The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-08-12
OBITUARIES OF THE OLD SETTLERS
Read BY Attorney Thomas Hughes At the Pioneers
Picnic Held At Sibley Park Today

in the game of life. 1t seems but as
yesterday since we last met here,
but a full year and a day have in
fact gone by. But the changes occur
so gradually like the growth OF the
grass that they do not impress US
with special force. So changes come
in families, farm communities and
cities and even in our civilization.
1t is only when We stop and look
back over a prolonged period Of time
that we fully sense the mutability OF
terrestrial life. Our comrades drop
from the line of the worlds activity
that SO many have gone during
year until we pause and view them
collectively: Since We last met six
of those who have been associate,
with US have passed away.
The first OF these to depart was
George OFT, ST., who died August 10,
| 1920. He was born in Indiana July
20. 1S47, and came to Blue Earth
County with his parents in 1857 and
ship. He united in marriage with
Miss Caroline Hub on October IT.,
1876, and they resided on their farm
near Mankato until about fifteen
years ago when they moved to the
city. Until three or four years ago,
| when Mr.. OFT suffered paralytic
stroke, he and his wife were quite
for many years. He was hard
worker and conscientious man. He
left surviving his widow and four
| children; Mrs. l.. J. Compton, Jake
OFT, Frank OFT, and George OFT, Jr.,
all of this vicinity.
The next of our membership to
pass away was David P. Davis. He
| was a native of Jackson county, Ohio,
where he was born August Is. 1s4
David P. Davis, Sr., migrated from
Llangeitho, Wales, to Ohio in 1886
and thence the family moved to
Blue Earth County in May 1856 with
the Welsh colony. They first settled
on a farm in Cambria township, but
in 1854 the parents with their son,
David, transferred their home to
and son conducted a general store
for many years. While operating this
store he held the position of post
master OF South Bend for several
years. The store was sold over
twenty years ago and because of
failing health Mr.. Davis left his
South Bend home and came to. Man
kato to reside; He passed away
The third member of our society to
enter the life beyond was Miss Flory
E.. Wise. She was a daughter of the
| eminent old settler Journalist, John
c. Wise, late of this city. Born at
Mankato on November %, 1872, she
was reared and educated here, ex-
cept that she received some special
training for her work as Primary
instructor at Chicago University
She taught at Duluth, West Mankato
and for the last fifteen years, In the
Mankato normal schools, with eff
| cheney and success. Because Of her
descent from such an old and prom
inent. family and because. she her
worthily exempted the noble tradi.
tons of the family, Miss Wise stood
high in the estimation of a large
| circle of Mankato's best society, and
she is greatly missed. She departed
this life November Z, 1920.
| The fourth of our membership to
pass away was Joseph W; sprrssgqe.
located on claim near Mapleton in
1855. He married Miss Sarah Annis
on June 20, 1858, who. preceded him
to the future world June 20, 1908. He
held various town offices and was
highly esteemed by all for his bust
ness ability and splendid character.
He left surviving three daughters;
L ou IA, lSL1,
friend and pioneer miller. William
in Canada. October %, 1886, and set
tied in Mankato in May 1866. His
ancestors before him had for some
| generations been millers by occupa-
ton and William learned the same
trade. Soon after his arrival here
he became one of the firm of Scott,
Hawley and Pearson and built the
/ "a n n II
ct, near the Junction of the LeSueur
and Blue Earth rivers. This mill he
| operated with much success until its
| sale in 1876. He then removed to
Mankato and in partnership with
George NJ. Palmer started the Hub
bard Mill, but after few years sold
out his interest and built and operat-
shop. Owing to failing health Of his
wife he retired from active business
in 1894, that he might devote his
| time to caring for her. His wife's
maiden name was Abigail Smith
and she was married to Mr.. Pearson
in Elizabethtown, Canada in 1856.
and an ardent supporter of the tenn
perance cause and every reform. He
was a CHEEKY and friendly disposition
and much respected by large circle
| of friends. Three sons survive him !:
John, Lewis S. and Loren c. Pear
son.
The last of our membership to pass
| away this last year was Wesley D.
Spague of Mapleton, who died June
10, 1924. Born and reared in Essex
County, New York, February 18th,
| 1874, he enlisted in October 1861 in
the 96th, N. Y. Infantry and served
most gallantly in many of the great
battles of the civil war being dis
! charged February 9Th. 1866. On July
3, 1866, he was married to Miss Rose
| D. Richardson and 1870 they moved
to Lyra township in this county. In
1894 he retired from his farm to
Mapleton village, where he passed the
| remainder of his days. His beloved
wife died December 4th. 1920. Mr.:
and Mrs. Sprague were people of ex-
| cellent character who stood for all
that was good in the community.
! In addition to those mentioned,
who held membership. in our asso-
citation, many other old settlers of
our vicinity have passed away. Some
of whom 1 will mention:
| Mrs. Amelia L. Stokes, an early
resident of Smiths mill and Eagle
Lake died August "a, 1920, at the
age of seventy eight years. A native
Of New York and an excellent wo.
man. ~ .