Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-27
Well-Known Soldiers Home Of
fetal succumbs to Long Ill
ness With Cancer
HAD FINE MILITARY RECORD
Entered Service in Twenty Fifth Iowa
as Private and Discharged as Ser
seant Major of the Resiment-Has
Been Adjutant of the Home for
Eight Years-Burial Sunday.

Adjutant Benjamin F. Warfel, of the
Iowa Soldiers Home, a man we'll known
turnout Iowa and for q number OF
years prominent in affairs and politics
in Washington county, died Thursday
evening at his home after an extended
illness with cancer. Mr.. Warfel haa
been suffering from the disease for a
number of years, but his condition did
not cause him any particular alarm un
til about year ago. On Christmas
day of last year he decided on an oper-
alton and left for Chicago where, at
the Presbyterian hospital, he submitted
to the use of the surgeons knife. After
five weeks in the hospital he returned
home, and has had no hopes of recov-
cry.
Mr. Warfel's condition has been very
critical for the past two weeks. The
cancerous growth, which involved the
left arm and shoulder and breast, and
spread turnout the back, had taken
such a complete hold on his system
that it was realized nothing could save
him. He was conscious almost to the
last, and his death occurred at 6:20.
Benjamin Franklin Warfel was born
in Wayne county, Ohio. Aug. 81, 1887
He came to Iowa in 1855. and located
on a farm in Washington county, near
the town of Washington. where he lived
until 1877, when he was elected re-
corder of the county, serving two terms.
or four years. He later engaged t.
business in Washington and for two
years served as deputy county treas
urer. A vacancy occurring in the coun-
ty authorship he was appointed by the
board of supervisors, and for two years
acted as auditor OF Washington coun-
.ty.
Mr.. Warfel had a very excellent re-
cord as q soldier. having served thru
out the war in the Twenty fifth Iowa.
He enlisted in 1861 in Company "A, of
the Twenty fifth, when the company
was organized, as a private, and when
discharged. In 1865, was sergeant major
Of the regiment. then under command
OF Col. d. j. Palmer, of Washington,
at present member of the board OF
railway commissioners of Iowa.
Eight years ago Mr.. Warfel was APP
pointed adjutant of the Home by Com
mandant j. r. Ratekin, the appoint
ment being made largely thru the in
fuence of the late C. l.. Davidson. of
Sioux City, who was then a member
of the board OF trustees of the Soldiers
Home. Mr.. Davidson and Mr.. Warfel
had been very close friends. Mr.. War
fel has served continuously as adju-
70, Mt \, is fnr no CT
ton may best be Judged from the fact
that he was the only one of the under
officials to remain during the succeed
ing administration.
Mr.. Warfel was married soon after
the war to Miss Eliza Vincent, of
Washington county. She died in 1873,
and three years later he was married
to Mrs. Susannah Stewart, who sur
wives him. Two sons. the result of the
first union, survive their father-G. W.
Warfel, of Oakland, Cal, and r. S.
Warfel, of Washington. The latter was
here at the time of his fathers death,
as was also Eli Warfel, of Washington,
the only surviving brother OF the de-
ceased. Two sisters. Mrs. Mary Neis
wanger and Mrs. Nancy Stahl, reside
at Washington.
The remains left at 2:04 this after
noon, via Cedar Rapids and Columbus
Junction, for Washington, where the
funeral will be held Sunday. Brief
services We're conducted at the chapel
at 1890 by Chaplain Jesse Cole, the
body having been taken to the chapel
in order that the members of the Home
might pay their last respects to the
dead. Commandant Horton made few
remarks in which he eulogiZed Mr..
Warfel as soldier and citizen. The
Soldiers Home band and an escort of
veterans accompanied the body to the
gates at I o'clock, and number of
the veterans went to the station with
the funeral party. The pail bearers,
selected from the older officers of the
membership OF the Home. were Capt.
a. w. Martin. Capt. A. NJ. Lucore, Capt.
Myron Lewis. Lieut.. Abner Chase,
Lieut.. j. d. Foulk and Lieut.. John f.
Gibson. Mrs. Warfel, Mr.. r. S. Warfel
and MIR. and Mrs. Eli Warfel accom-
panied the remains to Washington.
Letter to Mr.. B. p. Cornell, Marshall.
town, Iowa.