Sudden Death

Joe Edwards received word last week that his son, Pearl, who lived at Los Angeles, California, was stricken with apoplexy. He left Friday morning, but Pearl passed away before his father's arrival.

The remains will be brought to this city for interment. They left Los Angeles Tuesday and will arrive here Saturday. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday from the house.

The deceased was raised in this community, where a host of friends sympathize with the sorrowing family.

#2 Blair Democrat 18 July 1912

DIES IN CALIFORNIA

Word reached Blair last Wednesday that Pearl Edwards had suffered a stroke of apoplexy at his home in Los Angeles, California, and was not expected to live, and on Friday his father, J. P. Edwards, and brother Curtis, left for that place. Later word was received that Pearl had died Saturday night and that his death was caused from a sun stroke. On Tuesday a telegram came to Mrs. Edwards stating that the remains would be brought to Blair for burial Saturday and would be accompanied by Pearl’s wife and child. It is expected the funeral will be held from the Edwards home on South street Sunday afternoon. Deceased was 33 years old and grew to manhood in this city, and many friends will join in extending sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.

#3 Blair Democrat 25 July 1912

THE EDWARDS FUNERAL

The remains of Pearl Edwards arrived in Blair last Saturday morning accompanied by his father and brother and wife and daughter, coming from Los Angeles, California, where Pearl passed away a week ago. The funeral was held from the Edwards home on East South street Sunday afternoon and the services conducted by Rev. Sturdevant of the Baptist church.

Jessie Pearl Edwards was born at Albia, Iowa, May 21, 1879, and came to Blair with his parents in 1883. He lived with his folks until he graduated in 1897, and soon after enlisted in the Spanish-American war as a musician in the Third Regiment Band of Co. E. under Captain VanDeusen and Col. W. J. Bryan. While stationed at Jacksonville, Florida, he became ill and when able to return home was given an honorable discharge. Later he was employed at the Farnham & Samson drugstore in this city and in 1904 went west, since which time he had been associated with the California Drug and Chemical Co. as traveling pharmacist. On June 2, 1907, he was married to Miss Frances Ferrier of Berkley, near Los Angeles, where he had since made his home.

On the morning of July 7th while in apparently good health and enjoying the association of his family he was suddenly stricken with a stroke of apoplexy and on the following Saturday he peacefully passed away. He leaves a wife and daughter, Elizabeth Alice, aged four years, his parents Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Edwards of this city, and an only brother J. C. Edwards of Benson.

Pearl was a member of the M. W. A. lodge of this city and of the Elks at Berkley. The pall bearers were friends of years ago, Messrs. Ray Lippincott, George Noble, Paul Kelley, Dr. Haller, W. P. Cook and J. E. Carver.

Those from out of the city in attendance at the funeral wee: Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Tracy, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cain, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Bandle, and Mr. and Mrs. George Haroman, all of Omaha, Mrs. U. S. Cain and daughter Ruth, of Brooklyn, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dixon and Mrs. Earl Slaughter of Tekamah.

#4 Tribune 24 July 1912

JESSE PEARL EDWARDS

Jesse Pearl Edwards was born at Albia, Iowa, May 21, 1879, and came west with his parents in the year 1883. He lived in the parental home until after he graduated from the Blair High School with the Class of ’97. Shortly after his graduation he enlisted in the Spanish-American War as First Trombonist in the Third Regiment Band of Company E. Volunteers under Captain Don C. VanDeusen and Co. William Jennings Bryan.

While stationed at Panama Park, Jacksonville, Florida, he became ill and when able to return home was given an honorable discharge. After regaining his health he was employed by the Farnam &Sampson Drug Co. of this city. In the year 1904 he went west and since that time has been associated with the Califordia Drug & Chemical Co. as Traveling Pharmacist. On June 2nd, 1907, he was married to Miss Francis Ferrier, of Berkley, California. His late home was at Berkley, Los Angeles, California.

On Sunday morning, July 7th, while apparently in good health and enjoying the associations of his home and family, he was suddenly stricken with a stroke of apoplexy and on the following Saturday he peacefully passed away. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife and little daughter Elizabeth Alice aged 4 years; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Edwards of this city and an only brother, J. C. Edwards, of Benson, Nebraska.

The deceased grew to manhood in Blair and all through his boyhood days and early manhood was a general favorite among those with whom he associated. To meet him was to become his friend. While in the High school he was very popular with the student body and faculty with his social relations were of the highest type. He was a member of the M.W.A. Camp of this city and of the Brotherhood of Elks No. 1002 of Berkley, California.

The many beautiful floral offerings mildly expressed the high esteem and deep appreciation for him and those of the home circle. Those contributing were: Mr. Frank Bell, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cook and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Koopman, Dr. and Mrs. R. J. Murdock, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Sams, Mr. and Mrs. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Lutz, the O.E.S., M.W.A., R.N.A., and a beautiful bouquet of American Beauties y the Pall Bearers. The funeral services were held from the home on East South street, and were conducted by Rev. Sturdevant of the Baptist church. His theme was chosen from the 22rd (as written) Psalm. Music was furnished by a male quartet composed of Messrs. Jn. Moore, D. C. VanDeusen, Dr. C. R. Mead and M. A. Sams. The selections rendered “Jesus, Savior Pilot Me,” “After the Darkest Hour” and “The Christian’s Good Night.”

The Pall bearers were young men with whom the deceased had been intimately associated: Messrs. Ray Lippincott, Geo. Noble, Paul Kelly, Dr. Will Haller, W. P. Cook and Ed Carver. Those from out of the city in attendance were: Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Tracy, Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cain, Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Bandle, Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Haroman, Omaha; Mrs. U. S. Cain, of Brooklyn, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dixon and Mrs. Earl Slaughter, of Tekamah, Nebraska. The services at the cemetery were concluded with the following selection by the male quartet:

“Sleep on beloved, sleep, and take thy rest; Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour’s breast; We love thee well, but Jesus loves thou best—Good Night! Good Night! Good Night!

Calm is thy slumber as an infant’s sleep; But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep; Thine is a perfect rest, secure, and deep—Good Night! Good Night! Good Night!

Until the shadows from the earth are cast; Until He gathers in His sheaves at last; Until the twilight gloom be overpast-- Good Night! Good Night! Good Night!

Until made beautiful by Love divine, Thou, in the likeness of thy Lord shalt shine, And He shall bring that golden crown of thine-- Good Night! Good Night! Good Night!

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