A few weeks ago Mike Schaub decided to take a rest from his duties as vice president of the Coldwater National Bank which position he had filled with his usual promptness and the roughness for some time without a vacation. He went to Hot Springs, Ark., and was spending the time there with a few other Coldwater people. No one here had any idea that he was in any way bordering on a serious case of sickness, for he had scarcely been known to have a sick day in many years. On Wednesday of last week, however, a telegram was received from Hot Springs, stating that Mr. Schaub had just undergone an operation in that city for appendicitis. On Saturday another telegram brought the encouraging news that he was getting along quite well, but early Sunday morning another telegram was received here conveying the sad information that Mr. Schaub had died at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. The news came as a surprise to Coldwater people, and coupled with the surprise, there was a keen sense of sorrow, for all felt that a good friend had passed away.The body was brought to this city on Tuesday and funeral services were conducted from the Presbyterian church at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Rev. J. T. Wheeler, pastor of the Christian church being in charge. He was assisted by Rev. A. G. Alexander of the Presbyterian church. The Male Quarter, also Mrs. Geo. R. Stewart and Prof. R. L. Hazzard sang, with pipe organ accompaniment by Mrs. A. A. White. The funeral services were attended by a large number of Comanche-co. people and it was quite evident that all felt that they had lost a really good friend and the community a good citizen. Interment was in the Coldwater cemetery, where the father, mother and sister are also buried. The members of the Masonic lodge of this city, of which Mr. Schaub had been a member for about 11 years, attended in a body and had charge of the services at the grave.
Mr. Schaub was the last surviving member of the Schaub family in this country. As far as he knew he had no near relatives in America. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Schaub sr., were natives of Ferdenheim, Alsace, in northern France. There one daughter, Marie, was born to them in the year 1864. In 1869 the family of three came to America, settling in Streator, Ill. It was there that Mike jr. was born. In 1888 the family moved from Illinois to this county, settling in Rumsey-tp., where they continued to make their home. Mr. Schuab giving considerable attention to farming and stock raising. The father died on October 6, 1901, the daughter, Miss Marie, on December 21, 1902, and the mother on April 9, 1903. One daughter died in infancy before the family came west.
For 32 years Mike Schaub had lived among the people of Comanche-co. and in that time he had formed a large circle of acquaintances and made many devoted friends. His disposition was genial, whole-souled and cheerful, and that reason he won friends easily, and he retained them by virtue of his innate honesty, hospitality and good fellowship. Everybody who ever knew Mike Schaub regarded him as a good friend and as a substantial and thoroughly trustworthy citizen. He had been honored in this county by election in the fall of 1908 to the office of register of deeds, defeating Floyd R. Campbell by 17 votes. He was re-elected without opposition to the same office two years later. After going out of office he was a trusted employee in the Peoples State Bank for some time, after which he spent a few years on his farm in Rumsey-tp. On January 1, 1919, he became associated with the Coldwater National Bank, serving as vice-president. He held that position at the time of his death. As an official whether in the register of deeds office or as a bank official, he was faithful to every trust and performed his work in a most capable and through manner. It will not be an easy matter to find a worthy successor to him in the Coldwater National, where his judgment and his courteous treatment of all bank patrons and his efficient services were so marked. Yes, Mike Schaub will be missed at the window in the bank and in our business circles; he will be missed by hundreds of good friends all over the county. His kindness to everyone with whom he came in contact and his genuine manliness and many worthy deeds will not soon be forgotten by our people, who knew him so well. Mr. Schaub's age at the time of his death was 48 years, 4 months and 6 days.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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