grave import

Obituary

On the 11th inst. one of the kindliest of natures passed away after a sell rounded life of useful citizenship. John Waite, whose home for the past twenty-five years has been on his farm, six miles northwest of the city, on the Dodgeville road, was born at Oaks Corners, New York, on May 24, 1810. His father, John Waite, was a soldier of the war of 1812. After availing himself of the limited school facilities of that period, John Waite, Jr. learned the cooper's trade, and early in his young manhood removed to Ravenna, Ohio, where he followed his trade and later engaged in the marble business and contracts with railways for the construction of water tanks. April 9, 1835, he was married to Miss Martha A. Clark, of Ravenna. which place was their home until their removal to Burlington in 1867. Mr. Waite engaged in the grocery business in the Nealley building on Fourth street on the site now covered by the Rand building and in which at the time the late General C.L. Mathies had his office for the sale of oils. The firm was Waite, Trenor & Co. At a later period Mr. Waite was the senior partner in the firm of Waite & Leebrick in the commission business, in the David building on the corner of Front and Market streets. With advancing years his eyesight failed and about a year and a half ago he went to southern Kansas to spend the winter with his daughter, Mrs. Mary Waite Hartzell, expecting to return in the spring, but increasing infirmities prevented his return and near midnight on the 11th of June he was at rest. The body was brought to Burlington for interment in Aspen Grove cemetery. Mr. Waite leaves a wife and two children, Mrs. Hartzell and J.L. Waite; the first born, Amelia, having died in childhood. In politics Mr. Waite was an "old-line whig," but his strong antislavery sentiments identified him with the free soil party, and then as one of the pioneers of the republican party. A member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he was in close sympathy with temperance and moral reform work generally and always identified himself with that which he believed would promote morals and good citizenship. Liberal in his views and generous hearted, "with malice towards none, with charity for all," he had no personal enemies. Firm in his convictions of right, of duty, steadfast in principles, true in his friendships, faithful in citizenship, his ripeness of years is a monument of gentleness of soul united with ruggedness of manhood; a modest life whose fullness of fruitage is found in the worthy example and kindly influence among his fellow citizens.