Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: John F. PHIFER ************************************************************************ Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, June 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Mr. John F. Phifer died at his home in this city, Friday, May 1, aged 56. The death of Mr. Phifer, while not only unexpected by a few, was a sudden and severe blow to his many friends in and around this city. Only a short time had he been confined to the house and it seemed but yesterday that he was to be found at his place of business with a cheery word and plesant welcome for all. His acquaintance was large, and while modest and retiring in disposiiton he had a warm place in the breast of many fellow beings. His presence will be missed, not only in the place of business of which he was a partner, but also in the councils of the church and society of which he was a faithful and conscientious member. Funeral services were held at the house Monday afternoon by Rev. Hoag of the Baptist church and the remains were escorted to the cemetery by a large following of members of the M. W. A., at which the ritualistic services of that order were observed and the final honors to a desceased neighbor given. The active pall bearers were A. C. Gray, J. W. Morgan, W. H. Johnson, John Winston, John and James Gillies, while the scholars of Mr. Phifer's Sunday school class were honorary bearers. Insurance to the amount of $2,000 was carried by the deceased which was divided between an old line policy and a fraternal. A wife and adopted daughter are left to cherish the memories of a kind and thoughtful husband and parent, and the sorrowing ones have the heart-felt sympathy of many friends. Ma peace be unto thee, and to thine. May 7, 1903, Evansville Review, Evansville, Wisconsin Died: May 1, 1903, at his home in this city, after an illness of about five weeks, Mr. John F. Phifer, of toxemic poison resulting from a pernicious form of maleria. His death came with a great shock to his fellow townsmen who had missed him from his place of business did not realize his serious condition. At the hour of going to press the arrangements for the funeral had not been made. The obituary notice will be published next week. May 2, 1903, badger, p. 1, col. 5, Evansville, Wisconsin OBITUARY John F. Phifer The subject of this sketch was born at Mina, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., January 9, 1847, of German parents. In 1869 he came to Wisconsin and in 1871 he was married to Miss Mary A. Snashall. For three years they resided in Chicago and then returned to Evansville, purchasing the Bradley property at the head of Church street, which place has since been their home. For twenty-five years Mr. Phifer had been an active worker in the Baptist church, singing in the choir and teaching a boys' class in Sunday School. He was a charter member of local branch of the M. W. A., and much of the time had been scribe. For eleven years he was a pattern maker in the wood department of the Baker Mfg. Co., and then formed a partnership with J. W. Morgan in carriage building. For four years these men worked under the firm name of J. W. Morgan & Co., and gained a very enviable reputation in their special line. His death occurred May 1, 1903. The funeral which took place from the family residence Monday afternoon, was one of the largest ever held in this city as, out of respect to the deceased, the Baker Mfg. Co., and all of the business houses were closed during the hour of the funeral. Three brothers, Amos of Sherman, N. Y., George of Oaks, S. Dak., and Fred of Edgerton, this state, were present at the funeral. Besides his father, brothers and sisters, the deceased leaves a wife and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Otto Shultz of Chicago, to morn with his wide circle of friends and neighbors the passing of a manly gentleman. May 9, 1903, Badger, p. 1, col. 5, Evansville, Wisconsin