The Ward County independent., 1921-01-27
JOHN E. T0FFLEMIRE, SAWYER
BANKER, DIED IN kllN0T FRIDAY

John E. Tofflemire, we'll known
Sawyer bakner, passed away in this
city early Friday morning after an
illness of but few hours, death be-
ing due to heart failure. Mr.. Toffle-
mire had motored to Minot Thursday
on business and appeared to be in his
usual robust health. He had had a
number Of heart attacks during the
past few years, resulting in fainting
spells, but had been feeling as we'll as
usual. He had driven in the after
noon to the home of his brother, Eu-
| gene, east of Minot, returning at 2
O'clock. His nephews, Roy and Earl
Tofflemire had talked with him at IL
O'Clock that night, and he was in his
attending to some business matters
at the office of Atty. VIM. Sibbald
up until II o'clock that night and Mr..
Sibbald states that he appeared to
be feeling as we'll as usual. He
went down on the street, presumably
to get his car and must have been at
tackled with one of his old heart spells,
for about 1890 o'clock, he was found
in the stairway of the Benno Drug
store, unconscious and breathing. He
was found by one of the night police
men who summoned assistance, carry
ing him to the city hall, where he
died shortly afterwards. The auto
was found on the street in the morn
ing, with the water in the engine fro
zen.
An autopsy was held and later Cor
oner r. w. Pence held an inquest with
the following jurors: Geo. Hoover,
l.. A. Corey and Fred Almy. In or
der to determine definitely that Mr..
Tofflemire was not the victim of foul
play, the stomach was sent to tt4
University laboratory at Grand Froks
and the coroner's jury are withhold
| ing their verdict awaiting the report
from the laboratory.
The funeral was held from the Con-
gregational church at Sawyer Sunday
afternoon at 5 o'clock, with Rev. A..
J. Spacht in charge. The remains
were inferred in the Sawyer cemetery.
The following brothers and sisters
attended the funeral: F. S. Toffle-
mire, Sawyer; Eugene and Albert of
Surrey; Henry, Of Pocatello, Ida;
and sister, Mrs. C. E. Lighter, and
her husband from Mason City, Iowa.
The other sister, Mrs. D. H. Gates of
Terre. Bonnie, Ore, was unable to at
tend the funeral. The aged father,
A. Tofflemire, who was "a years Of
age, also attended the funeral, his
sad death occurring two days later.
The deceased is survived by two chill
dren, a daughter Alice (Mrs. Lawr-
ence Himes) who resides in Sawyer,
and Harold, who attends school in
Sawyer. His wife passed away in
! Sawyer about a year ago. His aged
father had been making his home
with John E. Tofflemire.
J. E. Tofflemire was born in Boone
county, Illinois, near Belvidere, Sept.
IA, 1863. and was 81 years of age in
September. He lived in Illinois until
1882 when he moved with his parents
to Mason City, Iowa. In his early
life, he farmed and was also engaged
in the butcher and mercantile busi-
, ness, at Thornton, Iowa. He came
to Ward county in 1900 homesteading
with his father and brothers near
Sawyer. In 1902 he engaged in the
mercantile business with his brother
in Sawyer and three years later or.
ganized the Sawyer State Bank Of
which he was president at the time Of
! his death. He was also vice ,presi-
| dent of the First State Bank Of Lone
Tree and president of the Security
! State Bank Of Benedict, all thriving
banking institutions, In all Of his
business CONNECTIONS he was associat-
ed with his brother, F. S., Toflemire,
all their affairs being conducted as a
co-partnership. The Tofflemire Bros
were owners Of nearly 5000 acres OF
valuable land in the vicinity of Saw
yer at the time of the brothers death
Mr.. Tohlemire was married to Miss
Sarah Peterson at Mason City, Iowa
who preceded him in death about I
year ago. :.
Rev. A. J. Spacht, pastor Of thu
Sawyer Congregational church,, who
preached the funeral sermon, said tht
following as his concluding remarks
II am but expressing the opinion
of the people Of Sawyer and commun
ity when I say that John Tofflemirt
was more sinned against than SHINING
in the manner Of his passing.
"He lived his life daily in our yer!
midst. We knew some of his fail
ihgs and they did not seem to US NOR
than the little failings Of the average
human life. We also knew of hi
many good deeds, his unfailing goo'
cheerfulness, his always hopeful out
look upon life. No man ever did NOR,
J, to develop Sawyer and communit.
than did he. Controlling large finan
cial resources he directed these to tn
helping Of many. Many who griev
for him today know this to be true
, He was . friend 70 many in time o
/ deep need. Directing and controlling
} Ia large acreage Of land he was q
ways striving to develop to its high