Sunday's Obituary - Ole Jorgenson, 1908

In 2002 I emailed several different people requesting a copy of my 3rd Great Grandfather's obituary and was told none could be found in Kankakee, Joliet or even his home town of Peotone, Illinois.  So I thought I would inter-library loan the Peotone Vedette and see if I could find ANY small mention of Ole's death or funeral.  After being told the issue it would be in was missing, imagine my excitement when I found this on the front page:

Peotone Vedette, October 2, 1908, pg 1

"O. Jorgenson Called To His Reward

Ole Jorgenson, a pioneer of Eastern Will county, died Tuesday Sept. 29, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hannah Judson, 32 Florence avenue, Chicago, after a lingering illness.

Mr. Jorgenson was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 16, 1837.  He was married to Caroline Peterson Nov. 2, 1860.  In 1867 the family left Copenhagen and came to Chicago where they lived four months before they settled in Will township on what is now the Stender farm.  At that time most of the township was unbroken prairie with few roads or bridges.

He contributed the strength and energy of his young manhood to the development of his adopted land.  As his family grew up he left the farm that his children might have educational advantages.  He became a carpenter and for many years was in the employ of the Sante Fe railroad.  Later he returned to Peotone and made his home here until November, 1907, when he went to Chicago.

Funeral services were conducted in Chicago by Rev. E. Y. Woolley, of the Moody church, assisted by Rev. J. O. Bentall.  The remains were brought to Peotone for interment this morning.  The Peotone Socialists acted as pallbearers.

The deceased leaves a widow, two sons, P. C., of Ledyard, Iowa, and Walter R., of Chicago, and four daughters, Mrs. Wm. Roscoe, Clatonia, Neb., Mrs. C. A. Judson, Miss Belle Jorgenson and Mrs. J. O. Bentall, of Chicago.  Seventeen grandchildren are living.

This, in brief, is the story of the life of a pioneer who enjoyed the friendship and esteem of a large circle of friends.  By nature Ole Jorgenson was a student.  His desire to master the English language led him to spend half the night in poring over the pages of a Danish-English bible.  Books were his friends and he spent every spare moment in reading.  Few men were more familiar with history and the events which have marked the progress of the race.  His reading and study led him to accept the tenets of socialism and to him it became practically a religion.

While of a religious nature Mr. Jorgenson refused to subscribe to what he termed "man-made creeds."  At the same time he had an abiding faith in the wisdom and justice of the Infinite.  To his family he said "The Great Cause which brought me into life takes me in peace."

The sympathy of many Peotone friends goes out to the bereaved wife and children."