Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-03

0lVuA Oatys UoOiBo 08cu
81 years. 6 months and 81 days.
For the past two weeks the death Of
M. Stickney has been anticipated and
while in a sense all were prepared for
the final reckoning in his life, still it
came with q shock, when a full reliza-
ton came upon each one that the
soul Of one Of the oldest settlers In
Union county had flown to the other
world.
The funeral took place in the Bap-
tist church on last Monday at 2 o'clock.
There was a large attendance and the
floral offerings were beautiful. A
lovely wreath Of cut flowers was pre-.
scented by the sons, Charles, George,
Henry and Jefferson. Prot. Rowley
Of vermillion delivered the sermon
and paid q tribute TO the dead which
softened the hearts OF everyone who
listened-so earnest and impressive
were the the thoughts presented.
George Stickney was born in Row
ley, near Georgetown, Mass, June 2,
1897. He was the youngest Of four
children. In 1885 his parents emf.
grated to Ohio, but returned to New
Hampshire the following year. owing
to the unfavOrsbleness Of the climate.
Mr.. Stickney's boyhood was spent
on the farm and, like the boys OF that
period, managed to secure about three
months schooling out OF the year.
After his fathers death he attended
the Phillips Exter academy. His apti-
tude for the classics and mathemat-
les was marked. While teaching
school one winter he was compli-
mented by Mr.. Greenleaf for sending
in the first clear solution to a difficult
problem contained in Greenleaf's
arithmetic. He graduated from the
academy In 1851 with the highest hon.
ors In Latin, read law three years in
the law Office Of Stickney & Tuck OF
Exter, N. H., was admitted to the bar
In 1854 and practiced at Exter.
In 1856 he moved to Sioux City, Ia,
and practiced there until April, 1860,
when he moved to Elk Point. He and
his wife were the first white couple to
settle in the territory. In Elk Point
he engaged In the practice Of law and
in farming; was elected a member Of
the house Of representatives in the
legislature Of 1854, and served one
session; was elected a member Of the
council In 1885 and was made presi-
dent Of that body when 1t was organ
lied. After serving one session he
was appointed by President johnson
receiver o fpublic moneys OF the United
States land Office at Vermillion and
took charge Of the Office in 1866. He
held this Office until 1863, when he re-.
turned to Elk Point and resumed his
law practice and engaged in more ex.
tensive farming and stockraising.
In 1878 he was elected county treas
urer and was reelected for the two
succeeding terms. While holding this
Office, through carelessness in bust
ness and too great undertakings, he
lost his property, and in 1886 he e
moved to Sioux City to resume the
practice OF law. He paid special at
tention to contesting and defending
contested land claims, for which his
experience in the land Office gave him
apeculiar fitness.
OF late years his strong and vigor-
o0s oonstitation has been gradually
y1sldfns o. cenplication Of diseases
uHt11k =. became very weak and feeble.
He was andsefZeatment sktlle Samar-
itan home. but it W0imRossible to
check the disease and he bre66E1GA
last on December 80, 1894.
Thus has passed away one Of he
pioneers Of the "Land OF the Dakotas."
One by one they have left US, and
nothing remains but a memory Of the
early settlers OF this state.
The funeral service was held in the
Baptist chapel on Monday ut 2 p. m,
Rev. Freeman officiating.