Mrs. Sarah Balderson
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday April 10, 1897
Dave Groff received a letter from his wife at Cortland, Nebr.,
Thursday, announcing the death of her mother, Mrs. Sarah
Balderson, at an early hour that morning. The funeral was held
yesterday.
Barnes Infant
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Feb 19, 1909
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Barnes, residing 6 miles
southeast of Fairbury, died Monday and was buried Wednesday
morning, Rev. Maxwell officiating. The child was 11 months old.
Death resulted from pnuemonia, following the measles.
Albert Leon Beer
Source: The Fairbury Journal, January 16, 1919
Albert Leon Beer was born four miles north of Alexandria, Oct. 17
1896. Died Dec. 24, 1918, age 22 years, 2 months and 7 days. When
three and a half years old he was stricken with spinal fever which
left him deaf. He attended the Omaha school for the deaf and
graduated in June 1916. Bert leaves to mourn his loss his father,
W.C. Beer; sister, Edna Decker; brothers, Frank and Chas. Beer,
Charles somewhere in France; sisters-in-law, Alma and Mable Beer;
besides a long list of relatives.
Dave Bennett
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Friday, Jan. 6, 1905
Another one of the old pioneers of Jefferson County passed away
Friday evening, when Dave Bennett departed this life at this home
at Endicott. He had been in very poor health for a number of
years, in fact never having been well since he had an operation
performed several years ago before he left Fairbury. Dave Bennett
was born in Indiana and was nearly 70 years old when he died. He
came to Jefferson County in 1867 and settled on a farm near Rose
Creek. He was one of the characters of the early days of Fairbury,
being a man of powerful physique, and as nervy as he was large. He
served as city marshal in Fairbury for several years, the last
time during the McLucas administration in 1896. In the early days,
Dave Bennett was the only man who, as marshal, could keep things
quiet on Saturday nights in and around Fairbury. Deceased leaves a
wife and two children, Mrs. Pete Peterson of Endicott, and John
Bennett.
Elizabeth Bennett
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Thursday, July 1, 1915
Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, widow of the late Dave Bennett, a one-time
Fairbury character, and later a resident of Endicott in his latter
years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. C. Peterson, west
of Endicott, on Monday, June 28, 1915, at the age of 78 years, 6
months and 2 days. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Dennis and she
was born at Terre Haute, Ind., December 26, 1836. She was married
to Dave Bennett in 1860, and came to this county in 1869, she and
her husband among the first settlers in the county. Her husband
died in 1906. She leaves two children, Mrs. Emma Peterson and John
Bennett. Three children are dead. (Ed. note: William H. d. 1884,
Georgina d. 1888) Funeral services were held at the home of her
daughter, on Wednesday and the body was buried in the Fairbury
cemetery.
Frederick Bigler
Source: The Fairbury Journal, July 18, 1918
Frederick Bigler died at his home on Third St., in Fairbury,
Nebr., Monday, July 15, 1918, at the age of 57 years. He had been
ill for some time from kidney disease. He leaves a widow and one
daughter, Mrs. Joe Ogen. Mr. Bigler had lived in Fairbury only
since last December, being in the employ of the Rock Island
railroad. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the
house, in charge of Rev. Rolla E. Brown of the Baptist church in
Fairbury, and the remains were taken to Sabetha, Kans., for
burial.
Emerald (Emanuel) Bodtke
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday January 22, 1898
The Fairbury Journal Nov. 28, 1918 Mr. Bodtke received word last
week of the death of his brother, Emerald Bodtke. He passed away
at his home in Iowa. The remains were brot to Gilead (Neb.) Sunday
and laid to rest in the Komrs cemetery near that place. Emerald
was one of the twin boys.
Mrs. Phoebe Bonawitz
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday January 22, 1898
Died, at Marshall county, Iowa, on last Sunday morning, January
16, 1898, Mrs. Phoebe Bonawitz, aged 69 years. The deceased was
the mother of our present sheriff, F.W. Bonawitz, also of A.C.
Bonawitz, a prominent grain buyer of Gladstone, both of whom, in
answer to a telegram, started for that place Saturday, reaching
there several hours before her demise.
Martha Boomer
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Feb. 19, 1909
Miss Martha Boomer, age 12 years, 11 months, and 15 days, died
very suddenly at 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon of heart trouble at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Mitchell on 6th street. Martha
Boomer was born Feb. 22, 1897 at Grand Junction, Iowa, and about
four years ago she came to make her home with Mr. and Mrs.
Mitchell of this city. Miss Martha was an exceptionally bright
girl and her sudden death will be much regretted by her many
schoolmates and friends, and Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell feel very sad
indeed over the death, for she was one with whom everyone would
make friends, and her death is a sadder one for the reason that
she had been quite well and died so suddenly. The funeral services
were held Wednesday afternoon at the Christian church, and a large
number were present to pay their last tribute to their young
friend.
