The Morning Astorian, Astoria, Oregon-Saturday, 11 September 1915. Jos. G. Megler Passes Pioneer Salmon Packer of Columbia River Dies of Heart Failure. Stricken suddenly at 4:30 o’clock yesterday morning with heart failure, Joseph G. Megler, one of the pioneer salmon packers on the Columbia river and one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the entire northwest, passed away at his home in Brookfield, Washington, aged 76 years. He leaves to mourn his death a wife, Mrs. Nellie Megler, of Brookfield, Wash., and one sister, Mrs. Emma Girard of Hoquiam, Wash. The funeral services will be held in Astoria at 2:30 o’clock next Monday afternoon from the residence of Mrs. S. Elmore, 385 Fourteenth street, conducted by Rev. William S. Gilbert, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Interment will take place in Ocean View cemetery. The remains are now at the Gilbaugh parlors on Commercial street, where they may be viewed by the friends between now and Monday afternoon. The deceased has been a member of Beaver lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of this city, for nearly half a century and for 32 years was a member of Cushing Post No. 14, Grand Army of the Republic of Astoria. Members of both organizations will attend the funeral services Monday and assist in the last rites. The active pall bearers will be Brenham Van Dusen, F. H. Haradon, Richard E. Carruthers, H. F. Prael, G. W. Sanborn and F. I. Dunbar. The honorary pall bearers are: P.A. Stokes, E. W. Tallant, G. Wingate, Dr. J. A. Fulton, Fred Baker, G. C. Fulton and H. McElroy. New Shocks His Friends. The news of Mr. Megler’s death was received with deep sorrow throughout the city of Astoria and the entire lower Columbia river district, where the deceased had spent a lifetime and was so well and favorably know. Mr. and Mrs. Megler had been in Portland for a few days, Mr. Megler having been in the city looking after business affairs. They returned to their home in Brookfield on Thursday evening. Mr. Megler was apparently in the best of health upon his return from Portland and ate a hearty supper, retiring soon afterward. He slept well until 4 o’clock in the morning, when he became restless and finally got up and sat down in a chair. When Mrs. Megler returned from the kitchen where she had gone for a moment, she found that her husband was dead, having passed away peacefully in his chair. Mr. Megler had been afflicted with heart trouble for several months but had improved so much lately that his death came as a shock to his many friends. Lived an Industrious Life. Joseph George Megler lived an industrious and interesting life. Born in Saxony, Germany, on March 10, 1839, he spent his earlier years there. His parents died when he was a small lad and he accompanied his brothers and sister to New York, where he lived with an uncle for several years. When the Civil War broke out in this country, Mr. Megler enlisted in the United States navy, serving with distinction on the gunboat Lexington throughout the war. He was acting commander of the Lexington at the age of 18 years. He was tendered the rank of lieutenant at the close of the war but declined the honor as he desired to enter upon a commercial career. In the early sixties, the deceased came to Astoria and engaged in his trade, that of tinning. Five years later he became a partner in a salmon canning business at Chinookville, the old Hudson Bay trading post on the north side of the river, which had formerly been conducted under the firm name of Ellis, Jewett & Chambers. He became manager of the plant. Married in Massachusetts. In 1873, Mr. Megler was married in North Brookfield, Mass., to Miss Nellie Smith, the widow who survives him and who through all the years has been his constant companion and a true and loving wife. Mr. Megler was devoted to his wife and during the times that he was ill he would have no other nurse but Mrs. Megler. After their marriage in Massachusetts, Mr. and Mrs. Megler came to Washington and the deceased with his brother, Alex Megler, erected a cannery in Washington at place they named Brookfield in honor of their old home in the east. Mr. Megler operated this plant continuously since 1873 and by close attention to business amassed a comfortable fortune. Prominent In All Affairs. Mr. Megler took a prominent part at all times in public affairs, both state and county. He served eight terms in the state legislature in Washington, both as senator and representative from his district and was once honored with the speakership of the house. He was a man of sterling integrity, a most successful business man and a man of pleasing personality whose friends are legion throughout the northwest, both in Washington and Oregon. Ocean View Cemetery-Astoria, OR 10 March 1838-10 September 1915 (As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum)