The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-03-14
A PRINCE IN
ISRAEL FALLEN
FORMER APPRECIATED ClTI.
ZEN WAS BURIED IN los An.
GEI.ES. CAL. MARCH 5TlI.
1912.

Joseph llarker has answered the
tnal summons. and passed ON TO re-
celve his reward. For many wears
he was am hono:od ;csidont af Nit
cheli. where he was gioatly belov-
ed ana respected by AZ who knew
him. The funeral services were held
at the .amily home. and were ON
Quoted by the Rev. \. ID. Atkinson.
q. d.. of Riverside. Cal. a former
pastor of the Methodist church of
inns CITY some twenty odd ears AGO.
and whose Tribute to the life and
character OF Mr.. llarker was given
in the following words:
How h vents OF utmost inn
p%ortance in these lives of ours fairly
tread upon each others heels.
Not quite four years ago away
yonder in i'm Mitchell. South Dakota.
the hrst break in 81 years camc to
a happy, united and prosperous
family. The period OF a whole gen
Grafton passed by during which sons
and daughters were being born and
reared; a comfortable fortune was
beng accumulated. and a wide and
enVlable reputation WAS being built
upon tho solid rock of Christian char
acter. Then as if death did indeed
love a shining mark, Joseph c., the
stalwart Christian son rejoicing i'm
his strength. taking his place among
the noble young business men of
that prosperous city. his bride of but
a few months standing proudly and
lovingly and hopefully by his side
with everything that tended TO make
life dca:; only 81 wears of age went
down before the fell destroyer, and
he was not for God had taken him.
The old Lille q. tho family was gone
forever but closing the ranks by
standing yet closer together, they
marched bravely on.
Not much moro than n yoar and
a mali passed by until another sum.
mons came and the lear mother after
weeks of illness laid down the tasks
she had borne so faithfully and we'll
and left the side OF the noble hus-
band with whom she had walked
witt such pc. feet unity for more
than forty years, and heard the we'll
done good and faithful Sister
iarkor had finished her work and
gone TO her reward.
Just 9 few weeks passed by and
the dear grandmother, full of years
and usefulness, entered into rest.
And now it seems only a little
VIII lie, though nearly two y,Srs, un-
Ill another one, and this time indeed
a prince in Israel, has been sudden-
" stricken, and the father, our
friend and brother, this choice spirit.
has gone from us and we are stun
ned and dazed by the blow. 1t has
come so suddenly that ii finds us
all ~unplepared.
Joseph IIarker was born in Eng
land July 18th, 1871. and died in Los
Angeles March end, 1912, aged 20
years, I months and 20 days. His
boyhood years up to about 16 were
spent in school and other prenara-
ton for active life. AT lG he he
came an apprentice to the dry goods
business and mastered it thoroughly.
In his cncsen branch of business he
was in ruth an expert. Whatever
he did he did it with all his might.
His other brothers having come to
America, he came with his parents
when he was about TWENTY-FIVE Years
- "'H' III w HStpilEIlI,
where ne in the town of Aetna he
clerked in Il store for about a year.
His heart had been left i'm England
however, and he returned to his Ia
tive land and was married. The
young wife lived for only a few short
months, and Joseph with his first
great heart sorrow soon returned to
America which has ever since beer
his home.
Soon after his return he accepted
a position N a store in Galena, Ill.,,
where ne remained for perhaps Two
years.
Returning 10 Wisconsin, he was
married March is, 1869 TO Elizabeth
Ann ~Blenkiron with whom he lived
in blessed unity until her untimely
death Dec. 26, 1909.
TO them We're born four SONS and
three daughters. AS already noted
two sons preceded their father to
the heavenly home, and with their
mother give the father a glad well
come. Two sons and two daugh-
ters-in-law, and a little grandson,
mourn today cor the dear father, and
rise up 10 call him blessed.
Brother llarker was a man OF
positive and aggressive character. His
most active lie was spent i'm the ac-
tlVitics OF new communities. His
llrst real home and place of business
was in Leadmine, Wisconsin. Here
he lived for several years. Thence he
moved to Missouri Valley, Iowa for
about the same length of tine.
thence to Aurelia for two and a half
years, and then to Mitchell, South
Dakota, where he lived for twenty
two years. 4AW
Coming to Mitchell at an early day
and when the community was in a
formative state, Bro. Harker found
a fine field for the exercise Of his
splendid powers. His thorough
training, his complete knowledge of
his business; his experience N his
former place of residence. coming in
the very prime of life, specially fit
ted HIN 10 graphic with the prob
lens and take advantage of the OPP
portunities presented Ivy that rapid
ly developing country. He built up
a great business and his name WIN
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