Gilkey - Daniel - d 1907
DANIEL H. GILKEY
Source: Crawfordsville Journal, Oct 8? 1907
The funeral of Daniel H. Gilkey occurred from the residence this afternoon at half past 2 o'clock and was attended by a large concourse of people. The deceased was held in high esteem by hosts of friends in this city and County. His long services as a prominent teacher in the County and his official life as a member of the city council, deputy assessor of Union Twp and as chairman of the board of public improvements gave him a wide acquaintance. His disposition to be fair and give every man a square deal established for him an enviable reputation. The services were in charge of Rev. CH Wilson, pastor of Center Presbyterian Church. He was assisted by Mrs. WC Hessler and Mrs. WF Hulet, who sang a number of selections. The services were brief, on account of the condition of Mrs. Gilkey. The pall bearers were Theo. Ristine, WA Millis, AD Thomas, EW Keegan, Henry Hulett and may Ed Voris. The floral decorations almost hid the casket and were very beautiful. The members of the city council, the heads of departments and the employees of the city contributed a very appropriate design in the form of a floral wheel made of large roses. The wheel was broken. Ab Jones and members of the street cleaning force sent a design of dahlias in token of their esteem. Then there were many designs sent by friends and relatives. Mayor Voris and the members of the city council and ex-officials of the city, met at the city hall and marched to the residence in a body, and after the funeral to the Masonic cemetery, where the last sad rites over the body of the dead councilman were performed. The city council held a meeting Monday evening at the city building at which all the members and heads of departments were present. Mayor Voris presiding. Councilman WC Murphy introduced the resolution printed below in memory of Mr. Gilkey.
Memorial Resolution -- We, the members of the common council of the city of Crawfordsville, speaking for ourselves, the honorable mayor and all officers and employees of said city, have prepared and do now order spread of record; the following memorial upon the death of Daniel H. Gilkey, late a member of this body as councilman from the second ward: Daniel H. Gilkey, was born on a farm near Yountsville, March 5, 1838 and died at his home in Crawfordsville on the 6th day of Oct 1907. Mr.Gilkey was during his lifetime, one of Montgomery County's most esteemed and worthy citizens. He was always ready to give his time and money to every enterprise for the improvement of the community and of society. in whatever he undertook he was no half-hearted worker. He was long a teacher in the Montgomery County . public schools. For this, his profession, he had thoroughly and painstakingly equipped himself. He was a man who had done a vast amount of reading, not only in the time of his profession, but upon many varied subjects. He was versed in the various branches of learning far above the average man. As a teacher he did his work well and and fully merited the large success that came to him.
He was engaged in this work for over 30 years and while others complained and grumbled at the many arduous duties it entailed, he worked on without a murmur and by dint of his own efforts kept himself fully prepared and always, abreast of the times. In 1873 he was recognized as a leader in his profession, whereupon he was elected Secretary of the County Board of Education, and that position of leadership he never lost. But we knew him best as a public officer and as a citizen of Crawfordsville. Mr. Gilkey was elected and took his seat as a member of the common council of this city in 1898, and served as such until his death. In that year he was appointed to the board of public improvements and has held that position ever since. In this work, as in all others, Mr. Gilkey gave more than his share of time and effort. He was thoroughly informed in all the departments of the city government. He not only had the most arduous duties to perform as chairman of the board of public improvements, but he discharged them without a complaint. His advice and counsel was always sought in every matter effecting the city, no matter in what department it arose or belonged. He knew all the details of the city administration. He was during his service as councilman, the adviser and confidant of every officer and employee. He was so conscientious in the discharge of his duties that he never acted in important matters without giving them the most thorough consideration, and his desire to do impartial justice to every one, often led him to hesitate but he never ran away from responsibility. He did what he thought to be his duty under all circumstances and aside from every pressure. It can truly be said that no public officer, no matter what office he filled, ever made more self-sacrifices and voluntarily contributed more time and effort than Daniel H. Gilkey did as councilman of the city of Crawfordsville. As a citizen, Mr. Gilkey was widely known, but of course, more intimately by the people of this city, since he spent most of his life here among us. He was an honest, upright man and, as such, an ornament to the community. In him the moral and ethical sense was highly developed. He was a member of the Center Presbyterian Church and a Christian man in every sense. He was kind hearted, jovial and likable, and always ready to extend his helping hand to a brother. We miss him and shall miss him, as citizen and as our brother. We miss him and shall miss him, as our co-servant and as public official. We extend to the family and relatives our heartfelt sympathy and we share with them the burden of their grief and loss. -- kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review Friday Sept 27, 1907
With the death of Daniel H. Gilkey, a good man in the broad sense of that term has passed away. As a school teacher in Montgomery County for 50 years, Mr. Gilkey was ever faithful and careful in his work and he endeared himself hundreds of pupils in this township and county. As a member of the Crawfordsville City Council for the past 9 yeares he was more familiar with the actual conditions of the city's business than perhaps was any other councilman during this period. Mr. Gilkey was as painstaking as careful and as industrious in his work for the best interests of the city as he would have been had he been working directly for his own interests. Truly, it can be said Mr. Gilkey was a good man in every way. - kbz