The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-05-30
B. Frank Cralgo

only son of Nathan and Mary Knapp
Craigo, was born in Leon, Iowa, Sept. ~,
1871, and died at his mothers home Id
Leon, May "a, 1907, aged 35 years,
months and ~ days.
This brief life that covers but half Of
mans allotted time was practically
spent in the town where he was born.
With the greater part of this life the
people of this community are we'll ac-
quainted. Because of this acquaintance
they will the more highly prize this
brief biographical sketch. Frank was
married to Miss May DurrelI Feb. /
1901. To this union one child, Dorothy
May, was born, who with the motherI
survives. Also his father and mother
and two sisters, Mrs. Edith M. Carmean
and Miss Lulu L. Craigo, are left to-
mourn his early departure. When
boy he entered the printing Office Of
Mr.. O. E. Hull and under his instruction
mastered the printers art, acquiring
more than local reputation as an expert
workman. His musical talent and gift
of song were such as to make him
fayorite in the circle of his friends and
by them he will be greatly missed. He
was naturally of a kind and generous
disposition, frank and eRen.s The prom
Use of a prosperous and useful life was
before him. But in his youth and early
manhood he acquired habits that be-
came so strong as to prove his undoing,
and as you know, the life so full Of
promise was sadly marred. After a
while sickness laid its relentless grasp
upon him. He made an heroic fight for
life and health. Loved ones gave such
devoted service as is rarely seen In
the midst of these conditions the writer
of this sketch first met him. Soon after
the beginning of the acquaintance
Frank asked this significant question.
"Do you believe in death bed repent
ance?" 1t revealed an interest in his
spiritual condition. Not long there
after he professed faith in Christ as his
Savior and on Feb. II, 1907, he was
baptised and received into the Method
ist church. The change is his spiritual
life was apparent to all. He bore his
suffering with great patience. His
gratitude for the care given him by his
mother and sisters and for the kindness
shown him by his neighbors and friends
was unbounded. Nearly two months
ago he seemed to realize that the end
was drawing near. He was anxious to
get we'll that he might undo the mis-
takes of the past; yet expressed himself
as being perfectly reconciled to go. He
was anxious that others might be
brought to know Christ. He desired
most earnestly to warn his former as
sociates and the young men of the town
against the things that had blighted his
own life-he wanted others to know of
the joy and peace of a life of simple
faith in Christ, and so he passed away.
| To- Nf no
Don't let mother cry, I'm going to the
Thursday afternoon, Friday morning at
its flight, and the poor tired body found
Holy Spirit be given richly to those who
mourn. *k*
| The funeral was held from the home
of his mother in east Leon Sunday after
noon at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev,
! j. L. Boyd, pastor of the M. e. church,
who preached from the text 'sTherefore
be ye also ready; for in such an hour as
| ye think not the son of man cometh,"-
Mat. 24:44, which was selected by Frank
before his death. The floral offerings
were profuse and beautiful, one magnifi-
cent spray OF pink roses being the gift
of the printers of Leon, and a beautiful
floral axe from Leon Camp No. 1746, of
which he was member, as we'll as
many tributes from personal friends.
The M. w. A. of Leon had charge of the
service at the grave, and he was buried
with all the honors of the order. Six.
OF the printers of Leon, with whom he
had worked for many years, o. e. Hull.
Will r. Lindsey, H. S. Penniwell, w. r.
Hinkle, Claud Beck and Lee Little acted
as honorary pail bearers, and as the
casket was lowered in it's final resting
place each deposited white carnation
in the grave.
Relatives from distance who attend
ed the funeral were: G. G. Craigo, Of
Centerville; G. A. Davis and daughter
Mary, Of Garden Grove; Miss Alice
Davis, Of Varina; Mrs. James Craigo
and son Thomas, of Garden Grove.