OBITUARIES; GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA From various sources and contributors as listed in each entry. Submitted to the USGenWeb Nebraska Archives December, 1997, by Brenda Busing (Brenda@navix.net). USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *************** BRADT James Harvey Bradt Source: The Beatrice Express, Dec. 2, 1871 On the 17th ult., of typhoid fever, in Beatrice, Nebraska, James Harvey Bradt, aged 17 years and 2 months. Contributed by Brenda Busing DORSEY Jane Dorsey Source: The Beatrice Express, Dec. 11, 1873 The death of Mrs. Jane Dorsey, mother of C.G. and G.W. Dorsey, took place last Sunday about 12 o'clock noon, at the residence of the former of the above gentlemen. She was 78 years of age, and was much beloved by those who knew her. In the evening of Sunday, brief and fitting funeral services were conducted by Rev. S.P. Wilson, of whose church the deceased was a faithful member. The next morning her remains were taken to Neb. City for interment, where her husband lies buried. Contributed by Brenda Busing DOUGLAS Thomas Fredrick Douglass "Obituary of Mr. T. F. Douglass. On the 28th day of August 1892, Mr. T. F. Douglass died from a head end collision near Holton, on the Rock Island R. R. in northeastern Kansas. The cause of the wreck was due to carelessness of the Train Dispatcher alone. "Mr. Douglass was born in Beekmantown Clinton Co., N.Y. in 1855, and came to Nebraska with his parents in 1871 where he engaged in farming with his parents until the year 1879, when he went to Colorado and engaged in railroading for the U. P. R. R. Co. as conductor. His most important route was from Denver to Leadville which he held for some 8 years. His last route in Colorado was from Denver to North Platte when he met with a sad accident at Brighton in which his skull was broken. Though under the efficient care of Dr. Pieffer of the U. P. Hospital, he recovered after 4 months of time. Mr. Douglass came with his family on a visit to parents and friends in Macon, Nebraska April 1st, 1892, and August 1st following went into the employ of the R. I. R. R. Co. The remains were conveyed by special train in care of Order of Railway Conductors to Beatrice, and left in charge of his wife who was visiting her parents in Gage Co. He leaves a wife and four small children also his parents and two brothers along with many relatives and friends who mourn the loss of one so noble and so dear." Contributed by Rich L Douglass FREEMAN Danial Freeman Source: The Fairbury Journal, January 1, 1909 Danial Freeman, the first man in the United States to take a homestead, died Wednesday at his home in Beatrice. He would have been 83 years old next April. His homestead was taken about seven miles northeast of Beatrice on Cub Creek. Mr. Freeman was a soldier in the Civil War at the time the homestead law was passed, but was home on a furlough, and being in Nebraska, filed on a quarter section of land, his certificate being marked No. 1 and always since then being one of his proudest possessions. Mr. Freeman, in addition to being a man of distinction because of this incident was besides a man of strong character and original ideas. He, at one time secured an injunction restraining the teacher in his school district from reading the Bible in the public school. The case went to the supreme court and Mr. Freeman was partly successful, the court holding that the Bible could not be made a part of the course of study but might be read for it's literary style the same as any other book. Mr. freeman was always a staunch supporter of W.J. Bryan, another indication of good character. Contributed by Brenda Busing KRUEGER Mrs William F Krueger (Ernstina Christina Nemer) Source: typed copy of obit Left Germany in 1868 for America, arriving on 31st of October. Settled at Michigan City, Indiana where they lived until 1882 when they came to Nebraska, settling on a farm 3 miles east and 1/2 south of Cortland, NE remaining until 1907. Eight children were born to this marriage, moved to Cortland. Ernstina was sick for one year before her death suffering from chronic heart disease. She was a loving mother and a good neighbor, always ready to help anyone in need. She was bedfast for a year except for two months this summer. Services conducted by Rev Meyerhoff and (copy unclear) crowd was too large for home so sermon being preached at the church. Three of her children preceeded her in death five remaining in addition to husband are Mrs. Gustave Caumfalk of Harbine, Mrs. A E Garrison of Adams, A E Krueger of near Firth and William C. Krueger and Mrs. F. Miltenberger of Cortland. She also leaves a mother, three brothers, ten grand children. Contributed by Rich L Douglass KRUEGER William Fredrich Krueger Source: Cortland Paper of Jan 11, 1912 Age 68 years. The cause of death was angina pectoris following pneumonia. Had been ill for 3 weeks..Not first thought to be serious. Survived by 2 