Jacob Reiss, Jr., well known Coldwater farmer and stockman, passed away in the Comanche County Hospital Friday, March 10, 1967. He had been in declining health for several years.Funeral services were held in the Hatfield Funeral Home last Sunday at 3 p.m. and were in charge of Rev. George F. Baugh, former pastor of the Coldwater Christian Church.
Mrs. Lena Haun and Mrs. Barbara McGinnis, accompanied by Mrs. Hazel McMurray, sang "Ivory Palaces" and "Beyond the Sunset."
Pallbearers were Darrell Smith, Bob Gilchrist, W. N. Parsons, Huron Atteberry, George Scholle, and Cecil Wilson and the honorary pallbearers were Horace Rich, Victor Allderdice, Harry White, James Copple, L. G. Whitzel, T. R. Hackney, John Lousch, and Fred Robbins.
The body, accompanied by Larry Hatfield and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Colter, was taken to Vinton, Iowa, where services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the Campbell Funeral Home. Burial was in the Mount Auburn, Iowa, cemetery.
Mr. Reiss, son of Jacob Reiss, Sr., and Magdalena Krahl, was born at Mount Auburn, Iowa, January 5, 1874, and passed away in Coldwater, Kans., March 10, 1967, at the age of 93 years, two months and five days.
He came to Comanche county in November, 1903, buying 600 acres of land south of Coldwater. By dint of hard work and good management he accumulated more than 2000 acres of land, though he had to let some of it go during the depression of the 30's.
Mr. Reiss became a major wheat grower and in 1916 was declared the Comanche County Wheat King. At the time he used 70 mules for power to pull many plows and other farm machinery, including four headers. He later went into the hog business and at times had as many as 800 herd. He quit the hog business 20 years ago but continued to feed steers, marketing carloads of them himself at Kansas City, many times topping the day's market.
During more recent years he and his farm manager, Willard Colter, built up a fine herd of registered Aberdeen Angus with 15 herd bulls on their Grandview Farms.
Mr. Reiss was a lover of good livestock, was public spirited and repeatedly provided prizes to encourage young farm folks; also assisted various churches by contributions.
He was a member of the Church of Christ in Mount Auburn, Iowa, and the Aberdeen Angus Association and was a good citizen in every respect.
He was never married. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. E. H. Kaniss, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and by several nieces and nephews including, Charles Jacob Kaniss, St. Petersburg, Fla., Paul H. Kaniss, San Jose, Calif., C. M. Sheetz, Monterey Park, Calif., Miss Ruth Sheetz, Sheboygan, Wis., Mrs. Irma Abbott, Anamosa, Iowa, and Milo Reiss, Mt. Auburn, Iowa.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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