Memorial report for 1903

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Memorial report for 1903/1904

Pioneers and Old Settlers, Dakota County, Nebraska

August 27, 1904
Pioneers
Mrs. Michael Heffernan, formerly Sarah Ann Skinner, daughter of James E Skinner, one of our pioneers, herself a pioneer and born in the county, the mother of eight children, died November 23. She knew some of the hardships of pioneer life in her early days, her mother being an invalid and the care of the household devolving on her at that age.
James W. Virtue died at his home in Portland, Ore., about December 1. He was a very prominent man in the affairs of the village of Dakota City and of Dakota county. His name appears oftener in the records than any other man of his timers when two or more of our pioneers came together and held other offices.
A Groninger, of Sioux City, passed away December 15. He was born in Germany, settled in Sioux City in 1857. He was a member of our association, and a frequent attendant at the reunions. He took a great interest in them. His active business life brought him in frequent contact with the old settlers. He was always interested in whatever was for the upbuilding of his country. He will be missed more than most.
John J. Tracy passed from earth March 31, at the residence of his son at Winside, Neb. He was 82 years old. He first came to Nebraska with his brother, Father Tracy, June 25, 1856, and selected a place for the location of a town and colony, and on June 2, 1856, he returned, and during that month he and his brother located and platted the old town of St. Johns. He was one of the owners of the townsite and was prominent in the early affairs of the county. He was one of the first county commissioners and according to the records held the office for the first six years of the county’s history. In 1881 he moved to Wayne county.
One of our number will not be present. His tall form and white hair and beard and fine personal appearance always made him conspicuous. One who especially enjoyed these occasions. I allude to Thos. J. Stone. He settled in Sioux City in 1856.. he was prominent from the first in the building of Sioux City and the surrounding country, and his last work was the presiding at a session of the Historical society in Sioux City, of which he was a vice president, and passed away a few minutes after arriving at his home the same evening, April 13. He was born in Niagara, N.Y.
Some time in May Mrs. George B. Viets died at her home in Berlin, Conn., of apoplexy. She married Mr. Vletz in the latter ‘60s and lived with him till in the early ‘80s on what is now known as the Bodenbender farm, northwest of Dakota City. She was a sister of john and Steve Joyce.
Francis Asbury Robinson received the summons he had long been looking for May 31. He was born at Manchester, Ind., January 12, 1825, and settled in Dakota county May 28, 1856. His mention brings tender recollections to those who attended the first reunions. At the meeting of those selected to make arrangements for the first annual reunion he was appointed chaplain, and held that position or assistant chaplain for several years. He probably never missed a meeting. He left ‘a good name’.
On June 4, Stephen O’Neil, son of Patrick O’Neil and wife, who have the destinction of being the oldest married couple in the county, passed away after several years of suffering. He was born at Springfield, O., in 1850, and came to Dakota county with his parents May 10, 1956. He grew to manhood in the neighborhood of Jackson, taught school and kept store. He afterwards lived in Sioux City and was an active, enterprising citizen, engaged in large affairs. He was a man of high character.
John Duggan, of hubbard, died june 12. He was born in Ireland 78 years ago; married Miss Kate Hogan in 1848, came to America in 1851, to Sioux City in 1860, and to Dakota County in 1862, and moved to the farm in 1965. He was a man with a pleasant word always when you met him.
Old Settlers.
Mr. John L. McKean was called home September 19. She was born in Marion county, Io., and was nearly 35 years old. She came to Nebraska several years prior to her marriage in 1893, December 12. She was a woman of education and refinement, a good wife and mother, and was very much respected by the few who became acquainted with her.
Maj. Rix, a native of Canada, and a resident of Nebraska since 1893, passed away September 19, 1903. He was a great suffered for some time prior to his death. He lived a useful life.
John Hughes, the 16-year-old son of Mrs. Norman Powell, died September 22.
C.P. Dow died at his residence in Sioux City September 27. He came to Dakota county in the early 70s and settled in Covington. He and his family have resided there most of the time since. He was a good citizen and was held in much esteem.
Mrs. Emille Schriever, mother of Fred and Carl Schriever, received a sudden call Sunday night, October 4. She was born in Germany September 27, 1830, was married December 30, 1859. Her husband died in 1884 and she and her sons came to America in 1885 and to Dakota county. She was a good mother and much respected by those who knew her well.
Mrs. m. Depew, an old resident of South Sioux City, a woman loved by those who knew her best, and respected by all her acquaintances, passed away at Whitewater, Wis., where she had gone hoping to be restored to health, October 8.
Mrs. Philo Graves, whose maiden name was Alta Carpenter, and well known to many of our number, died at her home in Pasadena, Cal., October 18. The family had lived in this county and at Wakefield, Dixon county, and at Sioux City for many years. They moved to California a few years ago
Capt. William p. Altemus, after an illness of several weeks, passed ovr the river at his home south of Dakota City, October 1, 1904. He was born in Indiana county, Pa., April 19, 1838. He enlisted in 1861, July 24, was wounded and discharged. He afterward joined a militia company and was commissioned captain by the great war governor, Andrew G. Curtin, June 23, 1862. In 1864 he again volunteered and was made lieutenant of Company M Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers. He was a brave soldier and was a good citizen. He came to Dakota county in 1869, worked at his trade as a blacksmith for several years in Dakota City and then moved onto his farm.
Mrs. Jessen, of Emerson precinct, died November 12. She had been a resident of the county for quite a number of years. It is reported of her that she was a good neighbor and very kind in case of sickness or trouble.
Wm. Brown, one of our members, and nearly always present at our annual reunions, passed away unexpectedly November 24 at his home southwest of Dakota City. H was born in Harrisburg December 27, 1828. He followed railroading most of his mature life before coming to Nebraska in 1875, being a conductor on the Pennsylvania line for years. He was a well to do farmer and took much interest in public affairs. He was county commissioner for six years and took great pride in the performance of his duties.
Mrs. Florence Shores, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bullock and granddaughter of the late C.D. Martin, one of the very early settlers of the county, died at her home in gage county, Neb., about December 1. She was born in Dakota county, but her parents moved to Wisconsin while she was very young, but returned to the county in the early 90s. she married a number of years ago and moved to Gage county.
Edward Thornton passed away December 6. He was born in Illinois in 1858, came to this country in 1883, and in 1887 was married to Ellen O’Connor. He was an energetic man and had many friends in the community where he resided.
Mrs. Arthur Hanon, of Summit precinct, died December 12. Her maiden name was Annie Rush, a sister of Peter Rush, an old timer of the same precinct. She was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. May 22, 1842, was married in Illinois and came to this county in 1872.
Fred Biede came to the United States in 1867 from Germany and settled on his homestead in Dakota county in 1867, where he had resided till his death, which came suddenly January 4. He had been a great sufferer for years.
Mrs. Mann, an early settler of the county, having lived at Covington, Jackson and Dakota City, died at Lyons, Neb., January 5. She was 77 years old.
Christopher Irwin died January 22. He was born in Mercer county, Pa., June 20, 1826. He was married in 1862 and entered the army in 1863, becoming a member of the Thirty-first Iowa regiment. The family settled in Covington in the spring of 1871. Mr. Irwin held many offices of trust in his community, and his life and character was respected. He was generally present at the meetings.
W.A. Bliven, a Dakota county boy, son of C.B. Bliven, a very early pioneer, was killed by a railroad train at Alberqurque, N.M., February 1. He was an energetic young man, and by industry and frugality had accumulated quite a fortune. He was universally respected, and his untimely taking off was a great shock to his friends. He was 32 years old.

