Obit for Joseph W. ATCHERSON (b.1845 d.1930), Blue Earth Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormatted by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Geoffrey D. Rasmussen Submitted: Feb 2002 ========================================================================= Source: Blue Earth County Enterprise, 4 July 1930, page 1, column 3. Additional information about Joseph Warren Atcherson can be found at http://www.sixthminnesota.org/a/atchersonjoseph/index.htm. Death Summons J.W. Atcherson G.A.R. Veteran American Legion Boys Bear Flag Draped Casket to Last Resting Place. With the passing Saturday afternoon of Joseph W. Atcherson, taps were sounded for Mapleton's last Civil War veteran. His long and useful life is closed and he has gone to sleep with the other thousands of the Grand Army of the Republic, those grand old men who answered the call to service for their country when discord and dissension threatened the very Union. The long line of blue is fast slipping away and the passing of Mr. Atcherson leaves but William Ward of Medo as the sole remaining member of Sam Louden Post of the G.A.R. Joseph W. Atcherson was born on the 22nd day of May, 1845, near Rockingham, Vermont. His parents were Walter and Lovisa Stoddard Atcherson and he was the older of the two sons of the family. His parents were among the land owners of their home community and he grew up on the farm where he early learned the habits of thrift and industry which stood him well in later years. When but eight years of age, his mother died, and he and his brother lived for a time with their grandparents until his father's second marriage. With the idea that in the West there were opportunities for his family, Mr. Atcherson Sr. decided to move westward. Selling their farm, they packed the household goods and started into what was then the wilderness. They went by railroad to the east shore of Lake Michigan, where they loaded their goods onto a barge and crossed the lake, arriving in the vicinity of what is now Racine, Wisconsin. They located for a time about a hundred miles further west. The sandy, rocky soil did not appeal to the Atchersons and a little later they decided to move west into Minnesota. It was in the spring of 1880 [sic] that they started overland in a prairie schooner, driving their cattle and extra horses behind the wagon. The son Joe was to wait three days and at the end of that time, start riding a thoroughbred horse which belonged to his father. At the end of the third day, he caught up with the rest of the family at La Crosse where they crossed the river. For a short time, early in June, they stopped at Garden City but during the last part of July moved to this county and took a homestead on the Little Cobb river in Medo. The first home was an Indian tepee until they could get the logs out to build the house. The Indians at that time had been moved off the reservation and did not bother them. The next years were spent in breaking up the prairie land and erecting the necessary farm buildings. In the meantime, the Civil War had torn the Nation asunder. The young man, although but seventeen years of age, enlisted in the Sixth Minnesota Volunteers and for three years was in active service, enduring all the hardships of hunger, homesickness and misery that a youth of that age would be likely to endure, fighting among strangers in a strange land. Mr. Atcherson was with Sherman in his famous March to the Sea. He was honorably discharged at Fort Snelling at the close of the war in 1865. Returning to Medo, he used his soldier's rights in securing a homestead and established his home near that of his father. It was on Feb. 17th, 1878, that he was united in marriage with Mary Jane McKibben and Medo was their home until seventeen years ago, when they moved to Mapleton to live. Besides Mrs. Atcherson, he is survived by five children, Mrs. Olive Hoverson of Fairmont, North Dakota, Harry Atcherson, Mrs. Gertrude Hobza and Mrs. Elsie Will of Medo and Mrs. Sadie Holland of Fargo, North Dakota. He is also survived by two brothers, Frank Atcherson of San Diego, California, and Mac Atcherson of Mankato. Mr. Archerson was one of our most substantial citizens. While held in high regard as a member of the Grand Army and a veteran of our country to whom all honor and tribute should be paid, he held a unique place in the hearts of our people. Gifted with a kindly disposition, an optimistic nature which made his presence at all times a pleasure, his circle of friends was a large one and just to have him pass along the street shed a benediction of good will. To know him was to be his friend. In his old home in Medo, where he lived for so many years, he was very much a part of affairs and his judgement and discretion held secure. For years he served as chairman of the Medo town board, was a member of the school board of his district, of the creamery board, of the cemetery board, and was active in all affairs of his town. Living through the pioneer days of the township, he was one of its leaders and founders and to him belongs much credit for the advantages and comforts which surround its people today. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Baptist church when Rev. William Ripon paid a merited tribute to Mr. Atcherson, telling of his loyalty not only to his country but to his family and friends, emphasizing the kindness which actuated his entire life. The flag covered casket was borne by six members of Herbert Derome Post of the American Legion, B. H. Greeley, J.H. Quinn, Joe McGuiggan, W. R. Ackerman, Wm. Groll and Harold Stroebel while the other members of the Post acted as escort. The honorary pall bearers were old friends of Mr. Atcherson, George Krouss, Jacob Groll, Nels Oftedahl, Frank Goodrich, James Will and John O'Connor, and his old comrade, Wm. Ward. A long line of cars drove to the Medo cemetery where a large number of neighbors and old friends had gathered to pay their last tribute of love and affection. In the little cemetery where his loved ones are resting and in which he had taken such a keen interest, he was laid to rest. Among those who came from a distance to attend the funeral of Mr. Atcherson were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bromaghin of Belle Plaine; Mac Atcherson, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Atcherson, Fred Aldrich, Miss Belle Aldrich, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reasoner, Mrs. Eliza McQuarter, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Smith and son and Mr. and Mrs. John Steele of Mankato; Mrs. Charles Brewer of St. Clair; Mrs. S. E. Severson, Janesville; Mrs. N. T. Hoverson of Dupress, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Jeffe Brown; Mrs. Helen Nelson, Mrs. Sedate Brooks, Miss Minne Clayburn, Albert Lea; Andrew Quinn, St. Clair; Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Hoverson and son Jerry of Fairmont, North Dakota; Mrs. E. C. Hoiland and son Joe of Fargo, North Dakota. Source: Blue Earth County Enterprise, 4 July 1930, page 1, column 3. Additional information about Joseph Warren Atcherson can be found at http://www.sixthminnesota.org/a/atchersonjoseph/index.htm.