A. N. Price, 84, editor of this newspaper for 55 years and 7 months, died early Monday morning at his home following a cerebral hemorrhage. He had been in failing health for about a year, and entered retirement Feb. 1, 1959, although he had stayed actively engaged as editor and publisher until that time.
He was born Aug. 6, 1874, on a farm in Hickory Township, Schuyler County, the son of William and Margaret Dixon Price. Mr. Price was married to Cassie T. Danner May 1, 1897, who died Oct. 30, 1929. On June 16, 1931, he married Mrs. Bessie Hamm, who survives.
Other survivors include one son, Harold Price of Browning; one step-son, Clifton Hamm of Peoria; one step-daughter, Mrs. Joan Gahr of Astoria; and six step-grandchildren.
Mr. Price, prominent in this vicinity for several decades, studied business courses at Valparaiso University and later studied law through a correspondence school. He was admitted to the bar at Wichita, Kan., but never actually entered law practice. His long career included carpentry, which he taught himself, and farming.
He entered the newspaper business in 1903 with the purchase of the Astoria Argus. Seven years later he bought out his rival, The Searchlight and combined the paper which has remained the Argus-Searchlight.
Mr. Price will be long remembered for his activity in civic and social organizations. He was a member of the Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias and president of the school board for several years. He served as township supervisor and was a long time member of the Illinois Press Association.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church, with the Rev. H. H. Hughes officiating. Interment was in the Astoria Cemetery Mausoleum.
Honorary pallbearers were: Clarence Furnace, Sid Horton, Devere Mummert, Troy Kost, Paul Rhoades, Wilbur Wilson, M. W. Hughes, John Nicol, Toler Brehm, E. S. Ohler, K. K. Stevens, Arleigh Wright, and Ernie Wilson.
Active pallbearers were: Robert Cripe, Jack Hamm, Joe Kost, Dave Cooper, Tom Tregellas and Rankin Condit.
The Horton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
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The names of a surviving brother and sister were unintentially omitted from the obituary of A. N. Price in last week’s issue. The brother, George Price, lives in Browning, and his sister, Mrs. Flora Williams lives at Sheldons Grove.
Mr. Price was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Price.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus