P. R. L. Van Horn 1854-1906

VAN HORN, BRILEY, MOWDER, STRUBLE

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 7/1/2022 at 11:24:05

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 20, 1906
page 1

Nothing has no startled and shocked the people of this community in a long time as the news of the sudden death of P. R. L. Van Horn, which occurred at his home southeast of town Sunday, Sept. 9 between the 5 and 6 o'clock p. m. To those who knew him best, his death was not a great surprise as he had suffer severely for two or three years with heart trouble and his physicians had often warned him that he was liable to go in that way at any time. They told him that if he would keep very quiet his life might be prolonged for years. But Mr. Van Horn was a very active, energetic man and it was just about impossible for him to be quiet and on the farm he saw so many things to do that he often worked too hard and he came exhausted and almost out of breath. He was a large robust looking man and to those who knew him only casually he seemed to have a fair prospect for a long life.

Sunday morning he came to town to the early train to bring friends who had been visiting them. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Briley, of Vandalia, Mo. Mrs. Briley being a sister of Mrs. Van Horn and Mrs. Anna Mowder, Mrs. Van Horn's mother, who makes her home with her, went with her other daughter to Missouri for a visit. The same evening they received a message to return and Mrs. Briley and son, Benjamin and Mrs Mowder came at once. Mr. A. Struble, Mrs. Van Horn's brother with his wife and son, Fred, also came from Carthage, Illinois, for the funeral.

Mr. Van Horn was the last of his immediate family, having neither father, mother, brother nor sister living.

He was born in New Jersey January 1, 1854 and was married in that state in 1874 to Miss Louisa Struble, whom with one daughter, Miss Lillian, survive him. They came to Illinois, in ? and to Washington county, Iowa in 1893. Here they lived until March, 1904, when they ought the farm about three miles southeast of town, know as the old Ben Stoddard farm, where they have since lived. Mr. Van Horn was as well as usual Sunday and just before death came was talking to his daughter, who is one of the teachers in the Columbus City schools, telling her that they must be up early the next morning as he would have to take her up to the City in the morning, it being the first day of school. He also spoke of having a pain in his chest. Miss Lillian started up stairs but before she reached the top she hard a fall and ran down to the kitchen to find her father lying dead on the floor. The funeral was held at the family residence Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Hursh, of Columbus City, pastor of the U. B. church, with interment at Columbus City cemetery. The services at the grave were in charge of the Odd Fellows, of which order Mr. Van Horn was a member.