The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-17
D.s. EbersoI.

hours.
DANIEL SHUEY EBERsoL, son OF Joseph and
Elizabeth Ebersol, the eldest Of family of eight
children Of whom five survive him, was born
near Harrisburg Pennsylvania, January IA, 1920.
his father was blacksmith, which trade he fol-
lowed until about 1925 when he removed to Han.
mover. nine miles from Harrisburg, where he en-.
gagged in farming. There lie resided until 1884,
by industry and economy gathering a little
property. In April, 1884, having decided to re.
move to the Far West" he set out with his fam.
lily and all his worldly goods in two horse wag.
on. to make the journey Of $50 mes-now re-
quiring about 20 hours for its performance-then
IA long and tedious route, mostly through a
sparsely settled country, over rough roads, often
mere trails, across idgeless streams, to Iii.
nois. He reached Ottawa in August and on the
Goth day Of that month located IN what was
then called Island Grove, now Grand Rapids, on
what is yet known as "The Old Ebersol Place."
where he set up blacksmith shop and improved
his farm. On this place Daniel lived until about
II years Of age, when he went to Cincinnati,
Ohio, where he remained few weeks until OBJ.
tanning place as clerk on n steamboat plying
between that city and Maysville, Kentucky, he
was often in Cincinnati and found in Mrs. PAYER
and her sister, Mrs. Nelson, true and steadfast
friends, forming a friendship that ended only
with his death At the close of navigation, GO
ing to Maysvle, he obtained situation in the
stage office and made that city his home, form.
ing many pleasant acquaintance, and there he
met and won the heart Of her who afterward be.
came his wife. At the repeated solicitations OF
his parents, he resigned his position, returned to
Illinois and worked on the farm about q year
During this time he built a log house on Mud
Creek, Livingston county, and made such prep
arations us seemed necessary for setting up In
housekeeping. In the winter of 1910 he re
turned To Kentucky and at Aberdeen, Ohio, De-
cember lst lS40, he was united in the holy bond.
Of matrimony to Mary j. McKenny, Of Mays
vile, Kentucky. They soon after set out for H.
nos rivers to Peoria and from that place to Otta.
wa by stage. He passed the winter with his
father, rebuilding his house which had been
burned down during his absence and in the
spring removed thither and began work on his
farm. Himself and wife were both sick much OF
the time and by the end of the year having be
come discouraged with farming he removed to
Pontiac. There he was chosen justice OF the
peace and appointed postmaster and later elected
county clerk. II was at Pontiac that he began
to work at gunsmithng. From Pontiac he re
mo led to Burlington, Iowa, about 1917 where
he prospered greatly in worldly matters and was
an active and influential citizen taking an active
part in politics and being one of refined and
brilliant circle whose influence has made Burng.
ton what it is. In 1856 he yielded to the soliclta-
tions of his father and, selling out, returned TO
Grand Rapids and engaged In farming. After
time he opened shop in this city, and in 1873,
having purchased Place on Ottawa Avenue and
made it comfortable aid beautiful, he removed
to town where has since resided.
He possessed a strong, well disciplined intel.
lect a retentive memory and vigorous and
chastc ina gination. He was very fond Of poetry,
and a great admirer of fine engravings and
paintings. He was ardent student OF nature,
especially in the departments Of geology, miner
ology and archaeology. He had gathered large
and valuable collection, many Of the specimens
being rare and costly. 1t is quite rich in Macon
Ferns and contains some beautiful ammontes
from the Oolite Of England and also some beau
tiful agates. There are also many fine specimens
from Colorado. He had built up a fine library, es-
pecially rich in finely illustrated works, poetry,
scientific works and history. He read extensive
ly and thought much on what he read. He was
an active member OF the Ottawa Academy OF
Natural Sciences and to him it almost owes it's
existence He had labored long and earnestly
to bring about an agreement between the Acad-
envy and the trustees of the High School and
this arrangement had been perfected the Mon
day before his death.
kind husband an affectionate father, a firm
and disinterested friend, and honest vrtuous
man. lover Of truth, an earnest, fearless invest
igator, an enemy of hypocrity and shams,
champion of truth and foe of wrong has fallen
and we look about in vain for one who can take
his place in our councils or carry out the work
to which he had devoted his declining years
On Monday evening the Academy of Sciences,of
which he was TIE founder and for many years the
chief support and which owes more to him than
to any other man, perhaps, met and adopted the
following resolutions, presented by Hon. W.
Bushnell:
WHEREAS As he who lives must surely die, it
is the solemn duty of the living to 80 conduct
themselves in this life as to win the esteem re-
spect and gratitude Of their associates, and to
enable the living 10 say, 10 die was MS gam ano
our irreparable loss. Such being the brief but
true history of our deceased campanion and
brother Daniel s. Ebersol, therefore
Resolved, lst, that in the death of Daniel g. Eb-
ersol this Academy has lost one of its most ar
dent friends and active workers: truth, wOr-
shipper; science, devoted student; the public
pure, upright and generous citizen; the domes-
tic circle, one of its highest ornaments; his fam
", a fond and devoted husband and kind and
affectionate father.
NJ xpa tor Aarf hn fo 10 nf fha Happa anH
our sympathy, and assure them that, with full
hearts, do we weep with those who weep and
mourn with those who mourn"
Sd. That a copy Of these resolutions he fur
nished the family and to the papers of this city,
and that they be spread upon the records of the
society.
Table Talk.