Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-11-01
In Memory OF Earl II. Masterson.

Death has disturbed the usual
peace and happiness of in the home
Of William and Mary Masterson.
Earl H. Masterson, their youngest
son, died of typhoid fever at the
State Agricultural College, in
Ames, Iowa, on Tuesday, October
~, 1900, in the eighteenth year of
his age.
Earl was born and spent his short
life at the beautiful homestead in
Greeley township, Audubon county
Being surrounded by good litera-
ture and refining home intlueces he
very early became interested in
education and the developement of
his talents. He was bright and
faithful in his studies and complet-
ed the course for the public schools
OF Audubon county, receiving his
diploma in March, 1900. To further
| prepare himself for usefulness as a
citizen and success in his chosen
field of labor he decided to take the
course at the State Agricultural
| College, in Ames, Iowa, where he
entered the Freshman Class at the
opening of school, last September.
He was making excellent progress
in his studies and rapidly winning
the confidence and respect of the
faculty and his fellow students
when he was taken sick, of typhoid
fever, and in few days death called
him from his labors. Mr.. Master
son was notified on Monday, by
telegram, of his sons serious con-
dition, and went at once 10 his bed
side. He found the president and
his wife, the faculty and the stu
dents kind, courteous and attentive
to the sick and their friends, and
feels satisfied that his son had bet
ter care and advantages from skill
ed physicians and trained nurses
than he possibly could have had at
home. When Mr.. Masterson arriv-
ed at the college building and was
shown to the room where his son
was the nurse in charge was just
preparing medicine for her patient
and turning to him she said: do
you know who this is?" And Earl,
who had laid with his eyes closed
most of the time since he was taken
i'll, opened them wide and replied:
"Oh. yes, that is papa! Say, papa.
are you going directly home from
here?" Mr.. Masterson, replied that
liz az anu dShCo Ills sui Al WAS
ready to go with him. No, sir, re-
here" Those were his last words,
of six o'clock in the evening he
sank peacefully to rest in the arms
of his God. His mother did not ar
rive until forty minutes after his
death and his sisters, the Misses
Stella and Beda. did not reach his
bedside until ten o'clock at night,
owing to the lateness of the trains,
When Mr.. Masterson, and wife ar
rived at Audubon with the remains
of their son they drove across the
country to the home, in the north
eastern part of Greeley township,
and arriving at the home of his
brother-1n-law, Mr.. Perry Carter, on
the way, he met that gentleman on
his doorstep and after informing
him that team was COM
ing with the body of his son, Earl,
only a little way off, he asked him
to precede them to his home and
inform his son, Mr.. Nellie Master
son, of the tact, fearing that the!
shock of his brothers death would
be too great for him to withstand if
he was not informed of it before
their arrival. That morning their
relative, Mrs. Matte Shoesinith, the
wife OF Mr.. II. o. Shoesmith, who
reside at North Branch, had got the
State Register and seeing in the
dispatches that Carl Masterson had
| died at Ames, the night before, of
| typhoid fever she had fastened to
the Masterson home to tell Nellie
the sad news. Nellie would not be-
lieve it, said the papers often got
things wrong, and that it could not
be so. Just then his uncle, Mr.. Per-
ry Carter, appeared and said yes,
Nellie, Earl is dead, and they are
coming with his body just little
way over yonder. The sad tidings
and great anxiety proved too much
for his nerves and he fell in dead
faint, and it took the united efforts
of his wife, Mrs. Thomas Allen. of
Extra, and others several moments
to bring him to life again.
The floral offerings were very
beautiful, many costly pieces being
sent by relatives and admiring
friends, and the parlor at the
William Masterson home presented
an exquisite appearance as the son
lay in state awaiting the hour set
Tor the funeral. Inc Bowman
Chapel was handsomely decorated,
and on Thursday friends gathered
and filled that spacious building to
its utmost capacity to pay the last
tribute of respect to one whom they
had learned to love and when the
funeral procession stared, never one
SO large in that community had been
seen, being over mile long, and
when the casket, which was borne
by six of his boyhood friends and
schoolmates and placed near the
altar. deep hush fell upon the
assemblage as Rev. w. I. Rink, the
Methodist Episcopal pastor, at the
Chapel, who was assisted by Rev..
A. Hickok, of the Union Baptist
church, gave out his text, from the
Thirteenth Chapter of ST. John. and
the latter part of the Seventh Verse,
using these words: !" What | do
thou knowest not now, but thou
shalt know hereafter" From which
1 the speaker drew many beautiful
lessons of faith in the divine will of
the Master. His sister, Miss Stella
/ MaSterSOn chose the HYMNS sung