Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1919 — TWO OLD SOLDIERS GALLED [ARTICLE]

TWO OLD SOLDIERS GALLED

George Pumphrey and John Q. Alter Answer “Taps.” George 0-. Pumphrey, a resident of this city for several years, died at his home in Columbia City, Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from creeping paralysis, from which he uad ben afflicted for the past year. He was 76 years of age last June and is survived by his wife and one son, Newton Pumphrey, also of near Columbia City The body was brought to Rensselafer Saturday evening, and the funeral held at the Methodist Church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, services being conducted by Rev. C. W. Postill, and burial made in Weston cemetery. Mr. Pumphrey was born at Connersville, Indiana, June 18, 1843. \His parents latter moved to Plymouth and in 1853 moved to Jasper county, locating near Brook l(what is now Newton county, then toeing included in Jasper county). He was an old soldier and served in the civil war in Co. E, 99th Indiana.

John Q- Alter, an old soldier and a respected citizen of Rensselaer, died at his home on Park avenue at 4:30 Sunday afternoon after illness. Mr. Alter been a 'resident of this city for many years and was, up to three years ago, rural mail carrier on route 3 out of this city, when be gave up bis work on account of poor health. m In 1917 be suffered a stroke of paralysis which with other complications caused his death. For the past year or more he had been practically helpless and a nurse had cared for him continuously. Last Wednesday he dropped off to sleep and lay Tn a comatose condition from that time to the hour of his death. Mr. Alter served in Co. A, 87th Indiana, in the civil war and/was one of the youngest men in the service. He was born December 28, 1844, and was 74 years and 14 days of age at the time of his death. Deceased is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Bertlfa Grant of Chicago, Mrs. Blanche Fritts of Indianapolis, and Mrs. Charles Nowell of Colorado, and one son, Frank Alter, now of this city. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at 2 p. m. at the Methodist church and burial made in Weston cemetery.