At 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, December 17, 1914, the earthly life of Daniel F. Parcel came to a close. He died in St. Francis hospital in Wichita, where he had gone on the Friday before for medical treatment. An operation had revealed a critical condition of the enveloping membranes of the bowels, the scientific name of the ailment being, "colloid degeneration of the odentum." The disease is an unusual one and seemed beyond the power of the physicians to heal, or to alleviate with any degree of permanency. On the day before the end came the patient's condition became worse and his vitality gradually ebbed away, although he was conscious to the end. With him at the time of death was his faithful wife, who had accompanied him to Wichita. His son, Raymond arrived in Wichita about 2 hours to late to see his father alive. The body was brought to Coldwater on Friday and laid to rest in the Coldwater cemetery, after appropriate and impressive funeral services had been conducted at the Presbyterian church. Rev. A. Burrill, the M. E. pastor of the Coldwater circuit, had charge of the services. As a text for his remarks he used Gal. 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ, liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Rev. _ankins and Rev. Leonard of this city assisted in the services. A large number of the neighbors and friends were present and there was in every heart a sence of peculiar bereavement.Deceased was born near Crescent City, Iroquois-co., Ill., on June 5, 1854, and,, at the time of death was 60 years, 6 months and 12 days of age. On March 21, 1877, in Crescent City, he was married to Miss Leah Kern. In the spring of 1885 the family moved from Illinois to this county and settled on a claim 10 miles southwest of the city, the quarter on which O. J. Guseman now lives. Later, the family moved to the farm, 6 miles southeast of here, which they continued to make their home. Mr. Parcel always manifested much interest in farming and stockraising, and in these lines his labors were rewarded with a liberal degree of success. He was one of the promoters and one of the staunchest supporters of the county Farmers' Institute, also of the Farmers' Elevator company of this city. At the time of his death Mr. Parcel was president of the latter organization.
Dan Parcel was a splendid type of the sturdy pioneer settler who has helped to transform the original prairies of Comanche-co. into good farms where many homes may be found. He was a factor, along with dozens of others, in the county's growth and development, and on all occasions his councel and his influence were on the side of right, of justice and of better conditions for all. As a citizen he was loyal and true, as a neighbor he was uniformly kind and obliging, and as a husband and father he measured up to every duty and responsibility. Of him scarecely a criticism or harsh opinion was ever heard. His unselfishness, his kindness and his unswerving integrity appealed to all and won for him many friends wherever he went. With them his memory will be cherished to the end.
Mr. Parcel had long been a member of the U. B. church, and his entire life was consistant with the faith which he professed. During his sickness, which began last summer, and especially during the days of extreme suffering his patience, his hope and his faith revealed the true Christian and the noble man that he was.
The bereaved wife and the surviving children - Melvin and Raymond Parcel of this county and Mrs. E. E. Parker of Coy, Okla. - have the sympathy of all. The deceased is survived, also by three brothers and two sisters - W. S. Parcel of Monticello, Ind., C. M. Parcel of Woodlake, Calif., A. H. Parcel of Vancouver, Wash., Mrs. H. E. Burkhalter of Onarga, Ill., and Mrs. Henry Clark of this city.
W. S. Parcel of Monticello, Ind., arrived in this city last Saturday, coming at this time in response to a telegram to him announcing the death of his brother, D. F. Parcel. He was unable to get here in time for the funeral. However, he will make a 2 weeks' visit here.
Also see:
James W. Dappert: Reminiscences of Early Days in Comanche-co.
The Western Star, January 15, 1926.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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