The Elbert County tribune., 1907-02-28
Joseph E. Dittemore, Well
Known Citizen, Is Dead.

of the industrious and best known citi-
zens of southwest Elbert county, died at
his home in Colorado City "Wednesday
evening, February 20, OF rheumatism OF
the heart. He was in his e5th year.
Mr.. Dittemore moved to Colorado City
last November and purchased a home
there, expecting to spend his declining
years in ease and comfort. Since leav
ing the ranch his health had seemed to
improve and he had told the writer on a
recent trip to Elbert that he felt much
better since moving to the city. On the
evening of the 10th soon after supper he
went tothe water hydrant outside The
kitchen door for a drink of water. AL
most Immediately his wife aud son Curt
heard him call to them and on going out
side they found him on his knees and
unable 20 rise. His son assisted him in
TO the house where he almost immedi-
ately expired Rheumatism, from which
he had suffered periodically for num-
ber of years, had finally attacked his
heart and he died suddenly and without
pain.
He is survived by a wife and eight
children, six sons, namely: William, of
Mayetta, Kansas; Adam L., of Easton-
vile; james c., Curtis, Fred and Walter,
of the Elbert locality; and two daugh-
ters, Mrs. James Neely, of near Elbert,
and Mrs. Elsie Deaver OF Kansas. All
were present at the funeral.
The remains were brought to Elbert
Friday and taken to the home of his son
Curt. Funeral services were held Sat
urday afternoon in the Presby yterian
church and we're conducted by Rev. A.
Jay Garrison Of Denyer former pastor
of the First Christian Church of Elbert
County and an intimate friend of the de-
ceased. He was assisted by Rev. Walter
Carter OF Eastonville. Interment was
made in Elbert cemetery, the remains
being followed to their last resting place
by many sympathizing friends and neigh
bors.
The following obituary was written by
the deceased's former pastor and friend,
Rev. Mr.. Garrison. and read at the servi-
ces ut the church:
Joseph Il. Dittemore, son of Adam and
Sarah Dittemore. was born at Gosport.
Indiana, May 8, 1872. He died at his
late home in Colorado City, Feb. 20,
1907, aged GA years, nine months and ii
days. His parents were Pennsylvania
Germans. Soon after the death of his
mother, which occurred when he was
but three years OF age, his father lin
1912 removed with the family to Bu-
chanan county. Mo.
April %, 1865, he was united in mar
riage to Mary Ellen Lower of Buchanan
county, Mo. 10 this union there were
born nine children, six sons and three
daughters. One daughter died in infan-
cy while the family resided in Missouri
Except Walter, the youngest, who was
born at their late home in this county,
all the children were born in Missouri,
and they all reside in this community
except Elsie and William, who recently
removed to Kansas.
In April, 1884, Bro Dittemore removed
his family to Elbert county, first pur-
| chasing claim adjoining the El Paso
county line. In 1887 he homesteaded
the quarter section which was his con
tinuous home until his recent moval
to Colorady City.
During his residence of % years in the
community he has been closely identified
with the growth and development of Ell
bert county and no man rejoiced more
in the recent prosperity of this country
than he did. He was man of indomit-
able energy and invincible will. He had
unbounded confidence in the country
and in his ability to overcome all adverse
conditions consequent upon the climatic
surroundings of the Divide He lived to
realize his most sanguine expectations
and his open hearted generosity caused
him to rejoice in the prosperity of all his
neighbors.
He had been member of the Chris
tian church for 40 years. To him chris
tianity was not profession: it was a
recognition and reflection of his relation
/ to Christ in all the duties, obligations
and opportunities of life, and he lived to
see the day when christian citizen is
everywhere accepted as the highest type
of a religious man.
In all respects he was an exemplary
citizen. The respect and esteem in
| which he was held was bounded only by
| his acquaintance. His business integ-
rity was OF the highest order He i'm
pressed all with the fact that to him his
word was the most sacred thing of earth
7 His early education and training for the
duties of life had been neglected on ac-
count OF lack OF opportunities, yet he at
tanned the highest success through the
native elements of an upright manhood
which he possessed to high degree and
| which always appeared to dominate his
conduct in a natural and most spontan-
/ eous manner His limitless generosity
! was an expression of his unbounded con
! fidence in his fellows, and these were al.
ways seasoned with childlike humility
/ This most remarkable trait of his char
I acter reached its perfection in his rela-
tion to his family. He permitted his six
sons to draw upon his name, honor and
even his bank account at will, and the
manner in which he was want to refer tc
this expressed one of the choicest traits
of character ever displayed by father
AS we gaze into this silent, restful face
we can only say, "Well done, thou good
and faithful servant" for of all things
that gave him pleasure none cqualled
that of serving his fellow man.