1909 Obit- Condon, Byron E, Maryville, Nodaway Co, Missouri

Transcribed by Lee Zion
October 12, 2006

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This article is public domain.
No copyright claimed for the transcription.
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              THE NODAWAY DEMOCRAT
Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri, February 4, 1909

      (3 column photo titled Byron E. Condon)

            DEATH OF BYRON E. CONDON
      THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 28, 1909

   It is with deep sorrow we this week chronicle the death of Byron E.
Condon, who for nearly nineteen years past has been a prime factor in
the business and publication of the Nodaway Democrat.  His death
occurred last Thursday morning, January 29 (sic), at 12:20 o'clock,
just two years, as to the day, from the death of his former partner
and friend, James Todd, who was the editor of the Democrat for more
than thirty years.  Mr. Todd's death occurred January 31, 1907.  Both
men died of the same disease, cancer of the stomach.

   Mr. Condon's health began to fail noticeably about the time Mr.
Todd died, and for some six months before that he had experienced some
little sickness from his stomach, the first real sickness he had ever
known.

	In June 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Condon went on a trip to Oklahoma in the
hope of benefitting his health by rest and recreation.  They stopped
in Salina, Kansas, to visit Mr. Condon's oldest sister, Mrs. W. W.
Nunn, whom he had not seen for eighteen years.  In Oklahoma they
visited at Pauls Valley with the family of Mrs. Condon's uncle, T. A.
Vaughn.

	This was the first rest Mr. Condon had had in seventeen years, with
the exception of a week he spent in St. Louis a few years before in
company with W. H. Totterdale, in attending the Masonic Grand Lodge
Nr. 470 A. F. & A. M., and Owen's Royal Arch Chapter, being Worshipful
Master of the Blue lodge at the time.

	Mr. Condon derived much benefit from his Oklahoma trip, but it was
not long after his return to the cares of business that he began
failing again.

	The last day of last March, in company with Dr. Charles Bell, who
left his medical studies in Chicago to come to Maryville to induce Mr.
Condon to seek the aid of specialists, he went to Chicago and was
examined by the best specialists on diseases of the stomach.  They
considered his physical condition too weak for an operation to remove
the tumor they found, and recommended complete rest for a few months,
when an operation would be considered by them.

	Mr. Condon returned home in a week, and the 1st day of June, in
company with Mrs. Condon and their little daughter, Ora May, left for
a trip to the Pacific coast.  They stopped for short visits with
relatives and friends on the way and Mr. Condon seemed to gain
strength.  They remained until the latter part of August at Oakdale,
California, with Mrs. Condon's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Vaughn.
The extreme heat of that section did not seem to agree with Mr.
Condon, so they came on to Colorado and stopped about a month in
Denver, Pueblo and Wray, the latter place being their former home.
Mr. Condon gained very rapidly here, and when he returned to Maryville
said he had not felt better at any time in his life.  The tumor had
apparently disappeared as his physicians could find no trace of it.

	Mr. Condon resumed his work on the Democrat, but it was not long when
the confinement began to tell on him.  He would quit the office
earlier to get the fresh air, and go home sometimes for a few hours to
rest.  Finally, on the 2nd of December, nine weeks before his death,
he went home to stay.  His condition soon became known and from that
time on his sickness was the daily concern of many friends throughout
the county.  He was a friendly natured man and so long as he was able
to talk his sick room was not without visitors, and when he grew too
weak to talk he wanted his family and friends about him and enjoyed
their conversation.  He did not lose interest in his church, lodge or
business life, and nearly every day talked and counseled with his two
eldest sons about business affairs at the Democrat office, where they
were employed with him.

	He did not appear to suffer pain, and after the first acute pangs of
hunger were over he made very few complaints.  A post mortem
examination held by Dr. G. A. Nash and Dr. J. H. Todd revealed a
cancer tumor that filled the stomach and had grown to be a part of it,
so that an operation at any time would have been impossible.

	The funeral services were held at the First Christian Church Saturday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. C. M. Chilton of St. Joseph,
assisted by the pastor, Rev. L. O. Bricker.  The services were very
simple and quiet, according to the wish of the one gone, and were
largely attended, although the day was bitter cold.

	A quartette composed of Professor W. A. Rickenbrode, Mrs. Fred P.
Robinson, Miss Alice Orcutt, Mrs. J. E. Bailey and Lawrence W. Ray
sang, "Lead Me Gently Home, Father," and the old song, "In the Sweet
Bye and Bye."  A solo, "Crossing the Bar," was sung by Mrs. Robinson. 
This was Mr. Condon's favorite song, and he had always delighted in
Mrs. Robinson's singing since she was a little girl.

	Rev. Bricker quoted from memory a collection of Scripture references
that were comforting and assuring, then led in prayer.  Rev Chilton
followed with a short sermon, the words of his text, "Strive to enter
in."  His reference to the life and character of Mr. Condon, their
personal friendship, and his relations with the family as a pastor,
was indeed beautiful and showed how nearly Divine these human
relationships may become.  Nothing was overdrawn and the tribute he
paid to the memory of "Byron," as everyone called him, as husband,
father, Christian and friend, would be attested to by all who heard.

