Deere - Joel Garnett - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Joel Garnett Deere passed away between four and five o'clock Monday afternoon at the family residence 4 mi. north of Waveland and near Bluff Mills. Mr. Deere had been sick for about two months with obstructive jaundice, thought to be caused by a growth on the liver. He discovered the first symptoms of his illness at the time of visiting his daughter. Mrs. W.T. Whittington, of this city about hte first of December. He was a man of vigorous constitution, and had never been sick, except with some stomach trouble, until his fatal illness. All hopes of his recovery was abandoned several weeks ago and his physicians and family could only watch and wait, and make his last hours as comfortable as possible. He said, when first taken sick "this will be my last sickness." He realized the struggle was against him and submitted patiently to his sufferings, but longed for the end, and knew his family and friends up to the time of his death. Mr. Deere was of German descent. The grandfather came to the country about the close of the 18th century, settling in Va. His father entered the War of 1812 at the age of 22. His mother was a member of the Old Garnett family of Va. and a lovely character. His father located in IN, near where the mill now stands, when Joel was about a year old, and entered a section of government land. Immediately after completing their cabin, the father, full of enterprise even for pioneer days, proceeded to construct a grist mill, saw mill, woolen mill and general store. The fire of 1887 destroyed the plant at a loss of $20,000. The firm of Canine & Deere, composed of William Canine and Joel G. Deere, was one of the best known in this part of the country. They were sturdy men and good citizens. The mill was quickly rebuilt after the fire and stands where one of the first mills in the county was built by his father 73 years ago. Deere's Mill is a family word in Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties. Notwithstanding the loss on account of the fire, he had considerable property at the time of his death and owned over 500 acres in Brown Twp. Perhaps the largest factor in his success was that he was absolutely an honest man. Many men are honest as the world uses the term, but of him it may be said in its largest and braodest sense -- he was an honest man. He was elected county commissioner on the Republican ticket in 1888, but he did not take kindly to the burdens and perplexities of the office and refused a renomination. His acts as an officer were always frank and above suspicion. In 1849 he was married to Mary E. McGrigg who survives him. They had 10 children, 7 sons and 3 daughters, all of whom are living except one daughter. All his children were with him during his last sickness, and watched witht he mother in her devotion to her stricken companion of 54 years. Mr. Deere was the last member living of his family. He was a mason and a member of the Baptist Chruch, with which he united after he was 60 years of age, although he had always believed in and supported the church and was a man of deep religious conviction. The funeral services were held at Old Union Church at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning conducted by Rev. SK Fuson. The whole community will share with the family in the loss of Joel G. Deere, for it may be truthfully said of him that he was a strong, sturdy, upright man, a pioneer, full of those qualities which go to make up good citizens. WT Whittington in the Crawfordsville Journal. kbz