The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-02-16
PIONEERS PASS AWAY
John B. Adlon and Deiderick Beck
man Go to Their Reward.
John q. AdIon.

i
327 North B street. Sunday morning
about three O'Clock, after protracted
Illness resulting in pneumonia. at the
age of 81 years, month and "a days.
Mr.. Adlon was one of the Oldest
business men and pioneer settlers of
Oskaloosa. He has been resident of
the city for more than sixty years, and
forty years of that time he was in
active and continuous business. Even.
at his advanced age he was as bright
and as keen, mentally, and as capable
physically, as most men at fifty-five to
sixty. He was possessed of remark
able vitality and a will power of UNI
usual strength. He was on the streets
of the city almost daily UP to the time
of taking a~severe cold and grippe a
few weeks ago, and always had keen
est pleasure in stopping for minute
with friends and former acquaintances,
for greeting or a word on the doings
of the day. ..rt EN, $50
Funeral from the late residence at
$3.50 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Febru-
airy Ia. Interment in Forest cemetery.
John B. Adlon was born in the city
of Mentz, the "haupt-stadt" of rhein-
Hessen, on the left bank of the river
Rhine, December Is, 1926, of Nicko-
laus and Annie ,Adlon. After brief
schooling he was apprenticed as a
mere lad, at the age of about four
teen or fifteen years, to a jewelry-
maker, clock-maker and watch repair
man, to whom he was bound for a
| term of five years. Upon obtaining
legal age MI. Adlon started out for
himself and made living as a Jour
neyman jeweler" through the cities of
his native land until by application, in
dustry and frugality he had saved
enough to come to America. He land.
ed at New Orleans in 1S49 where he
obtained work for time and then was
engaged profitably at st. Louis. HE
came to Oskaloosa with his bride, a
girl of twenty years, in the fall of 1850
and set up in business for himself.
|
that date, the last place on earth one
would have chosen for the establish
ing of a jewelry and repair shop. The
people of those times were not given
to wearing iewelry, there were few
clocks to be repaired, and watches
were an unheard of extravaganza. No
one had money at that early period
and Mr.. Adlon suffered an uphill ex.
istence for years. But he and his
bride were happy in the new life and
lived contentedly as they might. Mr.,
Adlon opened barber shop in connec,
ton with his jewelry and repair house
and found employment for his skill in
this direction. He also added a line
of musical instruments and he did
labout town whatever his hands found
to do. And John b. Adlon prospered;
J that is, he lived within his means al
all times and with the help OF his
faithful mate there was ever a balance
accumulated from the little that came
with those early years. AS opportun
ity was provided the store was en-
larged and in that pioneer day the J
B. Adlon store came to be one of the
important places in the growing town
AS money became more plentiful ant
the fruits of the soil were realized, Mr.
land Mrs. Adlon were able to, save
more. They purchased property ant
were in measure independent and il
time established a competence Mo-
a fortune, but Mr.. Adlon was success
full and he made his way" Wha
he accumulated came as the results Of
honest toll, every dollar Of it, and MOI
as legacy, and whatever measure o.
success came to his way was earned
through Ceaselcss energy and perse
verance. Nh. Adlon was not a ricl
man as the saying goes today. but he
had partaken OF the fruits of happi
ness and contentment and he liveC
his life i'll his own way, esteemed ant
respected by all who knew him, mol
were special honOrs wanting in the
years of his business and private life
He was active in the life of the city
and served on the town council as al
derman from the First ward. He was
independent in his affiliations and sup
ported men and measures he believed
to be right and for the interests o.
the people. He was a man of the
people, liberal in policy but of con
scientious principle. He was of ever
disposition, never excitable or change
able. He was tomorrow as you fount
him today, or had seen him yesterday
He was dependable, even and easy
going and made one of the best citi
zens Oskaloosa has known.
Mr.. Adlon was married in ST. Louis
shortly before coming to Oskaloosa
to girl from his native land, Miss
Elizabeth J. Kalbfeisch, of Dillingen
Hesse-Homburg Six children came
to this union: John H., now of Oska
loosa; Mary A., Henrietta f., who be
came the wife of Prof. Howe; Ida F..
the wife of Frank Hurst; Nicholas C..
of Minneapolis, and Eunice H., who
was married with r. o. Morrison. The
wife passed to her reward In 1863
Mr.. Adlon was second time married
with Miss Sarah p. Byers, daughter
of James Byers and a sister of s. II
NJ Byers OF Des Moines. Two daugh
tiers came to this union: Maggie, now
wife of Herbert LaRue of Waterloo