Vancleave - Alfred Thomas
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 10-9-1901 p 5
Alfred T. Vancleave, proprietor of the American House on East Pike Street, died very suddenly this morning from hemorrhage of the throatl. The funeral services will be conducted at the home on east Pike Street Friday morning at 10 o'clock. Further than this the funeral arrangements have not been made. Mr. Vancleave was born in Brown Twp 64 years ago and has resided in this city for the past 5 years. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and was well respected in the community. A wife and 7 sons survive him - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 18 October 1901
Alfred Thomas VanCleave, the third son of James VanCleave and Mary Mitchell VanCleave, was born in Brown Township, this county, June 15, 1837. He was married to Catharine A. Sayler Sept. 30, 1859, and died Oct. 9, 1901, from hemorrhage super induced by tuberculosis of the throat, of which he had been a sufferer for two years, not being able to speak a loud word in that time. He was converted to Christianity in his boyhood days, but did not unite with the church until 1883—at that time all his family went with him to the Missionary Baptist Church at Salem, Indiana.
He leaves to mourn his death a loving wife, a true sister, and seven sons, viz: James T., William H., Bert H., John E., of this city; George W., Sam M., of Lebanon, and Charles B., of Hepler, Kas., together with numerous friends.
Mr. VanCleave has resided in this county all his life except the year 1864, he lived in Iowa. He was one of those honest, industrious, jolly, kind hearted, unassuming men who counted his friends by those who knew him. He was a farmer by occupation and continued to live on a farm until 1895 his health so failed him he came to the city where they have been keeping a boarding house.
He was a great lover of young people and often his home was thrown open to them where they shared the hospitality of he and his good family. He had implicit faith in a divine power and believed in living a useful, practical life. He was broad minded in his views on religion and was not at all partial to church creeds, believing that all those who believed in and practiced the Golden Rule were Christians, no matter of what church they were members. The writer has often talked with him about death, and I do not believe that I ever heard anyone say more conscientiously than he did, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” This was the first death to occur in this happy family, who has the sympathy of all. We can only say to them “Boys, heed these words he has so often spoke to you, ‘do right and fear not.’ Never commit an act that your angel father could not smile on from heaven, and to the loving wife and devoted sister, ‘Lean on the Everlasting Arm,’ and He will help you bear your sorrow, and ere long this beautiful golden chain will be united again when it can never be severed.”
The funeral occurred on Friday morning at the home on East Pike Street. Rev. Nave officiated in a most consoling manner. The body was carried to its last resting place by his own loving sons and laid to rest in a sunny spot in the beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery. - thanks so much to "S" for all her obit work on this site