John Hoskinson's Unusual and Interesting Obituary

What would you normally expect to find in an obituary?  Of course, there's the date and place of death.  Then, many times we're fortunate to have a listing of the immediate family, or even a few extended family.  And, yes, we aren't surprised to read about a person's career or clubs or volunteer activities.  There's a schedule for the services and burial usually announced in the obit as well.  The language is most commonly rather dry.  Although there are the exceptions.  And I believe that John Hoskinson's obituary falls into that category. 
I want to thank once again my cousins Leo Leonard and Sally Redinger that I wrote about a week or so ago.  They shared this obituary of their grandfather, husband of Mary Anna Niehaus and father of Ruth Hoskinson Leonard. The writer, Bess Watson, of the Indianapolis News, brings joy to this sad day the way she presents the memories of John's life. 

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John Hoskinson Burial To Be in St. Joseph's
(By Bess Watson, Indianapolis News, 7 Jan 1957)
A life resident of Indianapolis, John A. Hoskinson, 84, enjoyed modern conveniences, but he often yearned for the "good old days" in the city.  He often talked longingly of the days when the only traffic sound was the cloppity-clop of horses' hooves.  A resident of 1810 S. Meridian, he died yesterday in Methodist Hospital.
Mr. Hoskinson saw the first load of dirt carried from the excavation when construction was started on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.  He was the son of John Arnold and Fannie Mae (Lendormia) Hoskinson.  Early in his life he served his apprenticeship as a garment cutter at the C. B. Cones Co.  He worked there 50 years as an overall cutter until the company sold out in 1950, when he retired.
Mr. Hoskinson enjoyed all sports.  Some time ago he attended an old-timers baseball game in Cincinnati and he was able to tell the records and life histories of all the players back to 1900.  He was fond of bowling. Active in the Republican politics, Mr. Hoskinson often worked at the polls.  For several years he was president of the Garment Workers Local 127.
Mr. Hoskinson was a friend of the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley.  He was a long-time subscriber to The News.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Conkle West Michigan Street Funeral Home, with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Mr. Hoskinson was twice married.  His first wife, Mary Niehaus Hoskinson, died in 1912.  Survivors include the second wife, Leona Hoskinson; a daughter, Ruth Leonard, Cincinnati; a stepson, Edward Dourmagis, and three grandchildren.

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From 1874 to 1957, John Hoskinson surely did witness tremendous developments in his hometown.  This account describes someone fully involved and makes me want to discover more about his life.  Aren't you curious?  I'll let you know later what develops as I gather more of his unusual and interesting history.
Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
Nancy
Copyright 2015 (c) Nancy Niehaus Hurley