Jesse Danner, a prominent and highly respected merchant of Summum, was found dead in his bed in his room at the Goodell hotel in Beardstown Friday at about 2:30 o’clock when police officers and hotel employees forced the door, after the man had failed to answer to repeated knocking at his door.
Mr. Danner registered at the hotel on Feb. 2nd and during his stay had been accustomed to be about the lobby of the hotel each morning, says the Beardstown Star.
On Friday morning the clerk noted his absence but at first thought he was probably somewhere about town. Later, however, one of the maids reported that Mr. Danner had not left his room. Hotel employees became alarmed and when the man failed to answer their repeated knocks at his door, they peered over the transom and called to him, but there was no answer. From his position they felt certain he was dead.
After Mr. Rink the proprietor of the hotel had been summoned, the Chief of Police was called and the door of Mr. Danner’s room was forced open and fears of the man’s death were confirmed. He had apparently been dead for several hours.
Mr. Danner went to Beardstown nearly ten days ago to receive treatment for an ailment of his heart, with which he has suffered for some time. He was there about a month ago and received osteopathic treatment from Dr. Welch and returned to his home very greatly improved in his physical condition. About ten days ago he returned for further treatment and had just completed his stay and was intending to return to his home at the time of his death.
His son Floyd had come to Astoria for him and when he did not arrive on the 1:30 train, telephoned to the Goodell hotel at Beardstown to learn why his father did not come. The management of the hotel thought the call was for a Mr. Branan. Dr. Welch was in Astoria and he inquired from him if his father was at the hotel. He was informed that he was, so Floyd called a second time and this time they informed him his father was found dead in his room. Evidently the hotel proprietor made the discovery at about this time.
Coroner Saunders was summoned immediately after finding the body and authorized the removal of the remains from the hotel to the Cline undertaking parlors where they were prepared for burial. Cline Horton, undertaker of Astoria drove his auto hearse to Beardstown and brought the body to Astoria, arriving here at about 10 o’clock that evening.
Mr. Danner’s death was a shock to his family and many friends, as his condition was not thought to be serious.
The deceased was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Danner, both of whom are deceased. He was born March 7, 1860 in Woodland township and grew to manhood in that community.
Mr. Danner was married to Miss Rebecca Lindsey at Lewistown, Sept. 28, 1880. To this union five children were born, namely, Mrs. Stella Kingery of Summum, Maurice Danner, Nevada, Mo., Floyd Danner of Woodland township, Mrs. Matilda Demaree, Dayton, Ohio and Gaylen at home.
Mrs. Danner died March 27, 1911. On August 7, 1913, Mr. Danner was married to Mrs. Lena Crawford Brown of Minburn, Iowa. Besides his loving wife, he leaves to mourn his sudden demise, his five children and step daughter, Phyllis at home. He is also survived by three brothers and two sisters as follows: J. C. Danner, Yale, D. G. Danner of Minburn, Iowa, Mrs. Minnie Spangler of Summum and Mrs. Millie Mummert of Woodland.
At an early age he taught several successful terms of school. Later he purchased a farm in Pleasant township where he resided for some time. He disposed of this farm and bought the Danner homestead just east of Summum, where he resided at the time of his death.
Mr. Danner has been one of the leading merchants of Summum for the past 10 years. He was a man of sterling business qualities, public spirited and unselfish. One of his greatest delights was to help the poor and needy as a number of the community can testify.
Mr. Danner was a devoted husband and father. He was greatly devoted to his home and it is certainly a comforting thought for his loved ones to have had such a heritage and to know that his life has been above all things an honorable one.
The deceased unified with the Christian church in the year 1911 being baptized by Rev. Brown. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge and took an active and prominent part in the order for years.
Funeral services were held at ten o’clock, Monday forenoon at the Christian church in Summum conducted by Rev. L. A. Crown. Burial in the Reformed cemetery at Summum.
The funeral services were largely attended and the floral offerings were numerous and beautiful. Those in attendance at the funeral from a distance were, brothers of the deceased, J. C., of Yale, Iowa and D. G., of Minburn, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Damaree of Dayton, Ohio, Maurice Danner of Nevada, Kansas, Mrs. Rose Osbornsen of Perry, Iowa and Wm. and Fred Crawford of Minburn, Iowa.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus