The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-20
TO THE TOMB.
Funeral Of John Deere.
All that Is Mortal OF the Great
Manufacturer Consigned to Its
Final Resting Place.
MOLINE IN MOURNING.

all that Is mortal OF the truly great man
facturer and business man was laid
tenderly away at Riverside cemetery,
where John Deere will sleep forever
There was scarcely business house in
Moline that was not closed, and many
of the manufacturing establishments
bore evidences of grief, in the long black
draping which hung frorfthe front of the
buildings. Flags all over town were at
half mast, and in many windows were
photographs and crayon sketches of Mr..
Deere, framed in mourning The obse-
quies commenced with short private ser
vices at the house at O'Clock, prayer
being offered by Rev. G.. l.. Morgan, in
the presence Of relatives and intimate
friends only. AT $40 the casket was
conveyed to the vestbule of the Congre>
gational church, where the body was ex.
posed to view. Within an hour over
TWO THOUSAND PERSONS VIEWED THE PES
MAINS,
and thousand were turned away.
The crowd about the church at the time
of the arrival of the family, numbered
about four thousand
At 10 o'clock the casket was born to a
position in front of the pulpit. The ac-
tive pail bearers were Fred Marshall,
Charles Edgar, c. H. Surdine, Samuel
Gibson, Charles Smith, A. Neuquist,
Frank Young and Gus. johnson, all ems
ployes of the Deere shops, while the
honorary pail bearers were Messrs. H. A.
Barnard, J. T. Browning, NJ. IL. White,
H. A. Ainsworth, S W. Wheelock. J. S.
Keator, VIM. McKeever, J M. Gould.
Vim. Kerns, c. E, Els.
THE FLORAL, DECORATIONS
were grand and magnificent solid bank
of evergreen extending the entire length
of the pulpit platform. Upon it were
wreaths of white flowers; to the
left of the pulpit was beautiful
floral pillow, and to the right a
star and crescent. Upon the front of the
pulpit was heart surmounted, by star,
and at one side was cross and crown
and at the other sickle The pew of
the deceased was deeply draped, and on
the end was a floral chair with the word
vacant" inscribed in purple letters, and
at the entrance was floral sickle
At 1920 o'clock The doors of the church
were opened to admit the vast multitude
in waiting. Every seat was quickly
occupied, and many were obliged to stand.
After the members OF The family and
other mourners had entered,
IHE SERVICES.
were begun by Rev. G. l.. Morgan, VINO
read from the beautiful and impressive rit-
tiual OF the Episcopal church the verses
beginning, Il am the resurrection and the
life, saith the Lord" The choir OF
male voices, Mcssrs. J. W. Mcpherson,
Robert Blakemore, Charles Hepferne and
John Cooper, sang Beloved, it is well, =
and the Rev. Morgan read a
scriptural lesson, after which
the choir sang Rock OF Ages
THE FUNERAL DISCOURSE
was preached by Rev, c. L. Morgan, who
commenced by saying: Friends, we are
gathered here to offer tribute of love tC
him who has been dear to the entire com.
munity. To review the life of so great s
man, and one so much beloved would
seem appropriate at such time, yet
believe the services on this particular oc,
casion should be more In accordance witt
the simplicity of the man. There is moth
ing that YOU or | could bring that would
be too rich to lay at the feet of our be,
loved citizen, and no way in which W.
could attest too fondly our admiration
and esteem for our brother who ha.
gone" Continuing MIR. Morgan sale
that the name of John Deere was more
widely known than the town of Moline
itself, and after dwelling upon the greai
benefit Mr.. Deere had been to the com,
munity, he took for his text the scripture
verse
blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. /
No accident of birth or fortune, Mr..
Morgan said, could have made Mr.. Deere
what he was. 1t was to the inherent
principles of character that he owed his
success. 1t was the influence of characte,
which had brought out much which
would have depended upon other circum
stances. Underneath the circumstances
of his success, were the elements of O
lofty character, which gave him victory
and strength. From personal talks with
the deceased, Mr. Morgan had found tina
he must have had strong conscience.
There was evidence of it in his child
hood, in his business life and in his latel
years. His strong desire to be true ant
just was shown in his every dealing. HI
was pure, true, temperate man, among
all the temptations Of life. He had ,
calm, consistent faith, and was an adher
ent devotee to the bibles teachings
Mr. Morgan spoke of Mr.. Deere's Won
derful simplicity, tenderness and sweet
ness, and the gifts he had showered upol
every benefcient institution. He livet
to good old age. He finished his worI
ably and nobly, and has gone to his re-
ward. He had dealt all his life with hare
facts, was strong of mind and conviction
and would have been great man any
where. Mr. Morgan here urged that
memorial service be held at some futur