Fred C. Bower
Source: Fairbury Journal, 1915
PASSING OF A PIONEER
Fred C. Bower, One of the County's Early Settlers, Dies Suddenly
in Fairbury With the sudden death of Fred C. Bower, Sunday morning
Nov. 28, 1915, at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 21 days,
another old settler is gone. While there were a few earlier
settlers in the county than Mr. Bower, he was among the pioneers.
Mr. Bower had always enjoyed fair health until a little over a
month ago, when he was taken suddenly ill with an attack of acute
stomach trouble. From this he rallied and had been about as usual
for ten days previous to his death. Sunday morning he walked over
the home of Wm. Boddye, whose house joins his premises on the
north and was visiting with his old neighbor when he was stricken
with apoplexy, dying suddenly. Mr. Bower was born June 7, 1849, at
Thompson, Ohio, and came west in 1869, to this county. He was then
less than 21 years old. As soon as he became of age, which was
some time in 1870, he homesteaded two miles east of the present
site of Bower and a year later, he married Miss Lois A. Sutton,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Sutton, pioneers of Jefferson
County. To this union six children were born: one died in infancy
and the others are, Edward of Cleveland, Ohio; Harlow who lives on
the old homestead; Mrs. Jennie Richards, of Alwine, Colorado; Mrs.
Florence True of Fairbury and Paul, who lives at home. Other near
relatives are his wife, H. T. Bower, a brother, in Fairbury and a
sister near Madison, Ohio. The Bower family remained on the farm
until 1910, when they came to Fairbury to live. Funeral services
were held Wednesday at 1:00 P. M., from the family home, 910 H.
Street, all the children being present. Mr. Bower was a member of
the Christian Church at Bower. Rev. J. K. Shellenberger of the
Christian Church of Fairbury conducted the funeral services, and
the remains were taken to the Bower cemetery for burial.
E. R. Bowman
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday Jan. 16, 1897
Telegrams were received here Thursday announcing the sudden death
of E.R. Bowman at El Reno, Oklahoma, the day previous. The news of
the sad affair so far received has necessarily been very meagre,
but the facts obtained are as follows: He went from Hope,
Arkansas, where he had resided for some time, to El Reno on
business, and was taken suddenly ill in John Barmister's saloon
there. He was taken at once to Mr. Barmister's residence, where he
expired in a short time. Mr. Bowman was a resident of this county
for some nine or ten years, having served two terms as sheriff of
the county. He left here some two years and a half ago for El
Reno, Oklahoma, but later removed to Hope, Ark., where his family
now reside.
Mrs. C.S. Broderick
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday February 12, 1898
Mrs. C.S. Broderick died at the Martin boarding house in this city
Tuesday evening from an illness from which she had been suffering
for a couple of weeks. The deceased had resided here but a short
time, coming, we believe, from Grand Island on the night of the
25th of January and joining her husband who had been here for some
weeks previous soliciting orders for rugs and lace curtains. It
seems she was ill when she came although at the time her condition
was not such as to occasion any alarm. The couple had been married
but about ten months and the deceased apparently enjoyed the best
of health previous to her last illness. Two brothers of Mr.
Broderick from Fairfield and a sister of the deceased from Aurora
were in attendance at the funeral, which was held Thursday morning
at 11 o'clock, Rev. Foss of the Mission church officiating.
John W. Brown
Source:Jefferson County Journal, Diller, Neb. July 2, 1897
John W. Brown, who resided five miles south-west of Diller, died
at 7 o'clock Sunday evening, June 27th, of consumption, and was
buried in Prairie Home Cemetery from the Christian Church of which
he was a member, at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Elder Rees
preaching the funeral sermon. Mr. Brown was born at Vernon,
Marshall county, Illinois, and was 46 years and 8 months of age.
He leaves a wife and 8 children.
Mrs. C. M. Bunn
Source:The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday May 22, 1897
Mrs. C.M. Bunn of this village (Reynolds), was buried at the old
town cemetery Wednesday. Mrs. Bunn was an old resident of Reynolds
and leaves many friends to sympathize with her bereaved husband
and three little children.
Abba Thompson Burge
Source:The Fairbury Enterprise, Saturday, Sep. 8, 1894.
Died-Abba Thompson Burge was born near Thompson, January 27, 1875,
and died Saturday, September 1, 1894, aged 19 years, 7 months, and
4 days. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Thompson, among
the first settlers of this county. On September 21, 1893, she was
married to Mr. J. E. Burge, the Rock Island agent at Thompson, and
their married life of a little less than one year was a happy one.
On Saturday, September 1, a little son was born to them and soon
thereafter the mother died, leaving a heartbroken husband, son,
parents, brothers and sisters to mourn her unexpected death. The
funeral services were held at the home Monday, the services being
conducted by Rev. J. O. Cramb, who had known the deceased from
childhood, after which the remains were escorted to the cemetery
east of this place and tenderly laid to rest in the city of the
dead. The funeral cortage was an unusually large one, there being
a great many of thie neighbors and many from this city attending.
She was a very bright and cheerful lady, one who was greatly
admired by her large circle of acquaintances, all of whom will no
doubt join the ENTERPRISE in extending sincere sympathy to the
lonely and heartbroken husband, parents, brothers and sisters in
their sad bereavement.