‘Grandma’ Bille, as she was known in the community, mother of George C. Billie, former county clerk; John C. Bille and Mrs. John Johnson, died at the residence of her son John February 19. She came to Dakota county in 1874. She was 84 years old, very active until a few days before death come. She expected to go to California with the members of the family, and was looking ahead with great anticipations.
Tommy Riley came to Dakota county about twenty years ago form Illinois He died February 23 at a hospital in Sioux City.
Mrs. Michael Cain, of Hubbard, died March 1. She was married to Mr. Cain in Massachusetts in 1860, and came to Dakota county in 1868 and settled in Jackson. The family remained there till 1877, when they moved to the farm near Hubbard. After the death of her husband she moved into the village. She was mourned by many friends.
Nellie Rymal was born in Toledo, O, November 15, 1873, came to Nebraska with her parents June 15, 1879, and passed to her reward March 4. She was a girl of strong Christian character and always let her light shine.
Mrs. Hansen, mother of Sheriff Hansen, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rasmus Frederickson, March 17. She was a native of Denmark and was 66 years of age, and had resided in the county about twenty years.
Mrs. John Bike, of the western part of the county, a German lady 73 years old, bid adieu to her family about April 1. She was an old setter of the county, having resided here for more than thirty years. She was a good woman, and in her humble way did her part.
Mrs. Frost, daughter of that pioneer couple, John Rooney and wife, after months of suffering passed over the river April 14, aged 27 years. Many friends mourned her departure.
John Boler, jr., was drowned at Eugene, S.D., May 22. He was 32 years old. His grandparents on both sides settled in the county in 1856, bring with them his parents, then quite young. He was son of Mr. and Mrs. John Boler, of Jackson. His untimely taking off was mourned by a large circle of friends.
C.P. Murphy, a resident of South Sioux City for several years, and for a term coroner of the county, died May 28. He was a man who had seen much of the world and formerly was connected with large affairs.
John C. Matz died at his home in Dakota City June 17. He came form Germany to America in 1872, and to Dakota county about 1892.
Mrs. Winnifred Mitchell, mother of Dennis and Michael Mitchell, of this count, died at the residence of her son Michael July 6. She was 85 years old, and come to the county twenty-nine years ago. She was born in Ireland. A woman of strong personality.
Raymond Slocum, son of M.B. Slocum and wife, passed over the river August 5, at the parental home in South Sioux City. He was born in Minnesota in 1878, settled in Nebraska in 1885, and South Sioux City in 1891, and had resided there since. Raymond was a young man of principle and his influence was good.
John Beacom, son of M. Beacom, of Summi-, died at a Hot Springs, S.D., Wednesday, August 10. He has been a great sufferer from rheumatism for months. He had been living at Ree Heights, S.D. He leaves a large circle of relatives and friends. The chronicler states ‘he had personal qualities of mind and heart that made him a favorite with all who knew him’.
At Colorado Springs, Col., on August 14,where she had been taken by her parents, in hopes that a change of climate would benefit her, entered into rest Miss Lillian E. Beerman. She was in her 22d year. Her pastor stated at her funeral on the 17th: ‘She was always ready and so willing to do what she could. She cheerfully responded to every request for service and any obligation assumed or task undertaken was sure to be accomplished to the full limit of her ability’.

James Huddleson of Ponca; well known to the pioneers as ‘Uncle Dick’, died August 21 at his home in Ponca at the ripe age of 83 years.

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