OBIT:

ABRAHAM. – The funeral of Fred Abraham occurred Sunday afternoon. Services were held at St. James Episcopal church conducted by the Rector, Rev. W.P. Williams. Music was furnished by the vested choir of the church, and the chimes proclaimed the parting knell. The casket was not opened at the church, but many friends visited the home to view the remains. The pall bearers were F. E. Green, Wallace Swan, Major Jno. F. Lacey, W. P. Hawkins, Will Baker and John Blakeslee.

Fred Abraham was born in Oskaloosa, March 13, 1862, and was a resident of the city up to the date of his death. The father, A. Maxwell Abraham, who in his day was one of the most prominent figures in the early mercantile and business history of the city, was a Virginian by birth, a native of London county, came to Oskaloosa in 1855 two years after the incorporation of the town and established himself in the dry goods business. The family became very well known in the life of the community in the old day. A. Abraham was elected mayor of the city in 1887 serving until November of the following year. He was married, to Miss Lurana Greenough, a sister of Mrs. Carrie Adams and Mrs. Mary Converse, July 31, 1856. Three children, Ida, who became Mrs. Fred E. Green, Alice or Mrs. Dan O'Brien and Fred were born to the union. The father died suddenly of rheumatism of the heart, November 9, 1890. At the age of 58 years 5 months and 5 days, and the conduct of the business, which was operated by the estate until a few years ago, devolved upon Fred who had grown up in the business from a mere lad. The store at one time about twenty years ago, was the largest local advertiser and one of the best-known mercantile establishments in Southeastern Iowa. Following the discontinuance of the business, Fred Abraham became associated in the same line in other places and later became the representative of some of the best-known wholesale dry goods and garment houses in the country. Fred Abraham was married with Miss Hattie Draper, a popular Oskaloosa girl, at Chicago, March 16, 1893, and for a time resided in Oskaloosa., later removing to Washington, Iowa, where the wife met death in an accident January 28, 1894. Her body was brought to Oskaloosa for funeral and interment. One child, a daughter, Lurana, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham. Death came to the father in an unexpected form, while he was on the road on his initial trip for the year. He was taken suddenly ill at his hotel at Joplin, Missouri, with a trouble akin to "strangulated hernia." Medical attention was summoned and an operation was advised. He was taken to St. John's Hospital at Joplin that Monday, January 15, and the operation was performed the following morning, Tuesday, January 15. The surgical work necessary was of a complicated character and the strength of the patient, weakened by intense suffering was not sufficient to endure the shock. Death ensued at five o'clock on the morning, Wednesday, January 17, 1912. The body was brought to Oskaloosa for funeral and interment by the side of deceased members family. Deceased is survived by his daughter, Miss Lurana, and his mother, widow of the late A. M. Abraham, a sister, Mrs. O'Brien, and her son Maxwell, all of Oskaloosa. Present at the funeral from a distance were Ezra Nuckolls and son, Richard Nuckolls, of Eldora, relatives of the family. Fred Abraham was known to practically all of the old-time residents of the city and to many of those of the later days. He was a genial, whole-hearted fellow, an aggressive, able man in the administration of business affairs and his untimely passing is to be regretted. The sympathy of the community goes out to the members of the family in their sorrow and bereavement.

Rector Williams, who went with the mother to Joplin when the news of Mr. Abraham's illness came by telegraph, did not reach him until after death had ensued. In his address at the funeral Rev. Williams said in part:

"It is a sad occasion which brings us here to perform the last earthly rites for a good son and father, a loved friend to us all. The dying of an individual, in many cases, is an occasion of self-revelation. The last words frequently enable us to sound the depths of a personality. Just before his soul passed out, Mr. Abraham uttered this prayer: "Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me and save my soul." Before this prayer he had given voice to several expressions of filial consideration and thoughts of his family and prayers. He showed an unselfishness and thoughtfulness which is the essential of the true domestic atmosphere. The secret of a peaceful, happy death is the trust of perfect sonship, the ability to say as Jesus said with His last breath. "Father, not Thy hands." Nor may we expect to have this trust in death, if we have it not in life.

"When the centurion on guard at Calvary gazed up into the darkening heavens as they clouded over the scene of man's injustice to God and saw the earth quake, and beheld the cross the peaceful face of the dying Christ he exclaimed in those never to be forgotten words, "Truly this was the Son of God." Let us leave as the epitaph of Mr. Abraham the words of a Sister of Mercy at the hospital: "That man was a Christian."

Oskaloosa Herald, Oskaloosa, Iowa – Thursday, January 25, 1912, page 7