HEART ATTACK FATAL

Veteran Herman Physician Dead Of Heart Attack

Long Prominent in Herman, Had Been Chosen Outstanding Citizen

Death came suddenly last evening to Dr. Allen J. Cameron, 62, village physician at Herman for 38 years, only a short time after he suffered a heart attack. Word of his passing came as a shock to the residents of Herman, for he had apparently been in good health, and had worked most of the day at his office.

The entire village was in mourning today, for Dr. Cameron had been the “family doctor” for almost every family in and around Herman for almost three generations. Many of those he delivered as babies are now grown men and women with families of their own.

Only a short time after suffering a sudden heart attack, Dr. Allen J. Cameron, 62, Herman’s physician for 38 years died at his home. Shocked and grieved by his passing, local residents could hardly believe the news, for the doctor had been at his office as usual most of the day.

Dr. Cameron was born at Watford, Ontario, Canada, the son of Mary and Donald Gordon Cameron, and spent his early years there.

Graduated from the University of Toronto at Toronto, Canada, in 1900, Dr. Cameron came to Herman the same year and had practiced there since, with the exception of a short time during the World war when he served in the U.S. army.

As a member of the medical corps he attained the rank of captain.

Dr. Cameron has been president of the Washington County Medical society, secretary of the same organization, vice-president of the state Medical society and served on the medical advisory board during the war.

He was a member of Landmark lodge No. 222, A.F. & A.M., of Herman; Mackey chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Tekamah; Jordan Commandery, Knights Templar, of Blair, and of Tangier Shrine temple of Omaha.

He was an active member of the American Legion post at Herman, and belonged to the Presbyterian church.

He was really and truly a great man; no night was ever too cold or dark or the roads too bad for him to visit those in need.

Always most active in the affairs of his community, Dr. Cameron served two terms as chairman of the Herman village board. He also served twenty years as chairman of the Herman school board and through his direction the Herman schools are today among the highest accredited in the state. His fairness and kind-heartedness made many friends for him and his advice on community affairs was always given the best consideration. He always took a leading part in all activities for the betterment of his village.

Only recently he had been chosen as Herman’s outstanding citizen of the year.

His first wife, the former Minnie B. Eccles, to whom he was married in 1901, died in 1931. He was married again in October, 1933, to Hazel Sherwood of Montclair, New Jersey, who survives him.

Other survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Sidner of Lincoln, and a granddaughter, Mary Catherine Sidner, also of Lincoln; three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Spiers of Detroit, Mrs. William Moore of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and Mrs. C. Richardson of Canfield, Ontario; and two brothers, Donald Gordon Cameron of Sarnia, Ontario, and Alec Cameron of Alberta, Canada.

Funeral services, it was announced at noon today, will be held at the American Legion hall in Herman at 2 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Herman cemetery. Pallbearers will be E. W. Burdic, Waldo Hancock, Dave Rutledge and Dr. W. I. Nelson, all of Herman, Dr. Morris Nielsen of Blair and Dr. Leslie Sauer of Tekamah.

The body will lie in state at the Legion hall from 10 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m., hour of the funeral.

#2-Herman Record 12 May 1938

More Than 500 at Funeral for Dr. A. J. Cameron Here Saturday

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Because many friends of the late Dr. A. J. Cameron found it impossible to attend funeral services for him due to the storm conditions Saturday, The Record herewith presents a copy of the sermon delivered by the Rev. A. W. Clarke at the rites.

Proverbs, Chapter 22, Verse 29.

“Seeth thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before Kings.”

I wonder how many of you have ever seen a search light attached to the mast-head of a ship? As it throws its powerful beams across the water circling round, first north then east, then south and last of all west, picking up in clear relief all the other vessels in that trackless miles of ocean. You get a lasting picture of real beauty. Over yonder is a small vessel proudly plowing its way home, the search light plays upon it for a moment and it is gone. In a moment the light flashes back again and over here is another clear silhouette this time a magnificent man-of-way. I have often thought that this was the way with men. When the search light of God’s Truth sheds its rays upon these characters of ours, we get a true picture of ourselves, and we can see how short we have fallen from the great Ideal of what man really should be.

Men after all are of two kinds. Some, and these are by far the larger number, tell us by word of mouth what they are. Others and these are few in number express their lives by what they do. I do not intend this afternoon to preach a funeral sermon in the general accepted sense of the term. We have met here today to pay our respects to the last earthly remains of Dr. Allan Cameron. May I say at once that Dr. Cameron preached the finest kind of sermon that any man can preach, and that was by the kind of life he lived. Dr. Cameron was not of those who expressed his life by what he did and how he did it. If I were to search all the dictionaries and encyclopedias in the world I could not find in the speech of men words enough in which to express what is our thoughts today.

An honor student of a great university, he was content to make this small town his home. A man of brilliant genius he could have found life in pleasanter places but he sought to serve this community for the love and friendship that he gave and received. He used no flowery phrase nor spoke easy words of praise to win friends. He was not cheap or shallow, but his course ran true and deep, and it was pure, too. When Dr. Cameron made a friend that person was a friend till death should part. You may search the world and you will find few men of this type.

When God took the clay to make the mould* in which he fashioned the character of Allan Cameron He broke the mould* and discarded it. Edgar Guest tells us that there are two kinds of lies! The kind you live and the kind you tell. You men who have known Dr. Cameron for nearly 30 years, look back through those years today and in all the years you know he never acted one untruth. If he disagreed he always fought out in the open. He did not care what others said or thought if he believed he was right, then he never rested till the task was done.

And yet there are things that Dr. Cameron hid from others. Time and time again he not only gave his professional services to those who were not able to pay, but he also saw that some of these same families were provided with the necessary things of life. His deeds of kindness and acts of charity were un-numbered. He never let his closest friends know of these acts of kindness. His speech when the occasion arose could be plain and blunt. Yet all the children loved hm. For nearly three generations he helped to bring many babies into this world, and believed to see them grow to manhood and womanhood, and to have children of their own. He lived to see some of these boys and girls go out in the world of affairs and make their way in home making and business. He loved boys and set the seal of influence on many great generations of them. To his wife and family he was a tower of strength. He loved these hills to the west, and these river bottoms to the east. He lived to see this great state of Nebraska with its fertile soil, its vast resources become a great commonwealth, its desert to blossom as the rose. He gave in full measure to the building of the school system in this district. A great judge of character, he brought here educators who helped to develop the minds and bodies of your children. Dr. Cameron was a pioneer and he blazed trails where highways never ran. Winter snows, spring rains, and summer heat never kept him from the path of duty. And God let him live by the side of the road, and he was a friend to man. He was intensely proud of Scotch ancestry, and indeed had reason to be yet that never blinded him to the fact that when he saw other races of man go by, he at once saw their value and worth. Settling in a community that is predominant Danish he won the love and respect of every one of you.

He learned well the great reason that men who are good and the men who are bad are just as good and bad as you and I. Allan Cameron never sat in the scorner’s seat, he never scoffed at the fine and holy things of life.

He lived to share the joy and happiness of warm-hearted friendship with scores of you. The good Lord had blessed him with a deep sense of humor, and his hearty laugh was to me a great help when the going was hard and difficult.

He leaves behind the fragrance of a life well spent, well lived, and well planned. A few short days ago he lived, felt dawn, saw sunset flow, loved and was loved, and now he sleeps.

Yet who is there here today who could say that the soul of Allan Cameron is dead. His life, his influence, his spirit, will go on in this community for many generations to come.

So we mourn today the passing of a great soul. A Christian gentleman; a 100% American citizen, a doctor who was devoted to his profession, a good husband, a loyal father, a fine neighbor, and a real friend.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings. Today Allan Cameron stands before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And I think I can hear the “Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many-enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Saturday afternoon, despite the inclement weather, it was estimated that more than five hundred people gathered at the Legion Hall where they attended the funeral services of Dr. Allen Cameron. People from all neighboring cities came to pay tribute to one who had been Herman’s physician for 38 eyars. He passed away at his home on Wednesday evening after suffering a sudden heart attack. The Rev. A. W. Clarke of the Methodist Episcopal church officiated. Music for the services was furnished by C. R. Gray, Fred Robertson, L. D. Long, and Roland Wachter, with Mrs. F. B. Shrader at the piano. Interment was made in the Herman cemetery. Out of town relatives who were present were Mr. and Mrs. John Sidner of Lincoln, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Gunner of Montclair, New Jersey, Mrs. William Moore of Sarnia, Ontario and Donald Cameron of Sarnia, Ontario.

*The spelling in the article.

#3-May 17, 1938

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Many At Funeral For Dr. Cameron

Over 500 At Services For Herman Doctor Despite Cold And Snow

Dr. Allan J. Cameron, Herman’s beloved “family doctor” for 38 years, was buried in the little cemetery adjoining the village Saturday afternoon after more than 500 friends had attended the funeral rites at the American Legion hall despite cold and unseasonable snow.

From all walks of life came people to pay their final respects to the 62-year-old physician who had spent his entire medical career in Herman after being graduated from the University of Toronto in his native Ontario.

Dr. Cameron’s death came suddenly last Wednesday evening, after a heart attack suffered while he was at work.

The Rev. A. W. Clarke, Herman Methodist minister, presided at the funeral services. Music was furnished by C. R. Gray, Fred Robertson, L. D. Long and Roland Wachter, with Mrs. F. B. Shrader at the piano.

Dr. Cameron, long prominent in Herman affairs, especially as a member of the school and village boards, is survived by his second wife, Hazel, to whom he was married several years after his first wife’s death, and a daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Sidner of Lincoln, until recently of Tekamah.

#4-Another obituary

Dr. A. J. Cameron Dies Suddenly

Herman and vicinity suffered a severe shock Wednesday when the death of Dr. A. J. Cameron, 62 years, was announced. He had been in ill health for some time and died suddenly following a heart attack Wednesday afternoon.

He came to Herman in 1899 and took over the practice of Dr. Izaaih Lukens who went to Tekamah. Complete obituary will be given next week.

The funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. from the Legion hall. The body will be taken to the hall at 10:00 a.m. and lie in state with a Legion guard until the ceremonies at which Rev. A. W. Clark will officiate and interment will be made in the Herman cemetery.

#5-12 May, 1938 - The Enterprise

LAST RITES FOR DR. A. J. CAMERON HELD SATURDAY

One of the Largest Funerals Held Herman Legion Hall Filled

Honoring the late Dr. A. J. Cameron, hundreds of friends of the deceased Herman physician braved stormy weather Saturday to pay their last tribute to the man who had served them for 38 years.

The funeral services, held at the American Legion hall in Herman, were the largest ever held in Herman and taxed the capacity of the auditorium to overflowing. Rev. A. W. Clarke of the Herman Methodist church officiated at the services, paying tribute to the outstanding citizen who had served as physician, member of the Legion, city official and prominent Mason. Only recently Dr. Cameron had been honored as the outstanding citizen of Herman at a Father and son banquet and alter which a letter Rev. Clarke had received from the deceased physician was read.

A quartette composed of Fred Robertson, C. R. Gray, L. D. Long and Roland Wachter sang “Abide With Me” and “Rock of Ages” with Mrs. F. B. Shrader at the Piano.

The pallbearers were E. W. Burdic, D. W. Rutledge, Waldo Hancock and Dr. W. I. Nelson of Herman and Dr. Morris Nielson of Blair and Dr. Leslie Sauer of Tekamah. Interment was made in the Herman cemetery.

The floral offerings were many and beautiful.

Dr. Cameron, 62 years of age at his death, located in Herman 38 years ago, and during that time he has cared for the sick and ailing of that community with the most conscientious care. No night was too dark nor the condition of the roads too bad for him to visit those in suffering, and many persons now grown to maturity in Herman were delivered by him as babies and have known no other physician’s care through their entire life.

He not only looked after the physical welfare of the community, but he took his place in the direction of the schools and other civic activities. He served two terms as chairman of the village board, and for twenty years he was a member of the school board, and he took great pride and satisfaction in making the Herman schools known as one of the leading schools in the state considering the size of the town.

Dr. Cameron was a native of Ontario, Canada, where he spent his early years. He attended the University of Toronto at Toronto, Canada, where he graduated in 1900 and came directly to Herman where he has made his home, with the exception of a short period spent in the service during the World war. During his army service he was given the rank of captain of the medical corps.

He was honored by his fellow physicians, and was president of the Washington county medical society, secretary of the same organization, vice president of the state medical society and served on the medical advisory board during the war.

He was a member of Landmark lodge No. 222, A.F.&A.M. of Herman; Mackey chapter royal Arch Masons of Tekamah; Jordan Commandery, Knights Templar of Blair and of Tangier Shrine temple of Omaha.

He was an active member of the American Legion post at Herman and belonged to the Presbyterian church.

Thus his life was a busy one, and his activities only limited by his physical strength which was at times taxed to the limit, but he never failed a duty nor sidestepped a responsibility, and in all things he looked to the betterment of his community. To say that he will be missed is stating a fact mildly, for his judgement was sought on every occasion.

His first wife, the former Minnie B. Eccles, to whom he was married in 1902, died in 1931. He married again in October, 1933 to Hazel Sherwood of Montclair, New Jersey, who survives him.

Other survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Sidner of Lincoln and a granddaughter, Mary Catherine Sidner, also of Lincoln; three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Spiers of Detroit; Mrs. William Moore of Sarmia, Ontario, Canada; and Mrs. C. Richardson of Canfield, Ontario; and two brothers, Donald Gordon Cameron, Sarmia, Canada and Alec Cameron, Alberta Canada.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~