The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1920-07-22
JOS. 4. SIMONTON
BURIED TUESDAY
HERALD FOUNDER CALLED TO
ETERNAL REST AFTER
LONG ILLNESS
Was A SPLENDID Citizen
DIR. ]. A. DUBOIS PAYS TRIBUTE
TO STERLING WORTH OF
DECEASED


half century one of the highly re-
spectacle citizens of Sank Centre,
passed into his eternal sleep Monday
afternoon, July 10, 1920, at three
o'clock The deceased had been in
poor health for the past three years
from the result of injuries received
by falling down stairs, and for the
past six months he had practically
been confined to his bed.
Mr.. Simonton was born in Penn
county, Pa, Nov. Is, 1910. The fam
lily moved to Wilmington, Ill, in 1856
and to Minnesota in 1857. Joseph
was the seventh son of Thomas aad
Elizabeth Baxter Simonton.
Mr.. Simonton began to learn the
art preservative in the office of the
Sank Rapids New Era, successor OF
the Frontiersman, the second news
paper established in Minnesota, in
1857. He returned to Wilmington,
ILL.,, in 1862 remaining Is months.
He returned to Minnesota in 1868 and
in company with an elder brother es-
tablished the St. Cloud Times. He
disposed of his interest in the Times
and secured employment on the old
st. Paul Pioneer remaining until May
1867, when he came to Sank Centre
and purchased the >meagre printing
outfit of the defunct Sank Valley
News. He established the Sank Gen.
tire Herald and issued the first num-
Der on June 6, 1867. At this time the
Herald was the most northwesterly
newspaper published between the
Mississippi river and the Rocky
Mountains, except small sheet at
Fort Gary, now Winnipeg, Can.
Mr.. Simonton was a conscientious
newspaper man and he soon placed
the Herald in-the front rank with the
leading newspapers of the Northwest.
He faithfully and interestingly
chronicled the happenings of that
period, and was an active factor in
promoting the welfare and upbuilding
of the community. He retired from
the newspaper game in 1879 when ne
disposed of the Herald to Charles F.
Hendryx.
For a number of years after retir-
ing from the Herald Mr.. Simonton
was in the grocery business, corner of
Third and Oak streets, in the building
now occupied by v. L. Burgess. For
a number of years prior to his death
he was not actively engaged in bust
ness.
Joseph H. Simontor was united in
marriage in the then village of Sank
Centre on April 18, 1870, to Miss
Jennie Stabler, daughter of one Of
Sank Centres prominent early day
business men. Mr.. and Mrs. Simon
ton celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary April Is, this year, and
their entire married life was spent i'm
this city. There are three livIng
children, Frank of Calgary, Canada;
Ben and Miss Mildred Simonton, Sank
Centre.
Mr.. Simonton was charter mem
Der of Star in the West Lodge, A. F,
& A. M. and also charter member of
Naomi Chapter, Order of Eastern
Star.
Simple funeral services were held
at the family home Wednesday morn
ing at 10 o'clock, under Masonic aus
pices, and conducted by Rev., C. S.
Sparkes, pastor of the Congregational
church. The Masonic ritualistic SER
vice was used at the grave in Oak
wood cemetery.
Those from out of the city attend
ing the funeral were Mrs. F. S. Titus,
Grand Forks, N. D., sister of Mrs.
Simonton; Lloyd Simonton, Glenwood
grandson; H. B. Casely, Glenwood
and Frank Simonton of Calgary.
The following contribution on the
life of Mr.. Simcnton was prepared
by DR.. J. A. Dubois:
There are some individuals the very
of whose lives makes
them CONSPICUOUS. And in these days
of false standards, of vociferous ap-
peals to gaping galleries, there
comes a positive sense Of relief to
one who meets with character whose
daily life is built on simple lines,
constant indifference to
the vain alluremt.ats which consti-
tute the stimulus for so much human
effort.
Such man was Joseph H. Simon
ton who for more than half century
has been part of our Sank Centre
world. Quiet and patient in manner, J
during all this long period he met his