	A large escort of Masons was present and the burial services were in
their charge, conducted by Edward F. Hamlin.  The active pall-bearers
were: J. R. Brink, G. L. Wilfley, G. B. Roseberry, W. C. Frank, J. S.
Shinabargar and A. E. Bell.

	The honorary pall-bearers were Dr. Jesse Miller, David Munn, W. E.
Goforth, F. P. Reuillard, Charles McNeal and Richard Strawbridge.

	The floral offerings were in great profusion, many of them in
emblems.  Those contributing were: Knights Templar, Owen's Royal Arch
Chapter of Masons, the Standard Poland-China Record Ass'n, the Young
Ladies Mission Circle, the Nodaway Democrat, the Daily Tribune, the
Maryville Public School faculty, the Official Board of the First
Christian Church, the Order of the Easter Star, the P.O.E. Society;
Misses Katharine Yehle, Maude Hagins, Fannie Andrews, Uva Poston, Loah
McElroy, Golda and Gertrude Sidle, Irene Redfield, Bessie James,
Clara, Emma and May Yaple, Mary LeGrande, Fannie Heflin, Mabel Van
Horn and Clara Kalterman of the Alterman Dry Goods Store; Mrs. James
Todd and family; Dr. and Mrs. Jesse Miller; W. T. Garrett and family
and Geo. F. Woodworth; Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Butler of Stanberry; Mr. and
Mrs. Wm. Langan, Miss Grace Langan, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Baker; Mr. and
Mrs. J. S. Shinabarger; Mrs. John D. Richey; Della Grems, Mayme
Dooley, Virgie Rose, Dana Butler, Cora Bell, Anna Dooley, Mabel Todd,
Lena Nixon, Edith and Stella Smith, Bertha Ritze, Lella Bonewitz, Mrs.
Mary Brightman of St. Joseph; also the following ladies from the
Birthday Anniversary Club, of which Mrs. Condon is a member, - Mrs. G.
L. Wilfley, Mrs. O. L. Holmes, Mrs. Gattatin Craig, Mrs. John Herron,
Mrs. O. C. Hanna, Mrs. W. C. Pierce and Mrs. J. R. Brink.

	The relatives in attendance at the funeral were:  Mrs. W. W. Nunn of
Salina, Kansas, and her daughter, Miss Lillie; Mr. and Mrs. J. H.
Fellows of Fairfax; Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Duval of Skidmore; Mrs. Mary
Brightman of St. Joseph.

---------

	Byron Erastus Condon was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, September 4, 1850,
which made him fifty-eight years, four months and twenty-four days old
at his death.  When he was six years old his parents moved to
Savannah, Mo., where he attended the schools of that town.  When he
was fourteen years old he began working in the printing office of the
Savannah New Era, working evenings after school and during vacation.
When eighteen years old he went back to his native town and worked two
more years in learning the trade in the office of the Vernon
Republican.  He returned to Missouri and worked on one of the St.
Joseph papers one year.  In March he came to Maryville and began work
at the Maryville Republican, then but a few months old, which was
founded by M. G. Roseberry and Joseph Jackson Sr., president of the
First National Bank, Mr. Roseberry being the editor.  Dr. H. E.
Robinson soon became owner and editor of the Republican and Mr. Condon
continued with him some time.

	Mr. Condon also worked on the Nodaway Democrat, which was founded in
October of 1869, a year earlier than the Republican.  He worked about
an even length of time on both papers and was recognized as the
swiftest compositor in the state of Missouri.  He commanded a fine
salary, which was unusual for a young man in those days.

	In 1879 he became part owner of the Maryville Republican with Byron
A. Dunn, now of Waukegan, Ill., who had bought out Dr. Robinson's
interest.  This partnership continued seven years and was probably the
best money-making period of that paper.  In July of 1885 Mr. Condon
sold his interest to his partner and went to Wray, Colorado, to take
advantage of the government land offers in that county.  He bought and
took with him the printing outfit of the old Maryville Times that
Judge F. D. Snyder had discontinued publishing, and went prepared to
start a paper in the town, which he did.  Miss Emma Vaughn, who was
Mrs. Condon's sister, being his assistant.  The land which he and miss
Vaughn pre-empted was ten miles from Wray.  Mr. Condon's family lived
on the claim alone during the day, while he drove to and from his work
every night and morning, Miss Vaughn accompanying him, her land
adjoining that of Mr. Condon.  They killed rattlesnakes on nearly
every trip, which he said was the only bad feature of that new
country.  He named his paper the Wray Rattler, which is still
published there and is valuable property.  He sold his paper after a
year and gave his time to improving his land.

