Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-02
NJ. A. GOULD DIES.
County Surveyor Passes Away
After Several Weeks Illness
at Court House.
VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR
Requests No Religious Services at Flu
neral, and Provides That Re-
mains Be Cremated.

County Surveyor Melvin A. Gould |
died last night shortly after 9 o'clock |
at his room at the court house, where
he had been confined for several weeks
with an attack of erySipelas and COM
plcations Mr. Gould had been fail
ing rapidly for several days, and prac-
tically lost consciousness yesterday.
He was "A years of age, and had been
a resident of Rock Island county Tor
the greater part of 53 years, having re-
sided here since 1853, with the eXcep-
ton of the time he was engaged in the
service of the federal army during the
civil war
Provided for His Funeral.
Mr. Gould in his will, which he had
left in care of Circuit Clerk George w.
Gamble, made provision fOr his funeral,
and his requests in this matter will be-
carried out. He expressed his known
beliefs in the hereafter, and requested
that his body be cremated and the
ashes scattered TO the winds from Il
point about the center of the upper
railway bridge He particularly eX-
pressed wish that no religious Serv-
ices whatever be held, but in the will
requests that B. F. Peek, the Moline
attorney. make such remarks as he sees
fit at the funeral, and that County
Recorder J. \. Johnson be one of three
vocalists to sing such strictly secular
songs as they may select, at the serv-
ices. The will provides compensation
for those named to participate at the
| funeral.
The funeral will be held tomorrow
afternoon at o'clock. from the home of
George Gould in Moline. and, according
to Mr.. Gould's wish. the remains will
be incinerated at the Davenport ere
matory. and the ashes scattered from
the railway bridge.
Native of New York.
| Melvin A. Gould was born at Rich
mond, ~ Y. Sept. :. 1892. and spent
the early years of his life there az
tending school until Is years of age,
I when he Staught school for a year. He
| then removed to Marengo, ILL.,, and was
iengaged as school teacher, later en-
fering the railway mail service. He
removed to Moline July 2S, 1858, ana
| shortly afterwards was engaged as SUI
perintendent of public works. during
his service planning MOline's sewer
system and the public waterwOrks. He
continued in that Office until he enlist
ed in Company H. 18th Illinois infan
try. for three years service The com
pany was mustered out at Jackson
Miss. and Mr.. Gould went to Louis
vile, Ky.
| Clerk Ia AdiutaDt.
While at Louisville he became i'll
and was removed to the hospital. While
there he assisted with the payroll, and
on his discharge from the hospital he
was appointed clerk to the adjutant
serving in that capacity until COMPEL
ed to leave the service Oct. s, 1862, Oh
account of failing health. He was dis
charged. and returned to Moline. where
he served as city engineer for eigh
years. He served several terms "a
county surveyor, superintended the
construction of the c., r. |. & st. l.
| dll"dN llOlll lNONN liNCi w AhuSbAiD
and in his profession engaged in Othe
, important work He was elected coun
ty surveyor six years ago. and was re
elected at the expiration of his term
still having two years to serve in tha
capacity at the time of his death.
In addition to his knowledge of en-
gineering, Mr.. Gould was possessed o
a good literary education, and was ia
miliar with both modern and classica
; literature He also had some musica
talent
The Surviving Family.
Mr.. Gould is survived by his wife
: who is now in the west with her grand
daughter and by four sons. George an
] Al of Moline, Bert of Percy, Ill, an
a William of Racine, Wis. His marriag
!. took place Dec. l. 1856. in Moline
: Vacancy in Office.
Mr. Goulds death makes a secon
: vacancy in the county offices, Judg
: Parmenter's sudden death having lei
: vacant the Office of county judge. TIL
. calling of a special election 10 fill TIL
g vacancy in this case is left with tn
n county clerk.