Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1908-10-29
Obituary of j. r. Griggs

lies OF II. w. Grlggs and ,. y. Ball,
who had lost by death, which came
in the form of typhoid fever, the
first a tender, loving son. and the
latter devoted son-in-law.
The deceased, John Raymond
Griggs, was born at the beautiful
village of Extra, Iowa, then the
county seat of Audubon county, on
March I6, 1876, and was in his thir
ty-third year.
In the winter of 1880 his father
removed to Wellington, Kansas, and
in the spring of 1887, the family
came to Meade bringing the little
son, called by his play-mates Little
Dick. From that day to tn. day of
his death, October 21st, as school
boy, young man and successful bus
mess man he has been widely and
favorably known in this county and
state.
On March 9th, 1901, he and the
daughter of S. O. Ball, of Plains,
Kansas, Miss Elsie c., were united
in marriage. To them on March
25th, 1908, was born daughter,
named by her father, Lavonia, who
in few short hours was called from
their fond embrace; for the grim
reaper, death, is not satisfied to have
the bearded grain alone but takes
the tender flowers growing between.
No other child came to them to fill
the place in home and parental
hearts left void by her untimely
death.
Men say when one young in years
dies, that he was taken before his
time Is that true? We who re-
member ]. r. Griggs, from infancy
to the day we sadly laid him to rest
from all his labors in Graceland
Cemetery, see life so full of ac-
Complishment that it seems full,
rounded, finished.
Being of an ardent sanguine, ac-
tive temperament, united with warm
heart quick to feel the troubles of
others the friends of J. R. Gliggs
are all who knew him and were lot
by buainess or otherwise interested
ly opposed to him, and these only
for that reason, for his rivals rs
spected his open, strong, manly ad-
vocacy of affairs and views. Hence
it naturally follows that he had a
strong following which constantly
urged his advancement into tt e arena
of politics, which he often e.tered
to champion the cause of friend,
but only once aspiring to position
himself. His early training in the
newspaper business made him good
judge of men and policies, and he
seldom was mistaken in either a can
didate or policy of party manage
ment.
The funeral was conducted by a
committee from the B. P. 0. E. No.
ASH, of Hutchinson, Kansas, con-
sisting of brothers, DR.. F. A. For
ney, Clem Hess and Geo. Nipple,
of Hutchinson, and resident broth
ers A. I. Noble, H. B. Phelps and
G. w. Dalgarn, of Meade, and J.
T.. Brown of Plains.
The local lodges NJ. w. of A. and
/. 0. 0. E, of which brother Griggs
was also a member, assisted the
above committee, with the funeral.
The funeral sermon was by Rev.
G. Il. Needles of the First Presby:
tcrian Church. The church and
casket were tastefully decorated with
a profusion of flowers.
Can We say anything which may
in any degree comfort his young
wife, the bride of his young man
hood, or heal her bleeding heart as
in loneliness she attempts to take up
the duties of her life. For her the
sun of life has set, to her the world
seems cold and dead. The home is
de-olated, the wei! spring of hope
has shriveled at the fountain head
Frieads remain good. trae and
love-, but .shcp tgsia shall De ont