Mournful Monday: Death Claimed Mr. W. A. Juhan

From Macon Telegraph (Georgia), 5 December 1893 edition:

"DEATH CLAIMED MR. W. A. JUHAN

An Esteemed Citizen of Macon Has Been Called to His Reward.

DEATH CAUSED FROM LA GRIPPE

At 8:15 O'clock Last Night the Summons Came While Surrounded By His Sorrowing Family -- Funeral This Afternoon.

Mr. William Alexander Juhan, one of Macon's oldest and most highly respected citizens, died at his home on Second street last night at 8:15 o'clock of la grippe, after an illness of one week.

Just one week ago yesterday Mr. Juhan attended the funeral of Dr. E. W. Warren, who was his bosom friend and pastor in life and from the long exposure to the damp atmosphere at the cemetery he contracted the grip, and on returning home went to bed feeling very unwell, but not anticipating serious sickness, both he and his family thinking he had only contracted a severe cold. They soon discovered that he was seriously ill, however, and a physician called, but his strength was not sufficient to withstand the ravages of the terrible disease which terminated in his death.

Mr. Juhan was in every sense a good citizen and enjoyed the respect and esteem of the community. As a Christian gentleman, he was loved by all Christian people and respected by the worldly minded for his consistency and integrity. As a business man he enjoyed the confidence of the public and admiration of the commercial world. As a husband and father he was loving, indulgent and patient, and his chief aim in life was to make his home and the lives of those around him happy and contented. His death is a loss to the community that will be long felt and mourned.

Mr. Juhan was born in Jones county in 1827, making him 66 years old at the time of his death. When a young man he conducted a general merchandise business in Clinton, Jones county, and while thus engaged he was married to Miss E. J. Caldwell in Clinton. To them several children were born, four of whom, Messrs. W. J., C. J. and Louis Juhan and Mrs. C. W. Gnice of Eufaula, Ala., survive, together with his wife. His aged father and a sister are living and reside in Texas.

In 1872 Mr. Juhan moved to Macon and became a member of the wholesale dry goods house of J. B. Ross and S. T. Coleman, which was at that time the largest wholesale dry goods house in the state, if not in the South. After remaining with this firm for several years he engaged in the retail dry goods business in Triangular block under the firm name of W. A. Juhan & Co., Mr. C. B. Ellis being the silent partner. This business, of which he was at the head, was conducted successfully for a long number of years, and was one of the largest retail dry goods stores in the state. Several years ago the firm failed, but it was regarded by everybody as an honest failure. Afterwards, when Messrs. C. J. and W. J. Juhan engaged in the retail dry goods business, he became associated with them, and up to the time of his last illness he was actively engaged.

The funeral will take place from First Baptist Church this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. George Braxton Taylor and T. W. O'Kelly will conduct the services.

The following gentlemen have been requested to act as pallbearers:

Holmes Johnson, J. H. Williams, R. W. Bonner, George R. Barker, H. V. Napier, J. G. Medlock, Dr. Polhill, W. J. Moore."