Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1909 — JOHN E. TILLETT DEAD. [ARTICLE]

JOHN E. TILLETT DEAD.

Former Prominent Citizen of GiUam Township Dies at Francesville Francesville Tribune: John E. Tillett, citizen and merchant, died at the family residence in Francesville, Monday night at twelve o’clock. The cause of his death was cancer of t£e stomach. Mr. Tillett had complained more or less for a long time, but the first real perceptible signs of broken health did not appear until March, when he had a hemorrhage of the stomach, which was diagnosed as being the result of an abscessed condition. He eventually recovered sufficient strength to come down town occasionally; there were days when he seemed to gain in the struggle, hut his ultimate recovery was looked upon with doubtful hope, as his first illness was a fore-runner of what might follow, cancer developed and for weeks he lingered in the shadows of death. During the time intervening between his first Illness and his death, he battled bravely for life, sustained by the splendid constitution he had built up by careful living and simple habits. At times death lurked the threshold, but time and again he rallied, although the end was anticipated; it was an unequal battle against an unconquerable foe. Mr. Tillett was conscious and in full possession of his mental faculties at the hour of passing away. Monday it was thought he was sinkjng rapidly and he Instructed the family about his business affairs and funeral arrangements and then awaited the summons of death to declare an armistice. At 11:45 he said he would like to hang onto life as he had so much to live for, but fate was against him and the peaceful termination came a few minutes later, when his soul was ushered In the mysterious beyond—the unseen and unknown.

Tuesday a post mortem was held to ascertain the exact cause of his death. Three tumorous cancers were found; one at the cardiac orifice of the stomach, another at the base of the biliary duct, the third was on the outside of the stomach and adherent to the intestines. These cancers produced hemorrhages and destroyed all of the functions of the digestive organs. John Edward Tillett was born in Jasper county, this state, March 10th, 1857. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Tillett, the fourth of nine chilren. He spent the early part of his life on the farm and on January sth, 1881 was married to Minnie Cunningham. To this union three daughters were born—Pearl, Emma and Virga. MrTillett continued on the farm until 1888 when he moved to Francesville in the grocery business with James N. Hayworth for two years, after which he disposed of his share of the business to his partner and entered the butcher business. In 1892 he traded for the Dr. D. W. Strouse drug store in which he was engaged continously until his fatal illness. Mr. lillett’s mother died in 1893, but his father at 84 years survives, also his sisters and brothers—James M. Tillett of Peru; C. F. Tillett, Mrs- Stephen Freeman, Mrs. Mary Parker and Mrs. Paris Robinson of Gillam; Mrs. Thos. Randle of Hope, Kan.; Dr. J. A. Tillett of Whitefish, Montana. The funeral was held at the residence Thursday afternoon, Revs. Casper Garrigues and J. J. CLaypool officiating. Interment was made in the cemetery east of town.