The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-12-11
PATRIARCH PASSES.
Sudden Death of the Venerable
Robert seen

Robert Sewers, aged ninety-fye
years, died at his home a mile south
west of the city Sunday afternoon
about 1880 o'clock. Death was caus-
ed by stroke of apoplexy and en-
sued after brief spell of unconscious
ness,
Mr.. Sewers had been In his usual
excellent spirits and good health. In
fact he has been feeling unusually
strong and vigorous for some time
past. He was feeling in his usual ex-
cellent health and spirits Saturday
evening and Sunday morning. Later
he seemed troubled in some way an
was in rom of the home. He was
alone for moment and Mrs. Sewers
returning to the room found him ly-
ing on the floor where he had fallen.
He was quite unconscious and breath
ing with difficulty. Mrs. Sewers call
ed to her grandson, Dot Sewers, who
lives in the house with the old people.
This was about half past eight o'clock
in the morning. Medical attention
was secured Immediately but to no
avail.
DR.. j. G. Barringer was called and
arrived at the Sewers home as soon
as possible after receiving the sum-
summons. The old gentleman was
past all human aid and was dying.
Physicians could not help him.
Robert Sewers came of a large
family resident in Kentucky and for
number of years lived at Coyington
and later in Ohio cities. He develop
ed a marked talent as a portrait ar
fist and for almost twenty years fol-
lowed the avocation of a Thinner
His work was lucrative and enabled
him to save considerable means. He
purchased 100 acres of land south
west of Oskaloosa in 1851 and on the
following year he came to Mahaska
county and moved to his farm. The
place has been the Sewers home
since that time. Robert Sewers pros
pered and made one of the noted and
most hospitable country places to be
found anywhere in the county.
He celebrated his nuptials April Is,
1912, marrying Miss Ellen Bryan, of
Coshocton county, Ohio. The union
was blest with three sons, all of whom
are living today, George w. Sewers,
general solicitor of the Iowa Central
Ry,, Byron V. Sewers of the White
Breast Coal Company and Former
mayor of Oskaloosa, and w. A. Seev-
erss, prominent citizen and coal
operator Of this city.
The deceased was model citizen.
He was man of affairs and at all
times had the keenest interest in the
doings Of the times. He enjoyed the
fullest confidence and esteem of his
lfellowmen and has been honore6 by
Offices Of public trust. He was for
years leader in the political affairs
of his township, but would never ac-
cept higher station in the civic organ
ization. He preferred to do his duty
as the citizen rather than as the rep
resentative. He was made treasurer
of the State Agricultural Society at
one time and held the place for a
number of years, rendering an excel
|
He lived simple open life and was
remarkable for his strength aud his
perfect health even in old age. He
never used glasses and only o; late
years has he been annoyed by imper-
feet hearing. Had he lived until
Tuesday, December he would have
completed the ninety-fifth year of his
| life. Even at this advanced age he
was as vigorous and active as many
man of half his years. 1t was q
pleasure for him to walk to and from
the city. He was a visitor in town
almost every week in the year and
took pride in his ability to walk the
distance. He had noted for some lit
tie time, however, that his limbs were
| failing and becoming unsteady and
the fact caused him some concern.
Yet his general good health did not
fail. Recently he has been complain
ing of dizzy spells and several times
he has narrowly avoided falling 1t is
thought that this was the roreshadow-
ing of the end. He passed away as
he had lived, peacefully and quietly.
He was widely known and he counted
his friends by the hundreds. His
death is regretted generally and the
family has the sympathy of the entire
community in their sorrow.
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