sons: Will C. Krueger of Adams, Albert Krueger Firth, 3 daughters: Mrs Mary Baumfalk of Harbine, Mrs. Sophia Garrison of Adams and Mrs. Frank Miltengerger of Cortland. Also leaves 2 brothers: Mike and August Krueger of Firth and 2 sisters: Mrs. Charles Arnt of Michigan City, IND. and Mrs. John Hanson of Orange Calif. Services conducted by Rev. Meyerhoff were largely attended. ..Cortland looses a familiar figure, as well as a man of the most unquestioned integrity and highest sense of honor. Contributed by Rich L Douglass LAYMAN James Layman Source:The Beatrice Express, June 18, 1873 At Blue Springs, on the 11th inst., of cerebro spinal meningitis, James, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Layman, aged about 16 years. Contributed by Brenda Busing MILTENBERGER John Peter Miltenberger Source: 1910 Cortland Paper Last Sunday morning grandma Miltenberger around 7:30 gave Mr. Miltenberger some medicine as he had been in poor health for some time and then went about her housework and at about 9:00 went to call him to breakfast and found him cold in death. The door to his room had been left ajar and as no sounds were heard he apparently died without a struggle and quietly passed beyond the veil. The news of his death brought sorrow to many ears for he was loved and respected by all who knew him. Cortland and vicinity resident for over 30 years and will be greatly missed by all...A large number of relatives all of the clildren of the deceased were present except Mrs. C. H. Pfeiffer of Clatonia who was very sick and not expected to live.. According to great grandaughter Dorothy Brown, the town is spelled "Schmidthachenbach and is near Kirn" Contributed by Rich L Douglass PLACE Henry Place Source: The Beatrice Express, Oct 23, 1873 The death of little Henry Place has released from suffering one who had seemingly been on the very verge of eternity for many days. His disease, which baffled the skill of the physicians, and the nature of which was revealed to them only by a post mortem examination, caused the little invalid an amount of suffering hardly conceivable, freedom from which could not have been otherwise than grateful to the stricken parents, although their lives were bound up in his. The post mortem investigation, which was conducted by Drs. Webb, Sprague and Maynard, showed that the liver had undergone a structural change which almost entirely destroyed its usefulness. Contributed by Brenda Busing RODERICK Roderick Infant Source: The Beatrice Express, June 18, 1873 At the residence of his parents on Bear Creek, on the 13th inst. of spinal disease, an infant son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Roderick, aged 10 months. Contributed by Brenda Busing Gage Co. Coordinator. ROSCOE Mary C. Fero Roscoe Source:DeWitt Times-News, 22 March 1923 AT REST Mary C. Fero was born Dec. 11, 1836 at Glenn, NY an died at Clatonia, Nebr., March 15, 1923 at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 4 days. In early life, she became a member of the Presbyterian church and continued faithful to the end. In 1854, she was married to David A. Roscoe. In 1886 the family left the old home in New York and came to Illinois where they lived till 1881 when they came to DeWitt, Nebr. In 1886 her husband died and was buried in the DeWitt cemetery. She continued to reside in DeWitt till 1892, when she returned to Illinois. In 1911 she came back to Nebraska and made her home with her sons. She had been living with her son W. H. Roscoe at Clatonia, for about a year when she was called home. The remains were brought to DeWitt and on Monday, March 19th at 3 p.m. services were conducted at the D. E. Venrick home by the Rev. Ray Baker, pastor of the M. E. Church. Interment was made in the DeWitt cemetery by the side of her husband. She leaves seven sons, thirty six grand children and thirty great grandchildren. Those of her sons who attended the funeral were W. H. of Clatonia, Sherman I. of Shenadoah, IA, George C. of Michigan Valley, Kans. and Charles D. of Norfolk. Those who were unable to attend on account of long distance and the severe weather were Bert F. of Calkins, Mont., Edward W. of Ridgeway, Colo. and Frank A. of Miami, Florida. Contributed by Laura Mattingly WILLISS Jessie Wilson Williss Source: BEATRICE REPORTER "Jesse W. Williss died at his home in Rockford township Friday, December 5, 1902. being nearly 77 years old. Mr Williss was one of the pioneer settlers of Gage county, Nebraska and a more honest, conscientious, honorable man does not live in the state of Nebraska. He was a quiet, unassuming man but a great reader and very few men in Gage county were better posted on the history and all general issues of America than he was. He leaves a wife and nine children and a host of friends to mourn this, their irreparable loss. The Reporter extends sympathy to the wife and children of the deceased in their trial and grief and sorrow." Contributed by Rich L Douglass