Sunday's Obituary - Mary M. Boggs

Mary was a sister of my Second Great Grandma Eliza.  Mary died March 28, 1930 at "the ripened age of 81 years, 6 months and 6 days".  She and Eliza lived not far from each other for most of their lives. 

"Mrs. Mary M. Boggs Dies at Home Here
Mrs. Mary M. Boggs passed away at the home of her son, Charles W. Boggs, Friday, March 28th, at the age of 81 years.
The funeral service was held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist Church in Tobias, the Rev. E. L. Cochran officiating, and a quartet composed of Mr. W. C. Smith, Mrs. H. A. Trobaugh, Mrs. Frank Bartunek, and Mr. E. A. Stetson, sang.  Miss Estella Maxson accompanied them at the piano.  The body was taken to Clatonia for interment.  A large group of friends had gathered there, and a short service was again held by the Rev. Cochran, assisted by the Rev. Shepard of Clatonia, and the choir of the Clatonia Methodist Church.
Those from out of town attending the funeral were:  Mrs. Jennie Stearn and son Lyle, Denton, Nebr.; Walter W. Boggs, Woodbine, Kas.; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Alberts and daughters Blanche and Grace, Hallam, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Rickard, and son, and daughter Thelma and her two children, all of Guide Rock, Nebr.; Mrs. Carrie Kleopper and daughters Lulu and Norma, and Mrs. Nettie Steinemeyer, all of Clatonia, Nebr; and Miss Elsie Boggs, of Guide Rock., Nebr.

OBITUARY

Mrs. Mary Boggs

March 28, 1930 marked the passing of another of the old settlers of Nebraska in the death of Mary M. Boggs at the home of her son, Charles W., in Tobias.

Mary M. Knapp was born in Ohio on September 22, 1848 and left this world for the eternal world on March 28, 1930 at the ripened age of 81 years, 6 months, and 6 days.
On October 17, 1871, she was united in marriage to John W. Boggs, and to them were born nine children, seven of whom are now living; Charles W., of Tobias; George H., of Cummingsville, Nebr.; Mrs. J. S. Rickard of Guide Rock, Nebr.; Albert J. of Grand Forks, Minn.; Walter W. of Woodbine, Kas.; Mrs. Arthur Stearn of Denton, Nebr.; and Mrs. Emma Alberts of Hallam, Nebr.  There are also twenty-seven grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.  The husband preceded her in death about twenty-seven years ago.
Mrs. Boggs was raised by German parents in the Lutheran faith, but later united with the Methodist Church.
In the year 1884 she came to Nebraska where she has since lived.  For several years she has made her home with her son, Charles, in Tobias, at which place the Messenger of Death found her.

"MOTHER

You painted no Madonnas on chapel walls in Rome
But with a touch diviner you lived one in your home
You wrote no lofty poems that critics counted art,
But with a nobler vision you lived them in your heart
You carved no shapeless marble to some high soul design
But with a finer sculpture you shaped this soul of mine
You built no great cathedrals that centuries applaud
But with a grace exquisite your life cathedraled God
~ Thomas W. Fessenden

Sunday's Obituary - George & Emma Jane Bailey

Beatrice Daily Sun, July 27, 1920

"GEORGE BAILEY DIES IN HOSPITAL IN LINCOLN

George H. Bailey, an old resident of Beatrice who had been making his home at Lincoln for some time died in a hospital at Lincoln Saturday after a brief illness, aged 84 years.The remains were brought here yesterday for burial, and funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock from Clausen's chapel, conducted by Rev. J. M. Darby.  Burial in Beatrice cemetery."

Beatrice Daily Sun, December 28, 1915

"MRS EMMA JANE BAILEY DIES AT HOME IN THIS CITY
Mrs. Emma Jane Bailey, wife of George Bailey, and a pioneer of Gage county, passed away at her home at 800 Scott street Sunday after a prolonged illness, aged seventy-five years, ten months and twenty-nine days. 

The deceased was a woman beloved and respected by all who knew her.  She was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church, uniting when she was a mere child.  She had been a regular attendant at Centenary church for many years. 

Emma Jane Gaisford was born at Kilperton, England, January 27, 1840.  At the age of fifteen she came to the United States locating in Providence, Rhode Island.  She was married to George H. Bailey at Passcoag, R. I., March 24, 1859.   The family moved to Rueland, Ill., in 1868, where they resided two years, and in 1870 came to Gage county, settling on a farm.  In December, 1883, they retired from farming, moving to Beatrice, where they have since made their home. 

She is survived by her husband, one sister, Mrs. Geo. Pickard of Diller, and four brothers, Charles and Samuel Gaisford of Ellis, William on Minonk, Ill, and J. H. of Council Bluffs. 

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday from the home and at 2:30 from Centenary M. E. church, conducted by Dr. B. F. Gaither.  Interment in Beatrice cemetery.

