Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-14
A or A PIONEER.

Charles saeer, One Of the Pioneers of Gus
ter. Passes Away on December 8.
Died at his home in Custer City, on the
evening Of the 9th Of December, 1901,
Charles Sager, aged 65 years and z
months.
He was born in the province of Pom
mern in North Germany In the year of
1886. Came to America in 1867. 1t was
In Chicago that he became acquainted
with Mr.. Vim. Krause, and they sailed
on the great lakes together for eight
years, when they both came to the Black
Hills in 1875. In that year Mr.. Sager
prospected for gold. Later he COM
menced freighting from Cheyenne. and
afterwards from Sidney. in which bust
ness he continued until the advent of
the railroad in 1885. It was In this year
that Mr.. Sager was married to Miss
Augusta Remer with whom he has lived
happily for sixteen years. At the same
time in company with MIR. Krause, they
kept a general store in Custer until 1882,
when they started a stock farm, and
were located a few miles south Of the
town Of Pringle, S. ID. In addition to
this business they kept a -four and feed
store in Custer, in which occupation Mr..
sager continued and was engaged up to
the time Of his death.
1t was on the morning of the 9th of
December. when Mr.. Sager always Of
an industrious turn) went out in the
timber to chop down some dry trees for
their winters fire wood. Not Ie'urnir z
home for dinner as lie had been wont to
do, Mr.. Krause, fearing that some acct
dent had befallen him, 10 company with
Mr.. John Mcclure, started out in search
Of him. They found him about 4 O'Clock
in the afternoon two miles southeast Of
town Icing OF the ground in q helpless
condition. He had dragged himself
about 200 yards and started a little fire,
(it was a cold day. but from weakened
loss Of blood and exposure he had been
unable to replenish it, and was nearly
dead. He had felled a tree, and it had
rebounded and struck him in such a
manner that his left leg was broken in
two places above the knee, and he was
otherwise internally injured. They
gathered him up, placed him on a
wagon, and brought him first to the resi-
dence of Mr.. VIM. Piper, where they
procured a bed and blankets, and then
drove to his home in Custer. He linger-
ed until 8 o'clock in the evening, when,
surrounded by his family and friends,
he expired.
The funeral took place at the Congre,
gational church at 2 o'clock on Sunday,
at which time Mrs. Katherine Powell,
the pastor delivered the funeral sermon.
Mrs. Powell's words were marked by
deep feeling, as she sought to comfort
those who mourned the departure OF
husband, father and friend. The long
procession then slowly moved up the
long hill to the cemetery, while the
church tells tolled a long farewell to one
OF Clusters Oldest and best honored citi
zens.
Mr.. Sager was a member ofthe United
Order of ASrarians, which took charge
Of the remains of their brother at the
grave. Grand Master A. T.. Carr, from
Hill City, otficiated at the burial, and
gave the funeral service Of the order,
which was very appropriate and beauti-
full. 1t was four o'clock when the LONG
procession of mourners returned to their
homes, and the town of Custer never
seemed to look so sad as It did on that
sorrowful day.
Mr.. Sager leaves q wife and five chill
dren to mourn his loss His other rela.
tives are a father, 93 years of age, and a
sister living in Germany, and one sister
in Custer, who is married to Mr.. thas.
Porath of this city. These also, together
with his partner, will grieve most bitter.
~ over the loss of a son, a brother and q
friend. Mr.. Sager was a man Of stalwart
build, strong constitution and great
energy, and in the absence of accident
bid fair to have reached the advanced
age Of his father. He was a IA ol
blunt manners, but n kind heart. To
help his friends he was generous, and
made many sacrifices. BY hard work
and diligence in business he had become
well of in worldly goods, and was at the
time of his death one Of the largest own
ers of real estate in the town, in which
he took pride and tried at all times ia
build up. But he has gone and the hopes
and prayers of this community 60 with
him.to q brighter and happier world,
zone by one our friends depart, who has
not lost q friend ?"