	In 1888 he received an urgent request from B. A. Dunn, his former
partner, to return to Maryville and take charge of the Republican, as
Mr. Dunn and George W. Martin, one of the editors of the Democrat,
were going to buy the St. Joseph Evening News and conduct it
personally.  Mr. Condon returned to his old place on the Republican,
and Dr. H. E. Robinson soon became owner again.

	In May, 1890, Mr. Condon formed a partnership with James Todd of the
Nodaway Democrat which c..... seven years.  They began the publication
of the Daily Democrat in December 1890, which continued five years,
but that publication ceased in 1895 during a critical illness of Mr.
Todd from typhoid feaver when physicians declared death as certain.
He recovered, however, and during that year gought back Mr. Condon's
interest, who remained as its foreman.

	Wherever Mr. Condon associated himself, either as partner or employe
he always bettered things.  His capacity for work and his ability to
achieve things, in favorable or unfavorable surroundings, were his
notable business qualities.  He never allowed circumstances to hinder
his accomplishment of a single purpose, and during the times of his
connection with the Republican and Democrat, those were their most
prosperous business periods.

	The event of Mr. Condon's life, which he took pride in saying was his
one great inspiration and joy all the years, was his marriage to Miss
Mattie Vaughn, which occurred February 25, 1879, twenty-five days
after he bought an interest in the Maryville Republican.  She was the
daughter of George B. Vaughn, a pioneer dry goods merchant of
Maryville.  The marriage took place at the old Vaughn home on South
Main street, which is now the property of County Treasurer Noble C.
Covey.  Elder George E. Dew, then pastor of the Christian church,
performed the ceremony.  It was a happy marriage.  They took their
vows as lovers, and last Thursday, when within a month of their
thirtieth wedding anniversary the angel of death came between them -
they parted as lovers.

	Ten children were born to them, all of whom are living and were
around his death bed.  Jettie Condon, a teacher in the Maryville
public schools; Gertrude Condon, with the Alderman dry goods company;
Georgia Condon, at home, Arthur B. and Tom Condon, employes of the
Nodaway Democrat; La Vera Condon, a high school student; Edward, Mary,
Byron E. and Ora May.  One son Arthur is married to the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. .... (text missing) ... daughter.

	Mr. Condon became a Mason the year before his marriage, and at his
death had attained to the Royal Arch degree.  He had held every office
in each degree, and for a number of years was secretary for the Royal
Arch and Blue lodges.  He was thoroughly familiar with all the degree
work and could have carried it on alone if necessary.  He loved
Masonry and for many years found it a sufficient standard of morality
for himself.

	However, on the 25th day of November, 1902, he became a member of the
First Christian church of Maryville, where his wife and nearly all his
children are active members.  Mr. Condon had long considered this
action and he went into the church determined to live up to his
profession, and in the little more than six years he was a member of
the church he was one of the best workers the organization ever had.
His Christian influence counted for as much in that time as most men's
do in a life time.  He was deeply interested in every department of
the church's work, especially the Sunday school, of which he was
superintendent four years, and assistant superintendent two years
under J. M. Hosmer and Will D. Alkire.

	Three Sundays ago his pastor, Rev. L. O.l Bricker, and the official
board of the church met with Mr. Condon in his home in a communion
service.  He enjoyed it so much that he talked of it for several days
after.  IT was the last time he was to partake of the bread and the
cup, "In remembrance of Me," as the Saviour said, for he was soon in
His glorious presence.

	Mr. Condon began his Christian life under the pastorate of Rev. O. W.
Lawrence, now of Decatur, Illinois, to whom he was a close friend and
helper.  He was soon made a deacon and member of the official board,
and by his earnestness, faithfulness and willingness made himself
necessary everywhere.  He was a liberal giver to the church and it was
found out by one of the traveling financial secretaries for missions
that he was the most liberal giver in the state, according to his
means.

	For all good that he was known among his brethren in church and
lodge, we believe those in his home ..... the Democrat office knew
.... The home life and ... ..an is his real ... worked here - nearly
nineteen years - not a harsh, unkind or impatient word ever passed his
lips.  And we are not claiming that he was a perfect man.  He and Mr.
Todd, in their seventeen years of business together, moved along in
perfect harmony.  What qualities one lacked, the other had so there
was nothing that prevented the brotherly companionship they enjoyed,
for that was what it really amounted too.

	Both men were of the strictest integrity, and we believe, possessed
every good quality.  Their families were dearer to them than their
business, and they often regretted that the rush and constant pressing
of their business affairs kept them from enjoying as much of the
company of wife and children as they wished for.  Their interests were
as nearly the same as two brothers could have been.  Such was the
character of the two men the Nodaway Democrat has lost; men who stood
for the best things in all things at all times.

	Mr. Condon leaves besides the members of his own family, three
sisters and one brother.  They are: Mrs. W. W. Nunn of Salina Kansas;
Mrs. J. H. Fellows of Fairfax, Missouri; Mrs J. W. Frederick of York
Nebraska; and Edward Condon of San Francisco, who is a civil engineer.

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