Source: News-Journal, November 19, 1934

PEABODY FUNERAL FRIDAY MORNING

A message to George N. Bender & son today is to the effect that the body of James B. Peabody will arrive in Warsaw Thursday morning at 11:36. The funeral service will be held at the Estelle Peabody Memorial Home at nine o'clock Friday morning, and burial will be had at Columbia City.

Brief mention was made Thursday in the latter part of the News-Journal edition of the death of James B. Peabody, which had occurred suddenly that day at his home at Beverly Hills, California, near Los Angeles. His son, T.A. Peabody started that afternoon for California by train, expecting to arrive there Sunday, and to make arrangements to bring his father back to North Manchester. The expectation is that he will arrive here some time late Thursday, or Friday. Arrangements have been made for a funeral service at the Estelle Peabody Memorial home, Friday; the service being conducted by Rev. Alexander Sharp, superintendent of the home. After that the body will be taken to Columbia City for burial by the side of that of Mrs. Peabody, who died a number of years ago. In accordance with a request of Mr. Peabody there will be no floral offerings at the funeral.

In the death of Mr. Peabody North Manchester and the country at large loses a good citizen; a man who had the courage of his convictions; a man who at all times conducted his business and personal affairs on the highest standard of equity and justice. On this basis he built for the Peabody School Furniture company, which later became the Peabody Seating company, a reputation for fair dealing and dependability of product that placed it in the front rank of industries of this kind the country over. Personally Mr. Peabody was a quiet unassuming man, a man who made many warm friends and who held them for life. After retiring from active management of the factory in this city Mr. Peabody went to California where he has made his home since, though always retaining his citizenship and his interests in North Manchester.

Shortly after the death of his wife, Mrs. Estelle Peabody, he planned and endowed the old people home in this city that bears her name, and that is giving comfort and happiness to so many aged people today.

James B. Peabody was born at Arcola, Indiana, October 25, 1859. He was married to Estelle Prickett of Columbia City, who passed away in 1928. The greater part of his life was spent at Columbia City, during which time he operated a saw mill at Peabody Station on the Nickel Plate railroad. Later he organized and operated the Peabody Buggy company of Fostoria, Ohio.

A little more than thirty years ago he came to North Manchester with his family and established the Peabody Seating company of which he was president for a number of years. About fifteen years ago he retired after which he spent most of the time in California but always remained a citizen of North Manchester.

In 1930 he founded and endowed the Estelle Peabody Memorial at North Manchester in memory of his departed wife.

Mr. Peabody was a thirty-second degree Mason and was the first recipient of the Star of Service awarded by the Kiwanis club of North Manchester. He was the last survivor of a family of eleven children and is survived by one son, T.A. Peabody and grand daughter, Mary K. Peabody.