Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1941-01-01 letter to Family MembersEntry/Object ID
1990.1.208Context
I attended Jordan's funeral and shall give a brief statement. On Friday December 27 Jordan was raking leaves, etc on the lawn. When he came in Nellie thought he did not look well and asked about him. He said he would be all right but did not care for supper. As they went to bed, Nellie told him that she would come into the room and look after Ida. During the night, she was in at two o'clock, 28th, and all seemed well. Later she heard Ida talking, went into the room and Ida was talking to Jordan, but Nellie saw at once that Jordan was gone. He was warm but there was no pulse. They do not know what caused it but the Doctor told me she believed that Jordan just slept away, as there was no sign of pain. He looked so natural that I could not help speaking to him, but for the first time in all my life he did not answer me. They laid him to rest in a very simple but beautiful outfit and service. The service conducted by a local minister was held in the funeral director's chapel. They purchased two graves in the cemetery (Oak Grove, as I recall) within five or six blocks of Nellie's home. The trees were oak, similar to those among which Jordan used to work. It is a gentle slope toward the South and at the head of the grave stands quite a large tree. As we left the cemetery, I looked back and the casket was still resting upon the lowering device. Thus I said farewell to Jordan. It seems difficult for me to believe that Jordan is gone, but it is only a short time until some of us shall meet him again. My stay was brief. David Rau, Nellie's son, met me at St. Louis and took me about twelve miles to their home in Kirkwood, Missouri. Ida recognized me and expressed how glad she was that I came. I had sent a telegram to Grace Selby Smith at Ozark, Illinois. She and her son David were at the funeral. Ida talked quite coherently for a couple of minutes and then came lapse of memory and she was lost. She is very thin in flesh, trembling in hand, and not safe to try to walk alone. We took her to the funeral home in the forenoon and she attended the service in the afternoon but did not get out of auto at cemetery. When they talk about something of the old days she brightens and then lapses so that she does not recognize Nellie. This is the result of strokes and illness which she has had. It is touching to not how tenderly Nellie and the family are caring for Ida. I arrive at St. Louis at 9:00 A. M. and left at 6: P. M.
Just about a year ago, Justin, a twin brother of David Rau, died.
Jordan was 82 years and 10 days old.
J. H. Harris
Nellie's address is Mrs. Nellie Rau, 549 E. Argonne Drive, Kirkwood, Missouri.
