Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-21
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE At THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HELD YESTERDAY.
! EIULOGIZE DEPARTED
Major s. Mahon and Pastor r. A
Montgomery Speak Of the Life
of Captain Harper-Thou. " 4
sands Attend Funeral.

AT the, funeral services Of Mayor
Harper yesterday the bitterness of the
cup OF death, was made sweet by the
glory paid the life Of the departed by
those who knew and loved him. The
pangs of loss sustained by the family
and friends was made easier to; bear
by kindly expressions OF those who
mourned him. The deceased found
much. TING to help those that suffered
that they might bear their saferings
the easier, and the whole tone OF the
service that marked the paying OF the
asst public esteem to Mayor s. Fl. Har-
ger denoted that one we'll beloved
rad been removed, The sorrow at the
loss was evident in the remarks or
these who eulogized the dead mayor,
but also was the reward of life de-
voted to better standards of living
made felt. The man, the father, the
husband, the patriot, citizen, and
Christian was treated in the eulogies
Of his friend and lifelong neighbor,
Major Samuel Mahon. His high type
Cf churchman and worker for the bet.
ter things in mankind, the uplift In
public and civic affairs, the man
tEoughtful for the wants OF his neigh
Dor was dwelt upon by his pastor.
The thousands that crowded about his
bier as he lay on his couch in peace
full repose, with his bosom shielded by
small silk flag to which he was much
devoted, and the same throng that was
augmented by more and more as the
service continued, testified to the con-
firmation of the eulogists. for the peo'
pie showed that they loved Capt.
Harper. ...
ss Friends Throng Church.
From the hour that the body, was
brought to the church until the begin
ming of the service, friends both old
and young, from the several walks OF
life, representing the citizenship OF
Ottumwa, came to the First Presbyter.
ian church and paid their last re-
spects to the departed executive. Many
Of these were his comrades who sat
about the same camp fires, made the
same marches and shared the same
giories during the days when as young
men they had heard the countrys call
and being dutiful and patriotic, an
swered it. Others were old neigh
bors and friends of years standing,
some were employees who have known
the man as the merchant, others were
engaged with him in the various ca.
pacities under the city government and
all made their farewell call at his
casket to view for the last time their
friend and fellow man.
Stand During Service.
The church was transformed into q
bower Of natures beauties. Count
less flowers woven into many and
pretty designs were built up about the
casket and in several places about the
back Of the pulpit and organ. Designs
worked in flowers indicative Of the
loss OF one much needed, emblems
denoting love, hope and faith, and the
high esteem of his fellows were
strewn about the bier. The friends
thronged the edifice and filed 1t to
overlooking. making it hard to obtain
a place to stand. All seemed satisfied
to bear with the temporal discomfort
of being thus forced to stand through
out the service and participate In hon.
oring the departed executive.
Service Begins.
Promptly at 2:30, the church being
then full, the widow with her sons and
their wives, and other relatives en-
tered the church, following the clergy
who were met at the door by Major
samuel Mahon. The family and rela-
tives took seats in the center tier OF
pews and the clergy, Rev. r. Ames
Montgomery, DR.. T. w. jeffrey and W..
H. HORNED with Major Mahon were
seated on the rostrum Immediately
behind the pulpit. Jesus, Lover OF
My Soul,' was then sung by quar-
tet composed of Mrs. e. c. Peirce,
Mrs. Ernest Daggett, c. S. Nelson and
Ernest Daggett. A scriptural reading
by DR.. T. w. jeffrey from the fifteenth