Emma Jane Gaisford is the sister of my Great Great Grandfather Charles Gaisford. Their young daughter Emma M. is buried with them in the Old Beatrice Cemetery.  She was born in 1867, and died in 1873 at just 6 years old.

Also buried in their plot is little Emma's cousin, Ella R. Gaisford, born October 12, 1880, died September 12, 1881.  She was the infant daughter of Charles and Henrietta Gaisford. 

Sunday's Obituary - Edward Jones

Centerville Weekly Citizen, July 8, 1871

"Edward Jones of Sharon township, aged 51 years, died on the 16th of June, of paralysis.  He had been helpless for about six months.  About three years since he united with the Baptist church, in which he has since lived a worthy member.  Before his death he expressed strong hope for life beyond the grave."

This doesn't actually qualify as an obituary, but it's all I've found after seeing a memorial on findagrave for Edward Jones who was buried in Mount Ararat Cemetery in Appanoose County, Iowa.  In 1870, the Edward Jones I'm tracking lived in Sharon township, Appanoose County at age 52.  He was married to Martha, children living with them were George, John W and Victoria along with Mary Bar, age 79, who was probably Martha's mother.  I believe this is the same Edward Jones who in 1860 lived in Van Buren County with wife Martha, children Margaret, Jeanette, George, John, Mary Barr and two 17-year-old boys I don't know how they fit in.  I also believe this to be Edward Jones who was in Bonaparte, Van Buren County in 1850 with his then wife Mary Jane, who died there in 1854.  The children listed in the household were Andrew Jones, (who I think should have been Andrew Clemie) Robert Clemie, Nancy Clemie - all children of Mary Jane from her first marriage to Thomas Clemie.  The Jones children listed were Mary, Jane, Margaret and Jeanette.  

I can't read his age for sure in this clipping - 51?, he would have been about 54.  If no one else claims this guy, then I do.  He would be the step-father of my 2nd Great Grandmother Nancy Clemie Mann.  Her father died when she was so young, Edward would have been the only father she knew.

Sunday's Obituary - George Knapp

"George Knapp

The death summons came very suddenly to George Knapp of Empire Furnace, Lawrence county, just beyond Powellsville this morning about 5:30 o'clock.  He arose as usual and had been out to feed the cattle when he returned to his home and seated himself on a chair.  In a few seconds he expired, death being caused by a sudden attack of heart trouble.

Undertaker Frank McCurdy of Wheelersburg who was called, notified the Lawrence county coroner that death was caused by heart trouble, so that the coroner would not have to make the trip to Empire Furnace.  Mr. Knapp was about 65 years of age.  He had been a farmer in the Empire Furnace community for a number of years and was well known in that section.  

He is survived by his widow and two nephews, George and John Knapp at Empire Furnace.  Henry Knapp of Powellsville and Louis Knapp of Chicago are brothers and a sister in the West also survive."   from the Portsmouth Daily Times, December 20, 1921 

Actually, George was survived by three sisters "in the West", Hannah Smith, Mary Boggs and Eliza Menke, all in Nebraska.  It seems he and his wife may not have had any children.  

Sunday's Obituary - Ruth Pettit

*Sterling Farm Journal, Thurs. Dec. 8, 1932

"PIONEER DEAD

Mrs. Ruth Pettit Resident Here for 38 years

Mrs. Ruth Pettit, 80 years of age, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anna Norton, in Sterling Saturday.

Mrs. Pettit came to Logan county from Nebraska thirty-eight years ago and has been a resident here since that time.  She is survived by the following children:  Mrs. Anna Norton, Sterling; Mrs. Sadie Mathews, Callaway, Neb., Mrs. Jennie Berger, Gothenburg, Neb.; Sylvester Pettit, Haxtun; Mrs. Mary Couture, Gothenburg; L. Pettit, Fleming; and Mrs. Ethel Scull, Kalama, Wash.

Funeral services were held Sunday at the Jackson mortuary in charge of Dr. V. P. Mitchell, pastor of the First Methodist church.  Burial was at Riverside cemetery."  

Ruth is a sister of Rachel Jane (Simmons) McGrath, my second Great Grandmother.  The Colorado State Archives does not release their microfilm to anyone outside the state.  I'm very grateful to Lori McBride Nichols who answered my request through facebook and went to the library and got this obituary for me. 

The information missing here is that Ruth was the daughter of Lebius and Ruth (Smith) Simmons.  She was preceded in death by sisters Rachel McGrath, Rosilla Davee, Louisa Simmons and a brother William Simmons (possibly living yet in 1932, age 83).  Other relatives were half-siblings Milbourn Uriah Webb, deceased; Jesse Carver Webb living in Illinois, Sarah Webb and Franklin S Webb, whereabouts unknown.   


* Reprinted with permission.

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."

Sunday's Obituary - Charles & Henrietta Gaisford

So often our female ancestors get little or no personal mention in old newspapers or other documents.  They are only referred to as "Mrs. husband's name" most of the time.  So this is an interesting comparison between these two obituaries for my Great Great Grandparents, Charles & Henrietta Gaisford.  This one for him is from the Beatrice Daily Express, he had only one paragraph in the Beatrice Daily Sun.   Here he is referred to as a "pioneer resident", while her obit points out how well she endured the hardships of pioneer life.

"DEATH OF PIONEER OF ELLIS VICINITY

Chas. Gaisford, pioneer resident of southeastern Nebraska, died Sunday evening at 7:30 o'clock at his home in Ellis.  He had been in ill health for some time.

The deceased was in his seventy eighth year.  He located on a farm in the Ellis neighborhood over forty years ago, later removing across the line into Jefferson county.  For the past few years he had made his home in Ellis.

Mr. Gaisford is survived by a widow and eight children, six daughters and two sons.  He also leaves three brothers and a number of grandchildren.  The brothers are G. Gaisford of Council Bluffs, Ia., Will, residing in Illinois, and Sam Gaisford of the Ellis vicinity." [Beatrice Daily Express, Jan. 26, 1920]

OBITUARY

Henrietta A. S. Gaisford

Henrietta Abigal Smith was born in Bartleville, Conn., September 3, 1948, and departed this life at her home in Ellis, May 23, 1932, at the age of 83 years, 8 months and 20 days.

On May 23, 1866, she was united in marriage to Charles Gaisford at Worcester, Mass., and to this union were born eleven children.  These were Ella who died in infancy, Carrie who became the wife of Mr. White and died in 1899, and Nellie who passed away in 1919.  Those living are Charles of Oklahoma, Miss Mamie, Mrs. Annie Fielder, Mrs. Emma Carpenter, Mrs. Cora Mann, and Will, all of Ellis; Mrs. Gertrude Weaver of Harbine, and Mrs. Gladys Amos, also of Ellis.

After residing in Massachusetts for six years they moved to a log house north of Ellis, later homesteading in Jefferson county.  In 1909 they retired from farm activities, moving to Ellis, where she has since resided, Mr. Gaisford having passed away on January 25, 1920.

"Grandma" as she was affectionately known by all who knew her, was one of the oldest pioneers of this community.  Sod houses, Indians, prairie fires, are forgotten history to the present generation, but to grandma they were actualities.  A trip to the nearest town, Beatrice, was made with a team and wagon over the open prairies.  No fences barred their way, and no houses to break the monotony of the day's journey.  Many hardships were endured but through it all grandma remained happy and contented.  Her neighbors can well remember her kindly deeds in time of sickness and sorrow.  One of grandma's outstanding characteristics was to always find something good in everyone.

Mrs. Gaisford was a member of the Methodist church and for many years was an active worker in the Ellis Ladies' Aid.

She leaves to mourn her loss, two sons and six daughters, 35 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.  Making a trail of 82 direct descendants.  Also a host of friends and neighbors.

Smooth the locks of silver hair,

On mother's brow with tender care,

Gather her robes in a final fold,

Around the form that we love so,

Lay on her bosom, pure as snow,

The sweetest flowers that ever grow,

Kiss her and leave her, your heart's delight,

In dreamless peace with Jesus tonight.

Put away her slippers and empty chair,

Fold up the garments she used to wear,

Let down the curtain, close the door,

Mother will need the old house no more.

God understands, his ways are right,

But mother, dear mother, we miss you tonight.

[* Beatrice Daily Sun, May 24, 1932]

~~~~~~~~~~

* Reprinted by permission from the Beatrice Daily Sun

Sunday's Obituary - Martha Bell's Birthday

Giltner Gazette, Nov. 6, 1928

Today, November 3 would be Martha Bell's 170th birthday.  It might seem odd on her birth anniversary to post her obituary, but what's interesting here is that the next day is the anniversary of her death in 1928. 

Martha was my Great Great Grandmother, Cicero ("C. C.") was my Great Grandfather. Mrs. C. A. Alcorn's name was Laura, but I wasn't named after her.  The information here on John Bell was all I knew about him at that point, a clue to work on.

It takes a little bouncing around to read that third paragraph.  Marie Dieckmann, one of the "quartette", later married Cicero's son Ben.  More about Martha and her family in the next couple of weeks. 

Sunday's Obituary - Mrs. Rebecca Smith

The obituary of Rebecca Smith, daughter of John and Rachel McGrath. This helped me a great deal with tracing this family from 1860 through their deaths. Rebecca was the sister of my Great Grandfather Art McGrath, mother of 8 children and lived to be 76 years old. She died just over 3 months after her husband, William Dixon Smith.

Sunday's Obituary - Mrs. John McGrath

There's not a lot of information here.  Only the sad mention of "a great sufferer for many months."  I will have more to come on Mrs. John McGrath this week.