LaHarpe lost one of her best friends and most genial personalities when life ended at 4:35 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 1964 for A. J. Dunham at the age of 86.  Mr. Dunham passed away at the McDonough District hospital in Macomb, where he had been in serious condition for four days.

His death terminated a serious and disabling illness of almost two years, marked intermittently by long periods of confinement to Macomb and LaHarpe hospitals and treatment in his home.

But even through the pain and frustration of serious illness, "A. J." could still see the humor in a friend's jest and never quite lost the quick-wittedness and comaraderie that stood him in such good stead for nearly 90 years.

Funeral services with Rev. Leo Gossett officiating, were held on Tuesday afternoon at the Banks and Beals funeral home, with burial in LaHarpe cemetery.

Mr. Dunham, son of George and Sarah (Carnes) Dunham, was born east of LaHarpe on April 14, 1877.  He received his education in neighborhood public schools, LaHarpe high school and the Keokuk, Iowa Business College and was married to Edna Mourning at Basco on February 28, 1904.

"A. J.", was a railroad telegrapher by vocation, a career which he began early and followed through to retirement after 47 years at his key.  He worked for the T. P. & W. railroad as station agent and operator for six years at Elvaston and for 27 years at LaCrosse before moving to the LaHarpe station as an operator.  He retired after 14 years at his post here.

While railroading was his principal career, Mr. Dunham was too energetic to confine himself to a single job.  He wrote insurance for over 45 years and after retirement was induced to enter public life, serving LaHarpe township as its supervisor for two full terms.  His eight years as a member of the Hancock County Board served to expand his interests and enlarge his friendships of earlier years, constituting one of the most memorable of all life's experiences.

Mr. Dunham was a member of the Union church of LaHarpe and the Order of Railroad Telegraphers.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife and companion through the joys, sadness, health and frailties of 60 years of married life, two sons, Merrill Dunham of Decatur and Keith Dunham of Peoria; one daughter, Mrs. Lucille Beckwith, of LaHarpe; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. John Daugherty of Burlington, Iowa and Mrs. Myrtle Pence, of Lomax, and several nieces and nephews.  Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.