The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-10-02
MAJOR J.E. LACEY
DIES SUDDENLY
STRICKEN DOWN AT HIS HOME
SHORTLY AFTER NOON.
SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY
End Came Almost Without Warning,
Shortly After He Reached Home
From His office-Had Been
Ia in Robust Health.

of national reputation, and former
representative of the Sixth Iowa dis
trict in Congress, died almost in
stantly at his home at 1887 o'clock
Monday afternoon, of apoplexy.
Major Lacey left his office little
after twelve o'clock and walked to
his home, corner North Market street
and b avenue. He stopped on the
way to, say word and to converse
with friends and acquaintance. He
seemed in his usual good health and
spirits and not a word came from
his lips of any indisposition. He
Walked down the street in his &C.
customed sprightly manner but did
not stop at the Sherburger house for
his luncheon as was his usual Gus
tom. He continued down the street
a half block distant to his residence
As he went in the entrance he was
met by member of the family, and
then said, Il am not feeling we'll,
L believe ! will liz" down here for a
few moments. Please bring me a
glass of water . '''''-. '"'t VI 4-ilEl
The water was at his hand almost
as he reached for the water. He
held the glass for moment then his
hold relaxed, the glass fell to the
door and the Major dropped back on
the couch, dead.
AS his distress was noted, those
about him became alarmed and one
of the family called for the Sherbur-
ger home where DR. e. ID. MCLEAN
was at lunch. He responded instant
ly, but before he could reach the
house life had fed The cause of
death is given as apoplexy.
Mrs. Lacey was in the room with
him, as also were his daughters, Mrs.
James B. Brewster of San Francisco,
and Mrs. c. E. Sawyer OF Oskaloosa,
and Ibis granddaughter, Miss Doris
Brewster, of San Francisco. His
brother and law partner, w. X. La
cey, was summoned and was imme-
diately at the home. tf
| "A Mr.. Lacey seemed suffering with
distress of some character as he en-
tered the house, and put his hand to
his breast, but said little, ii anything.
The happening was all so sudden that
no one had moments warning nor
could they do anything to relieve
him. So 'tf e.. sa.l@ aaN. >ats
Mr.. lacey suffered from a slight
lindisposition in his office during the
forenoon and complained to his ste
Inographer, Miss Lena Rowe, OF pain
in the region of the stomach. He
was twice seized with sickness of
the stomach and was relieved by
vomiting
John F. Lacey was a son of John
M. and Eleanor Patten Lacey, born
at New Martinsville, Virginia. May
80, 1S41, and was u years, months
and 29 days of age at the date of
death. The Lacey family came to
Mahaska county and Oskaloosa from
Wheeling, West Virginia, where John
had been a school boy. He contin-
ued his study in select school" in
the new home, Oskaloosa, gaining
an academic course, and then enter
ed upon the study OF law in the Of
nee of Gen. Samuel A. Rice, under
twhom he later served as a major In
the Civil war When a call for
troops was sent out, John Lacey was
the fifth man in Oskaloosa to get
down his name in response, enlisting
as a private in Company Fl of the
Third Iowa. AS corporal he was
ktaken prisoner at the battle of Blue
Mills and later paroled. 81 He re-en-
listed as private in Comptny d,
33rd Iowa, Colonel Rice commanding,
later became major in the service,
and at date of death was honorary
| colonel of the reunion organization
of the survivors of the regiment.
Immediately following his active
and varied military career, Major La.
cey returned to his home in Oska-
loosa and soon after was admitted
to the bar. His law practice was as
active and busy as his previous life
and he accomplished things. He
became the author of several works,
"Laceys Railway Digest" being one
of the most extensive and best
known.
He was early called upon to take
a prominent part in politics and be-
ing natural leader of men he was
selected to represent his county in
the Thirteenth general assembly. He
was chosen to the city council and
to the Office of city solicitor by his
|townspeople. He was prominent in
state politics from the first and was
CHAIRMAN Oh the Stdte republican con-
vention In 1898. He brought the
Sixth Congressional district into the
republican ranks and held 1t there
through the Fifty-first, Fifty-third,
Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth,
FFifty-seyenth, Fifty-eighth and Fifty
ninth congresses.
He was considered for a senate po-
sition and came near election to the
office, being defeated by Senator A.
B. Cummins. He has been fire.
quently called upon to be candi-
date for the Office OF governor of
Iowa and has refused many positions
OF high honor and political prefer
ence.
He was elected president OF the
State Bar Association in June, this
year, at the Sioux City meeting.
John Lacey was hard worker, a
man of tireless spirit and boundless
energy, and death alone ended his
activities He was widely Travelled
both at home and abroad and pos
sessed a wonderful knowledge Of our
country, its resources and It's needs.
~. a.. - 4. =. a.