NAME: Carver, George L. (m. Sarah Ann Smith)

OBIT: Manson Newspaper, Manson, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1907

The Passing of One of Manson’s First Business Men and Citizens
 George Carver is dead. Two years ago Mr. Carver was taken with a swelling on the left side of his jaw. It continued to bother him for sometime before he could believe it was anything serious. He then suffered an operation, with apparently some relief, but the nature of the disease asserted itself and continued to infest his face in other places. At times it would seems as if conquered. This spring he seemed to be practically well. The wound had healed and he seemed to be feeling first rate, but it was simply working on the interior, and soon broke out again lower on his face. From that time until his death there was little to build upon; although as in the case of a consumptive, Mr. Carver still continued to hope for the best. During the past few months his sufferings have been most intense. The only relief was in death. It came Friday morning and all that was mortal of George Carver passed to his maker.
 It is a wife’s duty to stand by her husband through all of the trials and tribulations of their married life, but it is safe to say that no woman was ever more faithful to a man than Mrs. Carver has been to her long suffering husband. Day and night during all the months when he was being eaten up alive, his faithful wife has been his constant companion and nurse. No woman ever did more or suffered more for a husband than Mrs. George Carver did for Mr. Carver. Friends and relatives did what they could, but the one who was always there and ready to administer to his every want was his faithful and devoted wife.
 The deceased was one of the first business men of the town. About 28 tears ago he commenced to manage [t]he poultry, egg and butter business for A.R. Loomis in Manson. His transactions for this firm have run into the millions of dollars. Mr. Carver during his life had dealings with every individual who ever came to Manson, because he either purchased one or the other of these commodities or the other from him. To work for one man for 28 years without a hitch, is a record to be proud of; to have done business with an entire community, and never to have had the charge of dishonesty, in a single transaction laid at your door, is still a better record. Mr. Carver had his faults but he also had his good qualities and at a time like this it is only right to look on the sunny side of every man’s character. He also was generous and kind to the poor and needy. No sufferer ever passed by his door empty handed. It is not more than right to say that the good that George Carver did in his life outbalanced all the evil. He was a staunch friend of the man he felt friendly toward and was as unforgiving as an Indian to the man he imagined had tried to get the better of him or done him injury. When he cared to take part in politics his influence for or against a man in Manson was almost paramount to his election or defeat. Of late years he took little part in such contests and cared nothing about who was elected to an office, unless he was a particular friend of his.
 The writer has known Mr. Carver for nearly 27 years. He has been in a position to see all sides of his character; to have his good will and to have felt the bitter enmity of his opposition; and withal it must be said that there was far more good in George Carver than there was evil. During his last sickness he confessed is sins and asked forgiveness of all whom he had offended. He made all preparations for his own funeral and chose Geo. B. Brown, an old friend to deliver his funeral oration; he also chose his pall bearers, and requested Swan Carlson, who had been with him a great deal during his last sickness, deliver a prayer at the services.
 The funeral services were held at the opera house at 2:30 o’clock Sunday and all were in the charge of the Masonic lodge of Manson, of which he had been a member for 28 years. Short services were held at his late home, and the body was then taken to the opera house escorted by members of …[the article is missing text, this line ended at the bottom of the newspaper column and resumed at the top of the next column. It appears some text was cut-off at the top of the next column because if you look closely at the actual document partial letters appear above the first readable line] …[de]livered by Rev. Brown. It was touching, eloquent, impressive, winding up with a strong appeal to the old friends of Mr. Carver to accept the hand of Christ who alone can wash away all sin. The house was packed with friends of the deceased. The body was then escorted to the cemetery by the Masonic brethren and the final rites of that order were administered at the grave, and the body of George. L. Carver was laid at rest amidst a profusion of floral offerings of friends and the tears of his loving wife and children and his aged father and mother.
 The following obituary of the life of the deceased was read at the the services:
 Geo. L. Carver was born in New York state on Feb. 4, 1855, died at Manson, Iowa, on Sept. 20, 1907.
 He removed from New York with his parents when a child, settling in Wisconsin, thence to Illinois, when 11 years of age, locating in Jackson township, Webster county, Ia., where he grew to manhood. He was married to Miss Sarah A. Smith, who today mourns his taking off, at Des Moines, Iowa, on July 26, 1878.
 To this union five children were born, two boys and three girls, as follows: John R. Carver, Manson, Iowa; Lany J. Pressel, Fort Dodge, Iowa; Nellie I. Tiernan, Manson, Iowa; Olive, now deceased and by whose side his mortal remains are to be laid; and Charley A., at home with his bereft mother.
 Brother Carver was the son of Richard and Jane Carver, who still survive him and was one of eight children having two brothers and five sisters, all of whom, so far as known, except one, Jane Ann Young, survive him, being as follows: Julietta Vanderhoff, Lizard, Iowa; John R. Carver, Manson, Iowa; Henrietta Reed, Webb, Iowa; Fannie Clay, Des Moines, Iowa; Carrie Marsh, Humboldt, Iowa; Richard Carver, address unknown, all being present today except two sons.
 George Carver, I am informed, confessed his Savior and made a profession of religion in his younger days and near the close of his life gave evidence of returning to the forgiving arms of his savior.
 Brother Carver was initiated into the Masonic Order on March 24, 1883, Passed to the degree of a fellow craft May 19, 1883. Raised to the sublime degree Master Mason, June 16, 1883. He was one of the charter members of the chapter, when organized here. As a mason he was always spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection and squaring his actions by the square of virtue.
 I know Geo. L. Carver better than most of you and could add many words of praise to his virtue and friendship, but it seems needless; you all knew him, and know that under that seeming rough exterior there beat a heart as true as steel. He had his faults, (who of us have not?) but let us cast the mantle of charity about his memory, remembering his good qualities only.