The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-04-22
Mrs. Elmer e. somes.

Mrs. Elmer E. Somes died at her hrme
in the Ellsworth hotel Thursday night at
| ii o'clock after an illness of two weeks.
f. She was taken with pneumonia about
April 1st and battled with the disease
for nine days when the crisis was de-
clared passed and her relatives enter
tanned hopes for her recovery. How
ever. complications due to a previous
operation for gall stones, set in and
from that time her condition grew
steadily worse until Thursday when
she quietly passed away. Her sister,
husband, son, daughter and father were
all with her during her illness and the
closing hours Of her life.
Mrs. Somes was laid to her tinal rest
| ing place Sunday afternoon, services
were conducted at the Ellsworth at 2
O'Clock, Rev. j. Budman Fleming, of the
Presby teran church having charge.
Hundreds OF friends gathered at the
home to pay last loving tribute to the
deceased. The body rested in state in
the parlors and was viewed following
the services. 1t was an occasion of
sadness and the sympathy OF the en-
tire community went out to the bereav-
ed husband and members of the family.
| The services were elaborate, beauti-
full music being furnished by a quartet
composed of Miss Purvis, Miss Horton,
Luke Wagner and Charles Hayward.
They sang "Abide With Me" "Only Re-
membered By What Have Done" and
"Jesus Savior Pilot Me-" Charles Hay
Evening Star" Preceding the service
burial ceremony OF their order and at
| lo10
carnation on the coffin.
and beautiful. He read several COM
them Prov. 81, and spoke of the de-
ceased in terms of highest praise. He
voiced the opinion of Mrs. Somes' as
sociates and those who knew her we'll
when he said "She lived life of self
sacrifice, charity and love-" If more
women possessed her ambition, energy
and kindly disposition, the world would
be a better and happier place to live in.
i In addition to friends and neighbors
the funeral was attended by the ]. 0. O.
r. lodge in body, and the Silver Star
Rebekah lodge of which Mrs. Somes was
a charter member, also the ladies of the
| w. R. c. of which society she was presi-
dent. The floral offerings were both
beautiful and profuse, silent tributes of
love and sympathy. Hundreds of
friends followed the body to its final
resting place in the Presbyteri ceme-
terry. The pail bearers were M. r. Cox,
Otis Conrad, Charles Kirgis, Roy Dun
lap, j. G. Mote and D. Pierson. Honor
ary pail bearers were officers and men,
bers of Silver Star lodge, Mrs. W. E.
Williams, Ella Dunlap, Mrs. Schreiber,
Mrs. Roy Dunlap, MIS-. Hessler, Mrs.
Gravelot and Mrs. McCally.
,s- Mrs. ,Somes' death is loss that will
be felt IN many homes in this city. She
was especially noted and loved for her
charities.
Mrs. Jennie johnson Somes was born
il Vicksburg, Mich, Nov. 7, 1861. Early
in the 70's she moved with her parents
to Leon, Decatur county, Iowa, and was
there married to E. E. Somes in 1882.
Six years later they came to Chicago
where they lived until the fall of 1892
when they came to Chicago Heights and
bought property and built the hotel on
West End avenue, known as the Central
House. Three years ago they bought
the Ellsworth hotel, corner of West
End avenue and illinois street, and
have since resided there. The family
attended the Baptist church and Mrs.
Somes was brought up in that faith.
She leaves to mourn her death hus-
band, daughter, Mrs. Albert Miller, a
son, Lane, an only sister, Mrs. Perry
Gains, of Brook, Ind, and an aged
father, Walter johnson.
The out of town people who attended
the funeral were Mr.. and Mrs. George
Somes, of Pueblo, Colo, Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Krone, of Marcellus, Mich, Mrs.
Tillman Coup and daughter, of Hanna,
Ind, Mrs. Leahmann and George Clark,
of Chicago, Mrs. Louis Nagle, of Weston,
ILL.,, Mrs. Fred Miller and MIR. and Mrs.
B. Munson, of Joliet, Mr.. and Mrs. Perry
Gaines and daughter Jennie, of Brook,
Ind.-Chicago Heights Star.
Mrs. Martha m. Redell.