Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-08-23
GRAY POSTMASTER
DIES IN AUDUBON

UlEC In AUDUDUN
Succumbs to RavaSes Of Disease
Tuesday Morning at the Home
OF His Sister, Where he
Was Tenderly Cared For
Jerome Shingledecker, better
known to people of the county as Jay
Shigledecker, died at tho home of his
sister, Mrs. A. L. Ferguson, Tuesday
morning shortly before six o'clock.
While the news of his death is a
severe shock to the people generally
it was not unexpected to those at
tending him. He had been in fail
ing health since early in the spring
of 1915 when he submitted to a sur
gical operation. He received some
benefit, but remained constant suf-
ferer.
He was able to take care of the
postoffice at Gray until few weeks
ago, when he came to this city
where loving hands did everything
to alleviate him of his sufferings.
For almost 35 years he was a res
ident of the county, and during that
time held many positions of trust,
all OF which he filled with honor and
fidelity. He was man of exception
al business ability and with this tall
ent he devoted four years of his time
to the business of the county.
No bronze or marble shaft, no
splendor of ancient or modern tombs
and no play of immortal genius can
adorn the memory of such a manly
h ,yIn An
Their lives, their deeds, their influ-
ence and their pure aspirations are
the monuments that will keep their
hearts of kindred and brethren,
with their dust and rust the inscrip-
ton upon the brightest obelsk in
the cemetery. While the silence of
death wraps and chills us at this mo-
ment, memories sweet and precious,
come crowding in.
Jerome Shingledecker was born in
Cass county, Michigan, January IL,
1848, at which place he remained
until cary manhood. In 1872 he
went to California, staying three
years after which he returned to
Michigan. Here on the End of
March, 1882 he was united in marri-
age to Sarah Adams. To this union
were born two sons, Clarence and
Louis Adams.
In 1883 the family moved from
Michigan and came to Audubon
county, Iowa. locating on a farm in
Leroy township, remaining there a
number of years. During his per-
iod Mr. Shingledecker served Audi
bon county in the capacity of men,
Der of the board of supervisors, hold
ing this important position for a
term of four years. For eighteen
years he held the office of school
secretary for the school district in
which he resided.
In the year 1903 he moved to Ross
where he conducted a hardware and
implement business, later coming to
Audubon and engaging in the same
business in this city. He was sue
cessful in this line of endeavor and
remained in the active business pur-
suits until 1912-When he went to
Texas. After two year spent in
Texas he returned to this county and
located in Gray. He was soon there
after honored by being appointed
postmaster at Gray and held that
position of trust until forced to give
up the work because of failing
health.
Mr.. Shingledecker affiliated him.
self with the Masonic fraternity at
the age of 81 years and throughout
all of the intervening years has re-
NAMED a faithful and exemplar mem
Der of that institution. He united
with the Presbyterian church of this
city in 1902 and lived consistent
christian until he was called to the
other side.
Early in the spring of 1915 he en-
cred the Jennie Edmundsen hospi-
tai at Council Bluffs for an opera
ton. Since then his health has been
frail. He suffered constantly but
bore his trails bravely and most patti
emily until the angel of death re-
LEVIED him of his sufferings.
He leaves to mourn his untimely
death, his wife, two sons. Clarence
Shingledecker, of Gray; Louis
Adams Shingledecker, of Garrison
N. d., five grandchildren; five sis.
tiers as follows: Laura Klume. Yu,
ba City, Calf; Sarah Wiley, Baxter
Mich; Emma Owen, Moore, Okla
Dora Hunter, Manning: Addie Fergu.
son, of this city; two brothers, Owen
Shingledecker, Burns, oregon; Perry
Shingledecker of California and a
host of close personal friends.
He was a devoted husband and @
kind and indulgent father; to his
sisters. a tender brother and to his
friends the soul of fellowship. But
the greatest of all, he was a man
And as a man it is that those who
knew him best most love to contem
plate him. He believed that the mar
who scatters flowers in the pathwa!
of his fellowmen. who let's into thu
dark places of life the sunshine o.
human sympathy and human hap
piness. is following in the footsteps
of Him to knoweth all.
Funeral services will be held THU
afternoon at two o'clock at the Pres
byterian church in charge of the pas
tor, Rev. r. B. Greenlee, assisted b!
Rev. Jackson Giddens. The Mason
ic fraternity of which he was mem
Der will attend the funeral in q bod!
and march to the cemetery wher'
the ritualistic service of the orde
will be used.
be used.