Obit for Eli PERSONS (b.1827 d.1908), Todd Co., MN

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DEATH REMOVES OLD VETERAN
Eli Persons Answers Last Roll Call Thursday and Funeral Held Sunday in 
Charge of G.A.R.
Death Summons Comes Suddenly While he is Quietly Resting in His Accustomed 
Chair.

The news that Eli Persons had passed away spread about town Thursday 
afternoon and many could not believe the fact, as he had been in his 
usual health a few hours before.  The old soldier passed away quietly 
and peacefully while sitting in his old chair. Death came quickly without 
pain and another veteran was called to the great beyond. The ranks are 
rapidly thinning and where a comrade is stricken down the survivors in 
the battle for life, close in and fill the gap, presenting always a solid 
front in the great battle that is waging each hour; each day.

Mr. Persons' death came as a great surprise and shock to his family, as 
well as his friends and comrades. During the winter and the last few days 
of his life he was enjoying his usual health. he did not get up as early 
as usual Thursday morning, but at eleven o'clock he arose and partook of 
a hearty meal. In the afternoon while quietly resting in his chair his 
aged wife, at his request went across the street to see how Mrs. McColley 
was getting along, she being very ill. Mrs. Persons left him shortly 
before one o'clock and returned within a few minutes only to find her 
husband lying on the floor near his chair. She rushed out and notified 
neighbors who came at once only to find him cold in death. Evidently he 
was taken with his old heart trouble and got up from his chair only to 
pitch forward dead.

The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Presbyterian 
church, Rev. C.H. Fleming officiating. The E.T. Wood post had charge 
of the funeral and a large number of people attended. The G.A.R. ritual 
was performed at the church and completed at the grave with the bugle 
sound of "taps" played by Jay Perkins. It was a beautiful  ceremony 
and highly appropriate for the ending of a veteran of his country.

Eli Persons was born on Dec. 24th, 1827, In Carthage township, Athens 
county, Ohio, and was the son of Sylvester and Lydia Persons, who were 
natives of Connecticut and Virginia respectively. His father died when 
he was twenty years of age and during the next four years she worked 
at farming.  On Oct. 24th, 1851, he was married to Susan Bail, a native 
of Pennsylvania. When the rebellion broke out he answered the call of 
his country, leaving behind him the young wife while he went to the 
front. He enlisted on August 25th, 1862, in company K of the 73rd Ohio 
Infantry. He lost his eyesight by the exposure of army life and in 
November he was granted a furlough, but not recovering he was 
discharged honorably in February 1863. From that time until his death, 
over forty years he never again saw the light of day.

He was the father of six children three of whom survive him besides his 
aged wife. The living children are Samuel of Reynolds, Mrs. Jane Cowdery, 
of this city; and Horace of Grey Eagle The deceased children are Sally, 
who died in infancy; Almira J. Hawk; who died Sept. 29th 1886; and 
Sylvester, who passed away June 29th, 1907. All the living children 
attended the funeral., Samuel was absent at the time attending court 
in Duluth when he received the sad news, and he left at once for home. 
besides the wife and children Mr. Persons leaves one sister, Mrs. 
Willard Petty, of  Frost, Ohio, and one brother, Loren Persons, of 
Darwin, Ohio.

He came to Todd county almost 21 years ago with is family from Ohio 
and settled on a farm in Leslie along the river, which he bought of 
Mr. Renn. Some five years ago he sold his farm and moved to this place.

The family has the sympathy of the entire community.


Todd County Argus, February 27, 1908 c.1. p.1 &2.