Daniel Eikenberry's life and times, revisited

I've written quite a bit here over the years about Daniel Eikenberry, a pioneer Chariton businessman and patriarch of a small family prominent in Lucas County for more than a century. So last week I was asked to locate and share some newspaper reports regarding him, including the following obituary, published in The Chariton Patriot of Oct. 18, 1893, that provides many of the basic details:

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Wednesday afternoon, October 11th, 1893, at his home in Chariton, Iowa, after a long illness, Daniel Eikenberry died in the sixty ninth year of his age. Deceased was born in Union county, Indiana, September 25th, 1825, and was at the time of his death 16 days over 68 years of age.

He emigrated to Iowa at an early age, settling in Monroe county and coming thence to Lucas county in 1866. September 17th, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Alexander of Chariton. The faithful wife and two children, Sara and William, are left to mourn his loss.

Twenty-eight years ago he formed a business partnership with Mr. G.J. Stewart of this city in a general stock, grain and lumber business. For more than a quarter of a century this firm, under the name of Eikenberry & Co., has been prominent in the business development of southern Iowa. Their business operations occupy an extended field, the firm having offices in Chariton, Indianola, Milo, Lacona, Derby, Russell and Pleasantville, Iowa. 

In all his business relations Mr. Eikenberry was a model business man. He conducted his affairs with a strong hand and clear judgment. He had a wonderfully level head. He was moreover an honest man, and while strict in the performance of duty himself, was exacting in requiring its observance in others. He was not a weak man to be trifled with, yet his sense of justice was acute and profound. Strong, forceful and self-reliant, he was singularly unassuming in manner, kind-hearted and generous.

The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon from his late residence on C Avenue and was largely attended. Many from a distance came to join with his immediate neighbors and friends to pay this last sad tribute of respect. The services were conducted by Rev. A.H. Collins assisted by Presiding Elder Stuart and Rev. W.C. Atwood; Rev. Collins preaching the funeral sermon. The burial services were conducted by Chariton Lodge No. 63 A.F. and A.M. of which Mr. Eikenberry had long been an honored member. Several lodges from neighboring cities were also represented, all under the efficient charge of J.D. Gamble of Knoxville, Past Grand Master of Iowa.

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Daniel's parents are not mentioned in the obituary --- nor for that matter in any of the biographical material that's out there about him, including the most complete published three years after his death in a volume entitled "A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa" (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1896).

I doubt that there was any dark reason for the absence, merely that Daniel was nearly 50 when he finally got around to marrying and so his widow and children may not have had that information at hand. Whatever the case, his father was Peter Eikenberry (1796-1865) and Susanah (Scheidler) Eikenberry (1788-1843).

The Eikenberrys were part of a close-knit group of German Baptist Brethren (sometimes called the Dunkard Brethren) who traveled from Pennsylvania through Virginia and Ohio to Union County, Indiana, where Daniel was born. 

During the 1850s, a group of Brethren from Union County --- probably including Daniel, his brother,, William, and his widowed father --- came west to farm and found a church in northeast Monroe County, Iowa. Peter and William continued on to become pioneers of Lyon County, Kansas, but Daniel remained in Monroe County.

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The following account of Daniel's funeral --- described as perhaps the most largely attended ever held in Chariton --- was published in The Chariton Herald of Oct. 19, 1893:

The funeral of Daniel Eikenberry which occurred last Sunday afternoon at the family home in this city was a most impressive occasion and was perhaps the most largely attended of any in the history of Chariton. A special train was run on the north branch to accommodate the Masonic fraternity and employees of the firm of which decease was a member, who wished to attend, and trains from other points brought delegations of the same fraternity and employees.

The attendance of citizens was very large. The services were held on the porch of the residence. Rev. A.H. Collins, of the Methodist church preached the sermon and had charge of the service, assisted by Dr. T. McK. Stuart in prayer and comments, and by Rev. W.C. Atwood in scripture reading. Music was furnished ny a quartette of the Methodist choir, composed of Mrs. Anna Dent, Miss Daisy Yost, Messrs L.H. and P.O. Busselle.

After the services at the house the Masonic fraternity took charge of the exercises and the procession composed of nearly one-hundred carriages and seventy-five masons and forty employees of the firm of Eikenberry & Co. in line, took up its march to the silent city of the dead, where the remains were laid away in accordance with the ritual of the order.

The Masonic exercises were directed by Mr. James Gamble, of Knoxville, Past Grand Master of the state, and his thorough knowledge of the ritual and long service in the order had the effect of making the ceremonies most effective and impressive. As a leader Mr. Gamble has few equals.

I find it interesting that the front porch upon which Daniel's funeral was held is still around, although the original Eikenberry home has been relocated. I've written about the Eikenberry homes a couple of times, including "A tale of two Eikenberry houses" and "The travels of south Chariton's Rose Lawn House."

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Finally, here's a paragraph from The Herald of Oct. 19 describing how Daniel had structured his estate to ensure that not only his family but also his employees were provided for. Perhaps the most interesting element is the absolute faith that Daniel had in his friend, Henry Kubitshek, named sole executor.

It proved to be a wise choice that left the family well provided for, the family business intact to be carried on by his son and added to the Chariton square two fine buildings constructed at Henry's direction as estate investments that remain in use --- the Piper's Grocery building on the northeast corner and the Crozier's building, on the southeast.

It is understood that by the provisions of the will of the late Daniel Eikenberry, Mr. Henry Kubitshek is made the trustee of the estate of the deceased with instructions to continue the business without change for a time if deemed wise in his judgment. This Mr. Kubitshek informs the Herald reporter, will be done and the affairs of this heavy firm will continue as heretofore for some time at least, he representing the interests of the heirs. By the terms of the will the widow is to receive $25,000 in cash within one year, the remainder of the estate to be held in trust for the son and daughter until they attain the age of 25 years, when they will share an equal division sufficient amounts being provided by the trustee from the revenues of the estate for their maintenance until such time as final settlement and division shall be made. In reply to the query as to the estimated value of the estate, Mr. Kubitshek said he might make a fair guess as to its value but he would  prefer not to express an opinion until he had gone over the matter carefully.

Henry has a fascinating backstory himself, which I explored in a post entitled, "Henry Kubitshek's grave."