The Van Buren press., 1897-02-27
DR.. JAS. A DIBRELL
Passes Away Peacefully Surround
ed by Relatives and Friends
Another Old Landmark

| Sorrow pervades our community and
the rapidly thinning ranks of our old
citizens shows another vacant place.
| DR.. Jas. A. Dibrell, who was known
and esteemed by everyone, is no more.
! The announcement of his death Tues
day morning at $50, while not un-
heralded, was a surprise to many. He
had been in feeble health for some
weeks, but not until Monday did his
condition become critical. All that
medical skill and relatives and friends
could do had been done and his last
hours were cheered by the presence OF
all his children and near relatives.
Dr. Dibrell had reached the ripe age
of so years, having been born at Nash :
vile, Tenn. in 1917. He was OF
French Hugenot descent, his ancestors
having fed from France during the
reign of Louis XIV. His father was a
| soldier in the colonial army during the
revolutionary war. He began the
! study of medicine at an early age and
graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1889 In 1S42 DR..
Dibrell came to Van Buren,, where he
has resided ever since with the exception
of short time during the war, and
during all these years has had the
esteem and friendship of everyone who
had the pleasure of his acquaintance,
his christian character and natural
politeness making him friends wherever
he went. From the time he came to
Van Buren up to a few weeks before
his demise DR.. Dibrell followed his
chosen profession with uniform success
and acquired an enviable reputation
among the medical fraternity.
During his entire life DR.. Dibrell was
a consistent member of the Presbyterian
church-a christian in every act and
deed-every day by some act of kind
ness he set an example which others
would do we'll to emulate.
The funeral services, which were in
charge of the Masonic and Knights
Templar fraternities, were held at the
Presbyterian church, Rev. Tucker
officiating, who in well chosen words
spoke of the unselfish life of the
deceased and portrayed his many
beautiful traits of character. The
church was crowded to overhowing by
those who wished to pay their last
respects and the funeral cortege was
one of the largest ever seen in Van
Buren,.
1t was headed by mounted escort of
members of Jacques de Molay Com
mandery, knights Templar, from Fort
Van Buren Lodge No. 6, F. & A. M. i,
and these in turn by members of the
medical fraternity of Fort Smith. AT
the cemetery the beautiful burial rites
of the Masonic order were had and the
body of beloved comrade assigned to
its last resting place.
Seven children are left to mourn his
demise: Mrs. DR.. DuVal, Mrs. Geo.
T. Sparks, Mrs. DR.. Hynes, of Fort
Smith, Mrs. A. Shibley and DR.. M.
s. Dibrell, of this city, and Drs. j. A.
and Ed R. Dibrell, of Little Rock, to
whom our entire community extends its
sincere sympathy.
The following memorial in honor of
the deceased was delivered before the
members of the Masonic fraternity,
who had assembled in special session
Wednesday morning, by Worshipful
Master II. c.. johnson:
Hall of Van Buren Lodge No. 6, F. g. A. NJ.
VAN BUREN, Ark, Feb. "A, 1877.
MY BRETHREN
/ have called you to assemble in the character
| OF Masons to pay the last tribute OF our esteem
| to an honored citizen. q devoted Mason, a
devout christian And when we say that he
shone with lustre that marked his conse-
quences among men, that as citizen he was
, widely and well known, that he proudly un,
| furled the christians banner in early life. and
| that he won the badge of a Mason with credit
| to himself and honor to the institution" there
| is little more to be said.
What glorious record to be inscribed to his
memory:
| An honored and beloved citizen.
A faithful and devoted Mason.
A sturdy and devout christian.
| Andtnow, with sorrowing hearts, my brethren
| let us lay to rest all that is mortal of our
| 40 A nd WI