Mrs. Harry Burge
Source:The Fairbury Journal, Feb. 19, 1909
At her home in the northeast part of Fairbury, Sunday, Feb. 14,
Mrs. Harry Burge passed away after a long illness from heart
disease and dropsy, aged 34 years and two days. Before her
marriage to Mr. Harry Burge at Haddam, Kans., Dec 22, 1898 Mrs.
Burge was Mary Catherine Harper, daughter of John Harper, now
deceased, a former Fairbury resident. She was born at Pontiac,
Ill, Feb 12, 1875. Mrs. Burge came to Fairbury with her parents in
1879. She has resided in this vicinity ever since. At he age of 18
she graduated from the Fairbury High School. She leaves two
daughters, seven brothers, besides her husband and other
relatives, to mourn her loss. The funeral was held in the
Methodist church on Monday, Rev. Cline officiating and the remains
were interred in the Fairbury Cemetery.
Christine W. Busing
Source:The Fairbury Journal, Feb. 10, 1916
Mrs. Christine W. Busing was born in Hanover, Germany Gebruary 20,
1847; died February 6, 1916, age 68 years, 11 months, 17 days. She
came to the United States in 1861. She was united in marriage to
Gerhardt Busing at Nebraska City, June 25, 1871. To this union
were born ten children, seven of whom are still living, as
follows: Mrs. Wm. Baruth, Francitas, Tex., Gay, Otto and George
Busing, of Alexandria, Nebr.; Mrs. Nels Moody, Helvey, Nebr.;
Henry Busing, Helvey, Nebr.; and Mrs. A. Grafton of Fairbury.
Besides these children she leaves a husband and one brother, Henry
Witt, of Davenport, Iowa. She united with the German Lutheran
church in Germany at an early age. A short funeral service was
held at the home, 212 Third street, Fairbury, and the remains were
taken to Alexandria for interment in the family burying ground,
after a service in the Presbyterian church there.
Fred Busing Sr.
Source:The Fairbury Journal, Nov. 27, 1903
KILLED BY BRICK.
Fred Busing Sr. Meets Death Under A Falling Wall on the South
Side. Fred Busing, Sr., a prominent and wealthy farmer, living
near Powell, was killed about noon Wednesday, by a portion of the
wall on the Steele opera house falling on him. Mr. Busing was
coming from Groff's restaurant, where he had just had his dinner
and was passing in front of the building, when a portion of the
brick cornice at the top of the building, probably thirty-five
feet from the ground broke loose and fell, some of the brick and
mortar striking him squarely on the top of the head. He was picked
up as dead and carried into one of the empty buildings, where he
recovered consiousness for a short time and conversed briefly with
those about him. Soon, however, he lapsed into unconsiousness once
more, in which condition he remained until about one o-clock
Thursday morning, when he died. An operation was performed in
hopes of saving his life, the crushed skull being raised from the
brain, but without avail. Cornor Dodge was apprised of all the
facts and concluded not to hold an inquest, as there did not seem
to be anyone particularly to blame. The wall of the building was
in process of construction, and the bricklayers had gone to
dinner, leaving the brick cornice projecting. Probably a few more
brick would have tied it down so it would not have fallen, but
there was nothing to warn the bricklayers that it might fall. The
building, which belongs to C. F. Steele, was nearly finished and
pedestrians had been in the habit of passing in front of it,
although Mr. Steele had many times taken the precaution to erect a
temporary fence to turn them around the front, but the fence had
often been removed in order to get material into the building. A
peculiar co-incidense happed in connection with the sad death of
Mr. Busing. Some time ago he injured his hand in some machinery
and the wound had not properly healed. Necrosis of the bone set
in, and Dr. Pritchett, the unfortunate man's physician, had
decided that a portion of the hand must be removed. Accordingly,
Mr. Busing had come to Fairbury on the day he was killed and had
set the hour of 2 p.m. as the time for the operation. Fearing that
it might not result favorably, he had gone before noon to the law
office of W.H. Barnes to have his will drawn. Mr. Barnes made a
rough draft and told Mr. Busing to return a little later when he
would have it drawn up in proper form by his stenographer. Mr.
Busing was on his way to Mr. Barns' office to sign the will when
he was killed. Fred C. Busing was born in Bremer, Oldenburg,
Germany, March 25, 1844. and was consequently 59 years and 8
months old at the time of his death. He came to America in 1866,
where he homesteaded the farm which has been his residense
continously ever since. He was married January 15, 1873 to Matilda
Nelson. To this union were born five sons and five daughters. one
of whom died in infancy. Thos surviving, besides his wife, are
Charles, Frank, Edward, Louie, and Edward C., Mrs A.H. Knispel, of
Powell, Mrs. Elmer Barker of Mitchell, S.D., Emma and Otelia at
home. He also leaves one brother, Gerhard Busing, residing near
Alexandria and several brothers and sisters in Germany. The
funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at the residence.
