The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-03-09
Death of Luoius M. Dyer.

In last weeks FREE Pass brief men,
ton was made of the death of Mr.. Lu-
cius NJ. Dyer, of Mapleton, ard in this
connection we give few general re-
marks upon his life.
Mr.. Dyer was born in Winsor county,
W., April .5ih, 1892, and died on the
Goth nit. ut his home. He received q
common school education which, con-
ncctrd with his large store oi natural in.
tclIigencc, made him thorough, en-
tcrprising citizen, and one whose jiudg-
mcnl was sought and valued hy all, in
matters pertaining to public affairs, and
il was always found correctand reliable.
In early life he learned the carriage
makers trade, which he piled success
fully until his physicians advised him
10 give 1t mp for the welfare OF his
health. At the age of twenty-five he
married Esther Wright, and shortly AZ.
ter moved Ia Youngstown, MahOning
county. Ohm, where he served rs county
sheriff for several years. From there
he went To Loano, Iowa, and engaged in
hotel keeping; hut finding that the cli-
mate there did not have an encourag-
ing influence on his health. he came to
Blue Earth county, Minnesota, in 1858
and settled in that portion now con-
tanned in Danville township, which
town he helped to survey and organize.
From thence he went to Winnebago
Agency, where he was appointed super.
intendent Of government farms. He
served il this capacity until the removal
of the Winnebagocs, after which he
served rs postmaster at the Agency and
kept hotel at the same time. lie erected
u mill in the town of Rapldan in 1854,
which he put in charge Of his sons, and
he opened large farm in Lyra, which
he renamed upon until abont two years
ago, when the state of his health becom-
ing so critical that it WAS deemed adj
visabie to locate where sanitary privi-
lcges could he obtained more readily,
still hoping to thwart his deadly enemy,
consumption, but it had taken too firm
hold and he sank gradually until
death.
His connection with the history of
Blue Earth county is almost toe well
known to need notice here, but VIC will
say that no one Of our early settlers fur
nished more of the wlsdem and execu.
tive ability so necessary in the building
up OF new county than Lucius M.
Dyer: and scores of our early settlers
can bear testimony to his public spirit
and kind fellowship. because of services
rendered them in securin. desirable
locatio when they first settled here,
which his extended acquaintance with
all parts OF the country enabled him to
render with all possible safety. He
helped to organize the Townships OF
Danville. Mcpherson, and Rapidan, and
rs a factor in Indian affairs he was q
success, exerting great influence over
them.
As Il business man he has been very
successful, considering the many re-
verses of circumstances he has had to
contend with, by way of poor health,
frontier disadvantages, etc. He lett an
estimated competency of 10000, which
is principally in his farm in Lyra.
His family consists OF three children,
Mr. Henry Dyer, of Good Thunder, Ed
win, of Mapleton, and Miss Ida Dyer,
who, with his wife, survive him.
lie was IL man who was extremely de-
voted 10 his immediate relatives and
family, which the kindness and constant
attention shown him ny them in his
final prostratlon fully demonstrated. As
u friend he was true and faithful. which
was proven by the hospitality extended
TO straitened poor in their first strug
giles IN wild country. He was life.
long republican in politics and pro.
fessor OF religion IN early life, the re.
deeming traits of which lie carried vi.
til death.
To summarize, he belonged to
" A hardy yeomanry, the nations star and
pride"
lie spent lif. of toll and usefulness
and left his fellowmen the brightest ie-
gacy yet left my man: thar is, a family
Of upright, industrious children, and
fully realized that.
'sThe soul IL dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem"