Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-10-29
DEATH OF CAPT. WEISER
DIED VERY SUDDENLY LAST EVENING
Several Other Prominent Citizens and Old
Residents Called to their Eternal
Reward. Brief Obituary
Notices.
CAPT. E. I. WEISER.

A deep gloom Of sorrow spread over
the city and county last evening when
the news that Capt. E. !. Weiser was
dead was repeated from ear to ear.
But the day before he had been about
town in usual health, except a slight
touch of rheumatism which gave him
occasional pain. Monday evening he
started down town, but was taken sick
on the way and returned home and
went to bed. The doctor was sum-
moned, and he seemed to improve yes
terday morning and throughout the
day, but about five O'Clock in the even
ing the end suddenly came from heart
failure.
Can't. E. l. Weiser was born in
York, Pa April 10, 1885, and at the
age of sixteen he commenced work in
a drug store, continuing in this bust
ness until 1856, when he immigrated
to Iowa, and soon established drug
store in DEBORAH, it being one of our
pioneer business houses. He was
man of natural patriotic instincts, fill
led with the love of his country, and
when the call for volunteers came he
was the first man from Winpesheik
county to enlist in the service and
offer himself to his country's defense.
He enlisted as private in Co. ID, Sd
Iowa Infantry, and assisted in the
formation of the company. He was
chosen Lieutenant of the company,
and when Capt. Willett was wounded
was promoted to Captain. He was
valiant and faithful soldier, and par
ticipated in many severe skirmishes
and two hard fought battles. He was
wounded at the battle of Shiloh in the
right knee; and again at Hatchie,
Tenn. ON the 9Th of October, 1862,
this time in the right thigh. He laid
in the hospital for eight months, and
did not recover so as to perform active
service again. He was with his COM
pany at Memphis for a week, and the
officers of the company presented him
with silver pitcher as token of
their regard of him as a soldier and
commander. The wounds he received
1 in the service have bothered him a
good deal ever since, and he has al
ways been compelled to use cane.
| Upon recovering he returned to De-
corah, where he resumed the manage
ment of his drug store, which he con-
tinued up to few years ago, when he
retired from active life. He was mar
ried in 1864 to Miss Mary L. Vonhoff,
who, with three children, E. James,
of Ortonville, Mimi. Samuel ", until
recently of West Union, Iowa, and
Harry. who is attending Culver Mill
tary Academy, Culver, Ind remain
to mourn the loss of kind and affec-
tionate husband and father.
Few men in Winnesheik county
were more universally known or more
highly respected and honored than
Capt. Weiser. He was modest and
unassuming in manner, kindly, court
eous, with character of rare purity
and genuineness, man whom every
one loved to meet and to converse
with. He was successful in business,
and deeply interested in all questions
concerning public welfare, but stolid-
ly refused to accept political honors,
although repeatedly urged to do so.
His heart and life were wrapt up in
patriotism and love of country, and
his devotion to the Grand Army Post
of this city, of which he has been
Commander almost continuously since
its inception, except period of few
years when he refused to accept the
honor, and of which he was Com
mander at his death, was sincere and
steadfast. His comrades loved him,
the entire community loved him. and
will more universally mourn his death,
we believe, than any of the citizens
who have lived and died in DEBORAH
since its beginning. Lack of time
and space forbid us writing at length
of this good man, but columns might
we'll be filled with a recital of his
charitable and manly life. AS we 60
to press the time for the funeral has
not been determined.