Luther H. Fiske, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Luther H. Fiske
Death of Mr. L. H. Fiske.
Died on Friday evening, June 20th, at his residence in Valparaiso, of inflammation of the bowels, Luther H. Fiske, esq., aged 58 years.
Mr. Fiske was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., in the year 1821. When about seven years old, he was left an orphan, both his parents having died within a year of each other. For a few years, he found a home with an uncle, and then was left to make his own way in the world. In 1849, when he was 28 years old, he went to California, on the first wave of the gold hunting excitement that carried so many from the states to that then far away region of adventure and excitement. The next seventeen years of his life were spent in California and Australia. He then settled in New York, making that his home, until he came to Valparaiso.
On the 27th of December, 1871, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Zaidee Ann Carr, of this place, widow of the late Silas Carr, and daughter of the late David Oaks, esq. Having no near relatives of his own living, he lavished all his affection upon his wife and her children. He was a most faithful and devoted husband. Of quiet and domestic habits and tastes, the hours which were not required for business, were given to the enjoyments and duties of home.
Mr. Fiske is a man who will be greatly missed, not only in the family to whose comfort it as his delight to minister, but in the community also, the material and moral prosperity of which he did so much to foster. He had hardly become well settled in Valparaiso until he began to identify himself with the place in the way of building residences and business blocks. To his energy and enterprise we are indebted for the beautiful Opera House building, now owned by Mr. R. A. Quartermass. Subsequently he erected the large brick building in the third story of which is the Masonic Temple. These two are by far the most expensive buildings, as they are also the finest specimens of business architecture in the place. Besides these he has built quite a number of commodious dwellings in the northeast part of the city, the hotel near the C. & L. H. depot, &c. During the eight years of his residence here, by his great energy, he had become well known throughout the city and county, and has been instrumental in promoting the improvement of the city to a greater extent perhaps than any other person during the same period of time. Nor did he devote all his time and energies to money getting and the material interests of the place. He was a man whose undisguised sympathies were always on the side of good order and morality. This was especially the case in regard to the temperance cause. He did not belong to that large class of negative characters, who, so long as they are not personally interfered with, can complacently look on while hundreds around them are tempted to their moral and eternal ruin. In spite of the menaces of evil doers his heart was with the praying women and all earnest laborers in the great cause of sobriety, and his hand was open to help in sustaining it.
The report of his sudden and unexpected death fell upon the community as a surprise. Many, even of the business men who were accustomed to meet him frequently upon the street, had not heard of his sickness, which coming upon him on Tuesday noon had by Friday evening fulfilled its fatal mission. Whether he himself realized as he rapidly neared the solemn moment when the burdens of this life are laid down, that death was so near is not known. His disease was most painful, and in the agony he endured he felt the need of divine help to sustain his sinking soul, and his thoughts went out to him who hears the prayers of those who call upon him in truth, and who alone can give the help that perishing humanity needs. It was not in the power of medicine to stay the progress of his disease. The immediate occasion of the active inflammation, (intus-susception of the bowels,) rendered a fatal termination inevitable, unless, which is rarely accomplished; it could be speedily removed.
He has thus been called from our midst, and has gone to the houseappointed for all the living, and to that vast eternity which in the near future awaits us all. The funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, an immense concourse of citizens being present. The Rev. R. Beer conducted the services, (the Rev. E. S. Riley assisting). The sermon was from I Cor. 3:8, "And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor." A long procession of carriages and of citizens on foot followed the remains to the old cemetery where they were interred. We extend to the family and friends of the deceased the sympathy felt by the whole community in their behalf.
Newspaper: Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: June 26, 1879
Volume Number: 23
Issue Number: 26
Page: 2
Column(s): 5
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook