Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 301, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1914 — Obituary of Benjamin F. Alter. [ARTICLE]

Obituary of Benjamin F. Alter.

The following is takeh from an obituary of the late Benjamin F. Alter, of Clinton county, published in The Weekly News of Forest: Death removed another pioneer resident Sunday night, when 'Benjamin F. Alter passed away at his home two miles east of Middlefork. His demise occurred at 7:25 o’clock and terminated an illness that extended oVer a period of two years. Mr. Allter lacked a few months of being 80 yefats of age. Benjamin F. Alter was born at Freeport, Pa Feb. 9, 1835. His 'parents, John and Charity Alter, were of German ancestry, the former a son of John Alter, who served in the revolutionary war, and the latter a daughter of Garnett Van Aredal, upon whose farm the 'battle of Gettysburg was fought. In 1836 Benjamin F. Alter came to Indiana with his father’s family, the senior Alter entering government land in Hancock county, near Greenfield. Six years later the family came to Clinton county, Ideating in Warren towinship and except for a few years spent in Ja'sper county this county had been the home of the deceased. Eally in life Mr. Alter mastered the cabinet maker’s trade which he followed successfully for a number of years before taking up a pursuit. In 1865 he enlisted in the aroiy during the war of the rebellion joining the 154th Indiana regiment. He was honorably discharged after being in the service nine months.

■On Dec. 27, 1859, Mr. Alter was married to Louisa A. Sims. Of eight children born to their union six, with their mother, survive. One son, Albert E. Alter, died a year ago. The surviving children are Lewis M. Alter, Mrs. Amy Chaney, and Mrs. E. Reed, all of Dayton, Ohio; Frank, of Rensselaer; Mrs. June Chaney oif Russiaville, and Harry Alter, at home. He also leaves.one sister, Mrs. Esther Sledge, who resides in Colorado, and who is 85 years of age. , Mr. Alter was a lifelong member of the Middlefotk Baptist church and one of its most devout and faithful Communicants. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, having become affiliated with the lodge at Middlefork many years ago.