Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-12
In Memoriam
James Marshall Elder.

James Marshall Elder was born in
Decatur county, indiana. June 30, 1S45,
near Greensburg, and died at Highland
Center, Iowa, January ., 1917, aged II
years, months and 2 days. In the
passing of this man Highland township
loses one of it's best known and most
highly respected citizens and its last old
soldier and G. A. r. member. In Mo-
vember, 1863 Mr.. Elder enlisted at
Greensburg, Ind, Co. II, 5th cavalry.
He was captured near Macon, Ga, and
with large group of prisoners placed
in Andersonville prison. During this
Imprisonment this man suffered from
hunger. neglect and disease so severely
that some Of the effects remained with
him to the day Of his death. He was
mustered ,out of service Sept. IS, 1865.
He received his honorable discharge
and returned to his boyhood home in
Indiana, where on December IL, 1867 he
was united in marriage to Lydia A.
Pratt. To this union were born two
children, son and a daughter. There
remains to mourn his death his wife,
Lydia A. Elder, his son Louis H. Elder
Of California and his daughter Mrs.
Valeria l.. Greves Of ST.. Louis. Mo-,
five grandchildren, one brother, 0. G,
Elder o< GreSnsburg, ind. two sisters.
Mrs. Rena Hamilton 81 Macedonia, Ia
and Mrs. Ruey Griffey of Indianapolis,
Ind. besides other relatives and a host
Of friends.
His sickness was Of long duration.
but he bore his Affections patiently I'M
til relieved by death. Mr.. Elder had
often expressed himself as being ready
and willing to go. The end came quietly
and peacefully with his wife and chill
dren by his bedside. Mr.. Elder moved to
Iowa in 1870 and located in Highland
township. Many times has be been Sc
lected to fill various township offices.
served as postmaster a number Of
times and was also chosen a member of
the board of supervisors His selection
for these various Offices serves to show
the popularity and esteem in which he
was held by his fellow citizens. Fra
ternally Mr.. Elder was an Odd Fellow,
member in good standing of Rathburn
lodge No. 27S, Highland Center, and a
member of ]. NJ Hedrick Post No. 424
G. A r. Of Hedrick. While not enrolled
as member Of any particular church
he was always in deep sympathy with
Christian work and could always be
found among the loyal supporters Of
such work. and his leaning has always
been toward the Methodist Episcopal
church, the faith of his devoted wife,
The funeral was held January at
the Highland Center M. E. church, con-
Quoted by Rev. r. J. Petit Of Tracy, a
former pastor. In the church the casket
was draped with "Old Glory" and Mr.
Elders favorite song Our Last Camp
ing Ground" was sung by Miss Gretna
Grain. A large number Of relatives,
neighbors and friends were present to
pay rite of respect to the memory of
the deceased soldier. The G. A. r. fol-
| wed the casket in body and the
Odd Fellows conducted the services at
the grave. Burial was made in the Me-
Cormick cemetery. The pail bearers
were o. c. Stevens, r. Kelsey, w.
Kickoff. c. Boyd, +. Sauer and VIM.
Pendegraft The out of town relatives
present were w. f. Elder and family OF
Major r. p. and Mrs. Spill.
man, Mr.. and Mrs: s. r Springer, Mrs.
Bert Terhune. DR.. S. A. Spilman and
Miss Dinnie Spilman of Ottumwa, and
Albert Pratt and Geo. Pratt of Sanborn.
Ia, and O. Greaves and little daughter
Alice Greves of st. Louis, Mo.,-Con.
triubuted.