The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-14
Nelson Wits Died Yesterday
Morning at Mortified
father OF MANKATO man
Drove Freight Wagon to Pixies
Peak When Indians Were
On Warpath
From Mondays Daily.

Nelson Wits died yesterday morn
| ing at Northfield, death resulting
from two strokes of paralysis. The
first stroke came upon Mr.. Wits a
week ago Saturday and was quite
light, the second stroke coming the
day following and being so severe
that he faield rapidly until the end.
Deceased was born February 6, 1882,
in England, and came to Canada when
four years of age, living near Ham
ilton until he was twenty two. He
came to Wisconsin and settled near
Mackford, where he lived for some
time, and later went to Kansas, be-
ing in that state during the raids in
the summer of 1860. He served as a
member of the home guard under
James Lane, and had many adven-
lures during those times. Once
he drove load of freight across the
plains to Pixies Peak, a distance of
ZOO miles, using mule teams and had
number of thrilling experiences with
Indian bands that were on the war
path. Later he returned to Wiscon-
sin, and in the spring of 1864 he set
tied on claim near Alma City, Wa
SEGA county, where he continued to
make his home until he retired fror
farm life. He lived in Man
kato several years ago with w. {
Wits, and when Mr.. and Mrs. Witt
went to Mortified about a year agot
reside with DR.. S. N. Wits, he wen
with them. The surviving relative
are the widow, who has been yer,
ill since the first of last January AM.
two sons, w. G. and DR.. S. N. Wits.
Funeral services will be held at
Mortified at two o'clock tomorrow
afternoon, with interment in the GEM
etery there. Mr.. Wits was an hon
est and upright gentleman, and was
respected by all who knew him. With
his passing another sturdy pioneer
goes to his final rest.
Death of Sister CoIumbine.
Sister Columbine, one of the Sis
tiers of Notre Dame of the Academy
of Our Lady of Good Counsel, died
yesterday at 11:45 a. m, death being
caused by diabetes, with which sh
had suffered for many years. De-
ceased was sixty-three years of age,
and had spent the last forty years or
her life in this community. She was
born in Rochester, New York, where
two surviving sisters now reside. Sis
ter Columbine served as Sister Su-
perior at Lismore, Mimi, for a peri
cd of two years.
Mrs. Anne BerteIson Dead.
Mrs. Anne Bertelsen passed away
yesterday afternoon about four o'clock
at her home in Rapidan township,
death being caused by diabetes and
complications. She was born in Den
mark on December 26, 1854, and was
married there, coming to America
with her husband in 1884. They set
tied first in Racine county, Wiscon-
sin, where they lived for one year,
after which they moved to Kasson,
Mimi, where they lived for about
year before going to Rapidan town.
ship, which has been the family home
lever since, for a period of about thir-
ity-one years. Mr.. Bertelsen died
during the month of February, 1915.
The surviving relatives are two
daughters, Mrs. Arthur Blume and
Mrs. Herman Peters, and two grand
children, Clifford and Pearl Blume,
of Rapidan and brother, Christ
| MOrLonSen, VINO lives III GoTmdny. Z u
neral services will be held tOmOr-
row afternoon at two o'clock from the
home, and at three o'clock from the
church, Rev. Nels Nordgaard officiat-
ing.
Death of J. j. Johnson.
J. j. Johnson passed away Sunday
might at the home of his sister, Mrs.
Ben Pearson at Winthrop, Mimi,
where he went three weeks ago to be
taken care of, his death being caused
by cancer of the stomach from which
he had suffered for long time. De-
ceased was born October 30,1852, in
lSweden, and came here about thirty
five years ago. The surviving rela-
|tives are two sons, Albert j. and Will
liam of st. Paul, three daughters,
Mary, Esther, and Mildred, city; and
la brother, Olaf Johnson, city. Flu
neral services will be held Wednes-
lday morning at $50 from Johnson
Boman undertaking parlors and at 10
o'clock from the Swedish Lutheran
lchurch Rev. o. J. Arthur officiating.
lInterment will be maze in the Swed-
fish Lutheran cemetery.