Jefferson County, NE - Obit of Benjamin Cortis Conger, 1839 Diane Kupar ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** BENJAMIN C. CONGER Benjamin Cortis Conger was born at Wilkesville, PA. March 17, 1839. He passed away at his home in this city at 4am December 25, 1928. His age was eighty-eight years, ten months and twenty-three days. He was a son of Calvin Conger and Aranda Horton Conger. While a small boy, he moved with the family to Wyanet, IL., where he grew to manhood. He was married, at Marshalltown, IA., to Miss Altana Hand in 1861. They resided at Wyanet for a few years, then moved to Marshalltown. Some years later, they moved to Jefferson County, Nebraska, where they remained for forty-two years. Most of that time they lived on a farm. The last ten years of that period were spent in Harbine. Ten years ago, they moved to Beatrice and this city has been their home continuously since that time. He served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting in 1863 at Wyanet. He had the unusual experience of serving as a guard over the body of Abraham Lincoln when it lay in state at Springfield. He also accompanied the body to its last resting place. He leaves his aged wife, Mrs. Altana Conger; four children, Mrs. Sarah Sisler of Fairbury, Mrs. Emma Oakes of Beatrice, Mrs. T. C. Rand of Beatrice, and Elmer Conger of Edgar, Nebraska; four brothers and sisters, Mrs. Susan and Will Conger of Princeton, IL., Washington Conger of Marshalltown, IA., and Mrs. Mattie Sharp of Waterloo, IA.; nine grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Mr. Conger was a life long member of the United Brethren church. He was a good Christian man. He was a kind and loving husband and father, always thoughtful of the welfare of his wife and children. He was especially patient during his long period of illness. Mr. Conger was a hard working man. He shared the experiences that were common among the pioneers a half-century ago. Many friends living in the communities where he was best known join sympathetically in the sorrow caused by his death. His last illness covered a period of about seven weeks. The funeral service was held at the home, Thursday afternoon, December 27. Rev. C. O. Stuckenbruck had charge of the service. He was assisted by Rev. C. W. Olewine. Music was furnished by Mrs. H. Baker and Mrs. M. S. Calvin. Interment was in Evergreen Home cemetery. “A precious one from us has gone, A voice we loved is stilled; A place is vacant in our home, That never can be filled.”