Eli Lynch was found dead Friday morning at 7:30 o’clock by Ross Hulvey. His body was lying on the ground at the side of the house in which he lived, located just east of the Colonial Theater.
Mr. Hulvey, who manages a cream station next door to the house in which Mr. Lynch lived, happened to look out the window as he went to feed some chickens. He saw Lynch, lying flat on his back, partially clothed. He called E. E. David who happened to be present and told him Mr. Lynch was dead. After viewing the body Mr. David called Dr. Baxter, who reported him dead. It was thought Mr. Lynch had been dead a couple of hours. The body was taken to the Horton undertaking parlors and Coroner Lambert was notified.
Mr. Lynch has been ill for the past several months, gradually growing weaker.
Coroner Lambert of Canton, held an inquest late Friday evening. The following making up the jury: E. P. Emerson, John Danner, Ed Lybarger, Earl Poppenhager, Fred Tidrick, and Sam Moose.
It was brought out at the inquest that Mr. Lynch was last seen at 5:30 o’clock Thursday afternoon; that he did not look as well as usual; that Mrs. Mavis Nolan, who lives across the hall from the aged man, heard him leave the house at about 4:00 o’clock that morning, but that she did not hear him return.
The jury returned a verdict as follows: “We, the jury, find Mr. Eli Lynch came to his death from exposure supplemented by old age and weakened condition, due to influenza. Death occurred about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 28, 1930 at his residence in Astoria, Fulton county, state of Illinois.”
It was generally thought that Mr. Lynch was in poor financial circumstances, as he has not been able to work for several years. But an investigation of his room disclosed that he had $462 in cash in his trunk. This money was used in defraying the funeral expenses.
Eli, son of William and Catherine Beeker Lynch, was born in North Codorus, York county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1850. At the time of his death he was aged 79 years, 11 months and 20 days.
At the age of 17 years he made a profession of his faith in Christ and united with the German Reformed church at St. Jacobs, York Co., Pa.
Mr. Lynch came to Astoria some 50 years ago and has been a citizen of this community since that time. During the active years of his life he was engaged in well digging and tiling. He was well known here and respected. He was a good citizen and attended strictly to his own affairs.
Funeral services were held at the Astoria Christian church Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. T. Nichols. Interment at the Astoria cemetery.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus