Shelby County Indiana
Obituaries
Messick
Obituaries
Messick
The Shelbyville Republican
Friday, January 29, 1926
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FALL WAS FATAL
TO MRS. MESSICK
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Aged Resident of this City
Succumbed Yesterday,
From Effects of Fall.
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HOLD FUNERAL SATURDAY
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Mrs. Arminta Messick, well known resident of this city, died at her home, 32 East Locust street, Thursday evening at 8:43 o'clock of heart trouble, which resulted from an accidental fall on New Year's Eve, when she broke both arms. Mrs. Messick had been confined to her home since the fall, but her death came very unexpectedly as she had been sitting up most of the day Thursday.Friday, January 29, 1926
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FALL WAS FATAL
TO MRS. MESSICK
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Aged Resident of this City
Succumbed Yesterday,
From Effects of Fall.
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HOLD FUNERAL SATURDAY
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She was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Maple and was born at the old home in Shelby township on January 23, 1845, being 81 years and five days old at the time of her death. She had been a resident of Shelby county all her life and had lived in this city for the past 27 years. The deceased was married to James Messick in 1862 and to them two children were born, both of whom survive: Mrs. Thomas Webster, South Harrison street, and John R. Messick, president of the Shelbyville Trust Company. She also leaves two grandchildren, Mary Frances and Paul Messick. Her husband died October 15, 1901.
Mrs. Messick was one of Shelbyville's most highly esteemed owmen. She was a member of the First Methodist church. Funeral services will be held at the late home 32 East Locust street on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, with Rev. L. T. Freeland officiating. Interment will be made in Forest Hill in charge of C. F. Fix and Son. Friends may call any time after seven o'clock Friday evening up to the hour of the funeral.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville Democrat
Friday, February 12, 1915
Page 2 column 1
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JOHN MESSICK. ----------
Death has removed from this community its foremost citizen -- John Messick, president of the First National bank -- familiarly called "Uncle John" -- a name applied because of the exceptionally high regard in which he was held by the residents of the city and county. The men are very few in Shelby county who did not know Mr. Messick. The passing of such a man is excuse for deep regret. His death comes as a surprise. Very few even knew of his illness. A week ago today he was tricken with a chill while on the street. Weakened a year ago by a fall on the sidewalk that fractured one of his limbs he was unable to resist the new attack. Slowly but surely his physical vitality was reduced until death closed the eyes and silenced the voice of this good man.Friday, February 12, 1915
Page 2 column 1
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JOHN MESSICK. ----------
Mr. Messick was a man of fine parts -- he was always so. In his connection with the Shelby Mill the farmers who hauled their grain there said: "Go to John Messick, he'll treat you right." And he did. That was his rule of life -- to be right -- to do unto others as he would be done to. As president of the banking institution his presence so long honored, he continued to "treat everybody right." Many are the persons who have come under his magnificent influence. Many are the men who called on him in their season of financial distress, he listening kindly to their story, "taking care of them" on their moral worth. In this way it can be said he saved man after man from financial wreck. His very sould seemed to go out to those in distress. He was a man in whom no fault could be found. He might be sorry, but he never criticized. He was careful, tender and considerate. All his business plans were laid on the solid foundation of honesty. His constant advice was that "settlement day will come" -- a kind admonition he had to "keep your credit good."
Not a single person could be found that Mr. Messick ever harmed or spoke harshly of. His demeanor was that of a kind hearted child -- intuitively he was called "Uncle John." Such a heart and mind worked much good in the community -- good that will long live. The loss of Mr. Messick is a staggering blow. He really belonged to the people and as such will be mourned.
With a life well improved in all things, with no lost time but every minute used as a "diamond set with pearls," intergrity unquestioned, his honesty far above par, countless deeds of hidden charity to his credit, kindness stamped on every feature, his daily walk an inspiration, this splendid man -- a true work of God -- laid down the cares of life as sweetly as a child sinks to sleep in his mother's arms.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville Democrat
Friday, February 12, 1915
Page 1 column 1-2
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WIDELY KNOWN BANKER
DIED THIS MORNING
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John Messick Passed Away At
His Home On West Wash-
ington Street.
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HAD BEEN ILL ONLY ONE WEEK
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President of First National Bank for
More than Quarter of Century ---
Had Many Other Business In- terests --- Funeral Monday.
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[Large picture included.] ----------
In the death of John Messick, who passed away at 8:45 o'clock today 229 west Washington street, Shelbyville has lost one of its widely known and most prominent and influential citizens. For more than half a century he had been closely identified with the business, social and fraternal life of the city, filling a large place in these different lines of human activities. He had been president of the First National Bank for twenty-eight years, had been president of the Union Building Association since its organization in 1893 and had been treasurer of the Masonic lodge, chapter and commandery in this city for more than twenty years.Friday, February 12, 1915
Page 1 column 1-2
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WIDELY KNOWN BANKER
DIED THIS MORNING
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John Messick Passed Away At
His Home On West Wash-
ington Street.
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HAD BEEN ILL ONLY ONE WEEK
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President of First National Bank for
More than Quarter of Century ---
Had Many Other Business In- terests --- Funeral Monday.
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[Large picture included.] ----------
Mr. Messick was in his seventy-fifth year, having been born on a farm in Shelby county, near this city, February 24, 1839. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Messick, who were among the pioneer residents of the county. He remained on the farm only a short time and had been a resident of this city since his boyhood days. His death came as a shock to most of his friends, as few of them knew that his condition was critical. He became ill one week ago today, his suffering being caused by an attack of la grippe. From this complications arose and a heavy fever developed which his low vitality was not able to resist. For forty-eight hours preceding his death he remained in a semi-conscious condition and was wholly unconscious all last night and this morning. He was attending to his duties as usual as president of the bank. He was attending to his duties as usual as president of the bank last Friday when the illness came upon him and he immediately went home and the family physician was summoned. He was not in the bast of physical condition owing to an accident in which he suffered a fractured hip a little more than a year ago and thus became an easy victim to the complications that developed from the attack of la grippe.
Few men have devoted a greater part of their life to hard work than Mr. Messick. As stone cutter, miller and banker, the occupations that marked the stages of his life in his ever steady march toward financial success, he was always to be found at his post of duty, and his vacations have been d=few and far between. In his business dealings he was one of the most courteous of men. He easily gained friends and always retained them. The strongest bond of affection existed between Mr. Messick and all of the attaches of the First National Bank, and they feel his death with a keenness alsmost in the same degree with his relatives. Much the same sort of a feeling was held toward Mr. Messick by the many persons who had dealing with him at the bank and along other business lines and the feeling of sadness over his death will reach into many homes in Shelby and adjoining counties.
After coming to this city Mr. Messick worked as a stone cutter with a Mr. Smithers in the latter's monument shop. During the civil war he spent nearly three years in the commissary department as an assistant to Captain H. H. Boggess, part of the time being spent at Gallipolis, Ohio, and the rest at Charleston, S.C. Immediately following the war he engaged in the flour milling business here with William and James M. Elliott. He was follwing this business when he was elected a director of the First National Bank, January 9, 1872. Fifteen years later he was called to the presidency of the bank, being elected January 11, 1887 and succeeding the late John Elliott. He spent the preceding month in the bank learning the duties of the presidency and since then there have been few days in any year that he could not have been found at his post of duty as the head of the institution, which under his administration has grown to be one of the great and powerful banks of this section. Ever since becoming president of the bank he had served as the chairman of the committee of one of the great and powerful banks of this section. Ever since becoming president of the bank he had served as the chairman of the committee of discounts and his judgment in this line had been of incalculable benefit to the bank. Until the election of a successor to Mr. Messick, H. C. Morrison, the vice-president, will be the acting head of the bank.
Mr. Messick has always been recognized in financial circles as one of the original building and loan association men. He had been connected with this branch of finances since its organization in 1881 and had been connected with the Union Building Association here since 1893, being its first and only president. He was also one of the original incorporators of the Forest Hill Cemetery Association, which has given Shelbyville its beautiful burying ground, and was its first treasurer.
As a Mason of many years stand- (Continued on Page Four)
[Page 4 column 3-4]
ing, Mr. Messick was a member of Shelby Lodge, No. 28, F.& A.M., of Shelby Chapter, No. 20, Royal Arch Masons, of Shelby Council, No. 3, Royal & Select Masters, of Baldwin Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar, and he was also a member of the local chapter of the EAstern Star. All of these orders he had served well and he was counted on of the most influential of their membership.
Mr. Messick married Miss Emma Winterrowd, January 10, 1866. One son, Edwin, was born to the union. He died in 1910. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Messick was ideal and their only great sorrow had been the loss of their son, who was called after he had reached manhood's estate.
Mr. Messick was one of the trustees of the First M.E. church of this city and was one of the most loyal and generous supporters of the church, giving always of his means to further any of the plans of the church to carry on the cause for which it stands. Mr. Messick was a devout man and kind-hearted, approachable at all times, and ever ready to do his share in bringing brightness into the lives of others.
Mr. Messick was the last of his family and his only surviving relatives, in addition to his wife, are nephews and nieces, among them being John R. Messick, president of the Shelbyville Trust Company, and Mrs. Thomas Webster, of this city, and Mrs. Hettie McLaren, Mrs. Eliza Forner and James Messick, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Miss Prudence Winterrowd, a niece of Mrs. Messick, has made her home with them from infancy, and they also reared Mrs. Messick's nephew, Will Winterrowd, now a resident of Montreal, Canada.
The funeral services will be held at the house at two o'clock Monday afternoon, the Rev. John S. Ward, pastor of the First M.E. church, officiating, and the interment will be made in Forest Hill cemetery in charge of Ralph J. Edwards. At the request of the family, no flowers.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
