Ind., where he made his home until the time of his death. In early childhood while yet in Scotland he gave his "heart to the Lord Jeeus, and during all of the years of his life he was faithful to his Lord and to his ehurch. He has twice served the local curch as a ruling Cider, being a member of this board at the time of hie death. He was a Master Mason, a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Council as well as a member of Modern Woodman Lodge. Mr. Matheson was naturalized on Nov. 7, 1878, and was always a 'teyal son of his adopted country. ~

t)n March 2, 1868, he was married to Eliza M. Barr. To this union three children were born, Grace, Emma, and Mabel, of whom only one lived beyond the period of childhood. On September 7, 1905, he and one daughter were left to mourn the loss of wife and mother. On April 21, 1909, Mr. Matheson married Miss Jennie Halls, who with the daughter, Mrs. (led. Reed, and two grandsons, two slaters, one brother, and many other relatives and friends are left to mourn their loss. The church has lost a faithful member and the community a good eitisen. ■John .Paxton, a former Rensselaer boy, now engaged in business at South Bend, called at The Republican office yesterday afternoon to tell us how proud we ought to be of Rensselaer. He was shown the city by Dr. I. M. Washbnrn, and after visiting the colege, the new depot, the match factory and seeing the general progress that this city is enjoying he just could not hold in and said that every man who was here ought to feel mighty glad about it and never leave it. John returned to South Bend this morning. C ' Lorenzo Wartena stopped off here this morning for a short visit with his mother, sister and brother. He is engaged in business tat Leßoy, Hl., and was returning home from Elkhart, whers he had been called as an expert witness ina law suit He testified about electricity, having been engaged about all his Ufa in electrical Claud Elder, of Delphi, who came here with a traction engine and corn shredder that had "been sold here, remained for a few days visit wHh his uncle, Dave Elder and family. The D. A. R. wIH meet Saturday afternoon at 3:30 with Mrs. R. D. Thompson. The delegates to the state meeting will make their reports and a full attendance is desired. *