This Week in St. Johns County History: Henry Flagler's body laid to rest in St. Augustine
Simple funeral services held at St. Augustine
Editor's note: The Associated Press wrote this report from the Henry M. Flagler funeral procession on May 23, 1913.
The body of Henry Morrison Flagler was placed in a mausoleum of the Flagler Memorial Church, after simple funeral exercises had been held in memory of the octogenarian millionaire May 23, 1913, in St. Augustine. Flagler died May 20, 1913, at his home in Palm Beach at the age of 83.
Thousands from all parts of Florida participated in the services at the church and viewed the body as it lay in state in the rotunda of the Ponce de Leon Hotel which he built. Back of the casket towered the royal palms of Florida.
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Few of the thousands who attended the services were able to enter the little church, where members of the family and immediate friends were gathered.
Among the many honorary pallbearers were Butler Ames of Boston and Henry Walters, president of the Atlantic Coast Line. The guard of honor was made up of employees of the Florida East Coast Railway. The services in the church were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Morgan Ward, assisted by Dr. J.N. MacGonigle, former pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church and close friend of Flagler.
Organ music and the reading of a poem completed the last rites for Flagler.
Police, assisted by Boys Scouts, were requested to keep the throngs of curious people from the church.