SHONKWILER, Daniel - Putnam

In the drift of civilization westward, there came many years ago from Ohio, a boy, Daniel Shonkwiler and a girl, Ruth Spurgeon from Kentucky and with their parents, settled in Putnam County where they grew to maturity. This boy became a pioneer preacher of the ME Church and member of the Northwest Indiana Conference and Ruth Spurgeon became his wife. To them were given two daughters, Malinda who died at the tender age of four years and Mary Shonkwiler Moore, who likewise has padded on and five sons: Jacob, deceased; John of Clinton Falls; James of Morton; William of Indianapolis and Daniel whose body is before us.  Daniel the fifth son was born May 9, 1851 in Putnam County, Indiana and died at his home in Rockville, January 27 aged 69 years 8 months and 18 days. June 26, 1873, he was united in marriage to Sarah J. Noble who yet survives. Born to this union were two daughters, Lillie Roach of Rockville and Laura VanAuken of Redmon, Ill; three sons: Dr. Marion of Eldorado, Kan; Dr. Joseph of Paris, Ill and Dr. Albert of Rockville, all of whom are living and present.  He leaves besides four granddaughter and three grandsons.  Born and reared on his father’s farm, he adopted farming as a business and early in his married life moved to his farm in eastern Parke County where he lived until the fall of 1900 when he moved to Rockville, which since has been his home. For many years he travelled in both the north and south US as a salesman for International Harvester until failing health compelled him to resign t his position and retire from active life. So long as he was able he looked after his farms, ever enjoying the outdoor life.  While not an educated man, he had rare command of language, expressing his convictions forcibly and convincingly yet kindly. He was a conscientious clear thinker holding unservingly to the right as he saw the right.  He was intensely a patriotic American citizen.  He was a firm believer in the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man and in early life joined the Masonic fraternity at Portland Mills, later transferring his membership to Parke Lodge, No 8 F&A Masons of Rockville.  Daniel Shonkwiler was a tender loving companion, a fond indulgent father ever keeping in highest respect and reverence his family and his God.  He was a diligent careful student of the scripture, holding in memory many of its precious passages, often quoting from them when in discussion and conversation with friends. At the Bethel ME Church in Putnam County, he was for many years the leader of the class as well as superintendent of its Sunday school.  On moving to Rockville, he and his family transferred their membership to the ME Church there.  The hospitality of his home was at all times open to his friends. While on the farm many ministers of the gospel as well as students of DePauw University felt free to come as to a home of their own to the home of Daniel Shonkwiler and share equally with its inmates, the good cheer of Christian sociability. He was a religious nature and even after the body was fast failing and the mind tottering, wavering, nothing soothed him so much as to have his wife and companion sing the sacred songs of hope and love and read to him from the blessed book of precept and promise the Holy Bible.  At one time he said to the attending nurse, “If I’m not here in the morning, tell mama I have gone to see Jesus.” Farewell, friends, yet not farewell Where I am now ye too shall dwell … Funeral services were held at the ME Church, Rev. SA Bender assisted by Rev. SK Fuson and Rev. McHargue and Masonic Fraternity which held a short service at the grave. The pallbearers were Dr. RC Peare; Mr. Thomas Hays; Judge Henry Daniels; Mr. William Graham; Mr. Charles Skelton and Mr. Levi Nevins.