The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-05-09
JOHN P. CROAL.
Former Newspaper Man Passes
Ak1v.

Away.
The sad news of the death Of
John P. Croal of Sisseton was
received last Thursday by Mil
bank friends with profound sor-
row, although it had been known
bv the more intimate friends of
the family that he had been
gradually but surely failing for
a number Of months past, and
that the close of his life was ap.
preaching. The end was un
dou btedly FASTENED by two cal
antilles that came upon him dur
ing the past year, the first OF
which was the death of his son,
Lieut. Clinton Croal, in France,
who was reported missingln one
of the engagements shortly af-
ter the American troops were at
the front. A suspense Of many
weeks as to his fate was lifted
only by the finding of the body
and the positive announcement
Of his death while he was on
dangerous mission In the dis.
charge of his duties as soldier.
This blow was followed but a
few months later by the death
of a beloved and talented daugh
ter who was taken down with
the influenza while engaged as
teacher in a public school in
Montana. These blows, helped
to shatter his failing health, al
ready undermined by a chronic
troub 2 Of the liver, but during
it all he kept up brave spirit OF
cheerfulness, and the writer,
who visited him about week
before his collapse found him the
same jolly spirit he was in the
days of health and happiness.
On Saturday, April 26th, he
was not feeling as we'll as usual
but was not thought to be dan
gerously i'll until Monday, when
he lapsed into unconsciousness
in which condition he remained
until Thursday afternoon at
about 5 p. M, when he passed
quietly and peacefully to his re-
ward. He is survived by his
wife and son Vincent G. Croal,
also by three brothers and four
sisters. namely. j. NJ: Croal, of
Fargo. II. B. Croal, of Las Vegas,
Nevada, Mrs. Kate Eastman of
Oakland, Cal, Mrs. L. H. Hicks,
of Melrose To and Mrs. L. NJ.
Kaercher, Mrs w. W. Wilson
and F. A. Croal of Milbank
All of whom were here ex-
cept Mrs. Eastman. Other rel
atives present were Thomas
Croal and son Andrew, of Mil
waukee, and John Croal and
Miss Agnes Croal Of Reeds.
burg, Wisconsin Also many
friends from Wilmot and Mil
bank attended the funeral SER
vices which were held at the
Catholic church in Sisseton' and
we're conducted by Rev. Father
O'Hara, assisted by Rev. Father
O'Neil and Dougherty of Mil
bank, and interment took place
in St Lawrence cemetery, Mil
bank, after the arrival of the
train from Sisseton. The floral
offerings were many and beauti-
full, giving evidence Of the high
esteem in which deceased was
held. He was an honored men,
Der Of the Holy Name Society,
Woodman, and knights of Co
lum bus; the latter had charge of
funeral arrangements.
"Surely the pain and he sor-
row Christ chose for Himself
must be best, let US follow him
then in the way of the Cross.
Twill lead unto heavens sweet
rest
John +. CrOal was born in
Whitewater. Wis, May Goth,
1860; received his education in
the public schools of Milwaukee
where the family moved when he
was a small child. He learned
the printing trade in the Office Of
the Milwaukee Sentinel. He
moved to South Dakota in 1881,
and worked for some time on the
Big. Stone Herald and he also
taught school in Roberts county
In 1883 he took up a claim in
Day Co., near Andover, where
he was married to Miss Mary
Prunty, and where the late Lieut..
G. @. Croal and Elizabeth Croal
were born. He later moved to
Webster, where he assisted with
the Day Co., Herald, and then
moved his family to Revillo
where he started nnhliShin O