BOWERS, Clay - DR. - Putnam

obituary -- no paper given -- Dr. Clay Bowers, died Thursday morning at 10 o'clock Feb 15 at his home, one mile south of Fincastle, Putnam Co, Ind. He was sick three weeks with the dreaded typhoid fever and was very sick from the start. All was done for him that human hands could do, four the best physicians in the state being called to his bedside, but all in vain. His suffering was intense, but he did not complain and was always kind and obedient to those in attendance upon him. Clay Bowers was born March 26, 1870 in Franklin Twp, Putnam Co, Indiana being 29 years of age when he died. He was the young child of Peter and Mary Bowers. He lived near Fincastle all his life, and had been a merchant here for the past 12 year. He was a graduate of the McCormack Optical College of Chicago having graduated with high honors in the year 1896 and was an optician widely known having a very large practice at home, as well as many other places and was very successful in his chosen work. He was a popular and successful business man as well as a sincere and steadfast friend and believed in the principle that truthfulness and honesty must win. He was a man of decided opinions and high ideals Clay made friends wherever he went, as was well proven from the great number of people from far and near who came to visit him during his sickness. The people of this community deserve praise for their kindness and faithfulness to the sick. Dr. Bowers will be greatly missed in this community, but mostly in the home of his aged parents, where he had stayed and tenderly cared for them during his short stay on earth. He did not hesitate to go into the kitchen and help his mother with the work, when her help was absentl It was a severe blow to these old people but they bore it bravely, having that lasting faith in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and that we shall all be finally gathered home, without the loss of one. Dr. Bowers was a member in high standing of the Red Man's lodge at Greencastle. The fun. serv. were conducted by the Red Men at the Bowers homestead Friday after at 2 o'clock Feb 16, with one of the large crowds present ever seen at a funeral in this county. The music was furnished by the Universalist and Christian Church choirs combined and was pathetic and beautiful. They sang at the house: Flowers must die with the year; Nearer my God to thee and a funeral chant at the grave. There is a father, mother, one sister and one brother left to mourn his loss. The flower contributions were large and beautiful. he was laid to rest in the Blakesburg Cemetery one mile W. of Fincastle. The cemetery is on a sloping hillside, shaded by spreading beech trees which kindly shade the graves of the village of the dead; and the winding, murmuring little river at Ramp Creek flows peacefully on at the foot of the hill. By this river he played in childhood's happy hours; he strolled along its banks in boyhood days and in manhood he crossed this dear old stream, day by day when hurrying homeward from his work; and now in his last, lonely resting place he sleeps near the flower strewn banks of this same old stream. He rests beside a brother, Johnnie, who preceded him to the grave some twenty years ago. Weep not, dear father, mother, sister, and brother; Clay is not dead; but only sleeping. His home is heaven; his spirit is with God. Leave him to his beautiful rest. While the years go by the seasons come and go, one by one we will be laid to rest in this quiet, peaceful spot, beside him we now so sadly mourn. It was February cold and dreary with amist of falling snow, that we followed him to his last resting place.