Newspaper article:Jeffries Lemuel Andrew obit WCD23Jun1909 p1 b - Wayne County Democrat June 23 1909
- Article title
- Death Ends a Long and Useful Career
- Newspaper title
- Wayne County Democrat
- Date of publication
- 1909/06/23
- Page number
- 1
- Organization
Full text
Captain Lemuel Jeffries, five times elected mayor of Wooster and for half a century associated with the Wayne County Democrat, passed to his reward a few minutes after four o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Kinney & Knestrick hospital where he was taken for treatment Thursday morning.
Although Capt. Jeffries has been in failing health for some months, none of his friends suspected that death was near. Tuesday afternoon he was down street and seemed as cheerful as ever. he accosted Prof. John Boyd, an old friend of his on the streets and wrote a lengthy personal concerning him, which was handed to the News for publication. That was the last newspaper article written by him. Wednesday he did not feel very well and remained at home nearly all day. Wednesday evening Dr. J. D. Beer was called to the home and Thursday morning the physician recommended hospital treatment. Mr. Jeffries was suffering from bowel and bladder trouble and on account of his age and week condition, his life was despaired of. He was taken to the hospital, but when he reached the institution, it was seen at once that he was sinking fast. During the day he grew rapidly worse and was in no condition to undergo an operation. Death came shortly after four o'clock.
Lemuel Jeffries, oldest son of John P. and Jane Jeffries, was born on June 8th, 1838 on the McMonigal farm, two miles south west of this city. His mother's parents settled in Wayne county in 1814, being among the earliest pioneers. In his youth, he learned the newspaper printing office of Jacob A. Marchand and made this his life work.
April 15, 1851 [1861], he enlisted in the Union army under Lincoln's first call for troops, becoming a private in Co. E 4th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. For three years he was a brave and faithful soldier, rising to the rank of Captain. Among the scores of battles in which he saw service were Second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Centerville, Smicker's Gap and Harrison's Landing. In April 1866, he returned from Virginia to Washington where on May 4th, a year after the war closed, he was, as Captain of Co. C, 20th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps honorably discharged from service and returned to his home in Wooster.
On October 9th, 1862, he was united in marriage to Harriet E. Howard, oldest daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Howard. This marriage resulted in two daughters, one of whom died a few years ago, the other being Mrs. Helen Angell, who is now in Wooster on a visit. Her home is in Atkinson, Nebraska. For three years he was Clerk of the Wayne county probate court.
Upon his return to Wooster, Capt. Jeffries resumed his work for the Wayne County Democrat, and the files of the county paper contain column after column of his well penned articles. He retired only a few years ago, and up to the very last would occasionally write short articles concerning his intimate friends. His last lengthy article was published by the News at the time of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, February 145h of this year.
Capt. Jeffries started to work at the Democrat office at the age of fourteen and was still on the pay roll at the time of his death. The only time he was not identified as a member of the Democrat employee was during the several years he spent in the Civil War.
In 1883, acceding to the wishes of his frinds, he became a candidate for mayor of Wooster and was elected by a nice majority. When his term expired two years later he was re-elected. In 1893 he was again a candidate, elected, and served for three successive two year terms an honor that had never before been conferred upon a Wooster man. In all he served 10 years as mayor, no other previous man having served more than four years.
Capt. Jeffries was a man who could number his friends by the hundreds. He was widely known through the county, and in Grand Army circles throughout the state. At the time of his death he was secretary of the 4th Regiment, a position he has held for years. Although never a church member, Mr. Jeffries believed sincerely in a higher power and a future home for the soul. He often attended church in company with his wife, who is a member of the First Presbyterian church. He was a member of Given Post and has held several responsible positions in this organization.
Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by his aged mother, far past 90 years of age, to whom his death comes as a great affliction in the closing years of her life. The body has been removed to his home on East Bowman street where the funeral was held on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, services conducted by Rev. D. A. Heron, of the First Presbyterian Church.
The house was filled, and there was a large crowd of sorrowing friends gathered upon the lawn, where they listened to the address of Rev. D. A. Heron and then filed past the coffin for a final look at the features they had known so well in life. The ritual services of the G. A. R. were given at the home, and they were very impressive. Rev. D. A. Heron, pastor of the First Presbyterian church made a short address. "My task is a hard one," said Dr. Heron. This man has been among you for seventy one years, and I have been here but a short time." Dr. Heron spoke of Captain Jeffries life as a soldier, as a citizen and as an executive. A quartet of the church composed of Mrs. Geo. Alcock, Miss Forbes, C. B. Keim and John Boston rendered the music during the services.
The floral tributes were among the most beautiful ever seen in the city this season of the year being especially adaptable to the fine display, and the many friends of Capt. Jeffries all brought wreaths and garlands of beautiful flowers which completely covered the casket, and were piled high around it.
The pall bearers were members of Co. E, to which Capt. Jeffries belonged. They were Capt. W. H. Bucher, of Jefferson; J. L. Dickaman, of Forrest, O.; Harry Baumgardner, Wooster; J. L. Saiter, Marlon; Christopher Bolus, Canton; John Fitch, Millersburg. Mrs. J. L. Dickaman of Forrest and Sparks Baird, of Loudonville, were among the other out of town friends in attendance.