OBITUARIES: Esther (Stron) WYMAN, Galesville, Trempealeau Co., WI ************************************************************************ 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. Submitted by Ruth Lindo 5 February 2004 ************************************************************************ The Galesville Republican Thursday March 21 1918 Galesville Woman of 1856 Passes Away Mrs Esther Wyman Dies, Aged 87 Widow of Prominent Early Citizen One of Last of the Pioneers of Border West Days Goes to Reward Mrs. Esther Wyman, pioneer resident, died at the home of her son W.A. Wyman, in this city Thursday, March 14. Mrs Wyman had long been an invalid and for many weeks prior to her her death her passing was expected. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the home, conducted by the Rev. Charles E. Freeman, a lifelong friend. The home and the grounds outside were filled with old friends and the floral offerings were profuse. Interment was made in the Galesville Cemetery. In the passing of Mrs. Wyman a woman has gone out of the community who was one of the founders of Galesville. She came here when the town was not yet on the map- merely a settlement, and the country was in its original state. Her maiden name was Esther Stron and she was born at Dryden, New York, Sept 3, 1831. At the age of 19 she was married to A R Wyman, and in 1854 they came to Wisconsin and settled at Argyle. In the spring of 1856 Mr Wyman came to Galesville. He was a carpenter by trade, and after looking over the then border settlement, he decided to cast his fortunes here and began the erection of a house. This building in after years was known as the Mrs. Cary place and stood on the site of the present E.F. Clark home. In the fall he returned to Argyle and accompanied his family here; and from that day until her death Mrs. Wyman was a resident of Galesville. Her husband became prominent in the affairs ....not only with mechanics tools. He taught the first district school in Galesville, had a knowledge of surveying and laid outmany of the first farms in this section; he helped in the organization of the town of Gale and was for many years town clerk, Galesville was the county seat in the beginning and he was a county officer. Later he served a s county superintendent of schools. He was county clerk when the county seat was moved to Arcadia and then to Whitehall. He was serving in this capacity when sickness came upon him and he returned to his home, then the farm now occupied by Mike Brophy, west of town. There he died in 1880, He was buried with Masonic honors and it is said that more than 1,000 people attended the funeral. During all those early years Mrs Wyman was playing her part. There was but one doctor in this section- Dr. William M. Young. There were no nurses, as today and volunteer women served in this capacity. Mrs Wyman was known far and near as a nurse. Her time was largely devoted to the sick and distressed. She went on foot and on horseback from home to home, keeping vigil with the sick and with the dead. Hers were acts of mercy. The only remuneration was the knowledge of having served her fellow creatures. When the husband died she went into retirement. Early her strong constitution gave way under the strain of pioneer life and for thirty years prior to her death suffered ailments. And yet she lived on to the advanced age of 87, and she found much enjoyment in her quiet way in her retiring years. The majority of those she befriended and aided went their way before her. But two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wyman. A daughter died many years ago. Her last years were spent in the home of the one surviving child, William A. Wyman. Her only immediate surviving relative is a sister, Mrs Elizabeth Perring, also a resident of Galesville. **************************************************************************** postscript: Mr William A. Wyman of Galesville is known to have had children Allen Wyman b 28 MAY 1885 d JAN 1967 and Myrtle Wyman b. 1884. Any descendents are invited to write me and I will send them the original of this newspaper.