The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-08-19
PIONEER MERCHANT PASSES ON

Monday morning the business sec
ton of the city was startled as it came
to work by the news that M. d. Orb
rand, pioneer butcher and owner of the
oldest meat market in the city had
passed from life during the night. Mr.,
Orhrans has been feeling under the
weather for some time and has been
afflicted with diabetes; for the past
few days he had been confined TO his
bed with an attack of heart trouble.
DR.. Seaman of Volga, had been in con-
sultation with DR.. b.. T. Green on Sun
day and they were of the opinion that
he would pull through. Early Monday
morning about n o'clock Mr.. Orh-
rams asked the nurse to give him an
alcohol bath and as she was preparing
the same he gave a few sudden gasps
passed away. His wife had left him
TO secure some rest for herself, just a
short half hour before and only a few
moments before the end he was talking
with the nurse and in full possession
of life.
Marcus d. Orhrans IA born in
Davenport. Iowa, October 23rd, 1854,
where as a youth he worked and at
tended German school. At seventeen
he went to Kansas City, Missouri, and
learned the butcher trade in the mar
kets and packing houses Of that place,
and soon after returned TO Davenport
and worked at his trade. Al the age
of ~twenty-thTee years he went to
Rochester. MINI. and worked there IN
4 meat market. During the years OF
1879 and 1880 he was in the employ OF
the contractors who had charge Of the
construction Of the Chicago & North.
Western railway from W.nona. MINI,
westward as a butcher and buyer Of
meat and cattle for the use Of the con
struction eaugs.
In 1881 he came 10 B~rookings and
entered the employ Of Ben F. Roddle
who owned the first butcher shop here.
Afterward Mr.. Orhrans was in part
nership with Mr.. Roddle and then
opened a shop for himself and for the
past thirty-one years has been pro-
prietor OF the Rising Sun Meat Mar
ket. In the year 1884 he was married
to Mrs. Addie Fedon at Flandreau, she
being the daughter Of J. L. Stevens,
one of the POINTER settlers near Elkton.
Mrs. Orhrans and their daughter Nenie
are the sole surviving immediate fam
lily, though a step mother, a half
brother and two half sisters are living
at Davenport, Iowa.
mike" Orhrans, as he was popu-
larly known, was the friend of every
under dog there was in the fight OF
life. More than n family during the
years he has sold meat have been I'M
der obligations to him for the fact that
they had something to grease the pot.
Outwardly a gruff man, he was at
heart as tender as the youngest child,
and a great lover of children many of
whom can think back and remember
"Uncle Mike" For every one of the
schemes that were brought forth in
the early days of the town TO build ii
up and push it forward, he was always
in the front of the var with money and
help. He has been for years the guar
dian angel of Greenwood cemetery,
where now his ashes rest. To him
largely is due the improvements and
care that today make IL such a beauti-
full city of the dead. From the very
start of the county fair he was one of
its staunchest supporters, giving time
and subscribing money when either
of them were needed. To every worthy
charity and deserving cause he was a
well wisher and generous giver, to the
poor and needy, a benefactor, and to
those in hard luck a true and tried
friend. Mike Orhrans had his faults,
Dht CD lhNy "tit NbbAitiy pNiSohoi
ones and were far ove~rshadowed by
his good qualities and generous i'm
pulses, we can truly say that Brook
ings has lost a good, honest, enterpris-
ing citizen; that she mourns his death
as the passing away OF a friendi and
that she will honor his memory as one
who deserves every mark Of public re-
spect.
The funeral occurred Wednesday
from the residence on Fifth street,
with the services in charge of the Rev.
Paul Roberts, rector of st. Paul's
Episcopal church, and interment at
Greenwood cemetery. The local lodge
of the A. o. U. W., OF which he had
been an active member for twenty-five
years, attended Iii a body, and men,
bers Of the lodge acted az pail bearers.
A beautiful floral shield was the offer
ing of the lodge to express their re-
spect and sorrow. Other offerings Of
flowers were in evidence at the funeral