SCHILLERSTROM, Joseph 1855 – 1944

SCHILLERSTROM, EDMUND, HICKENBOTTOM, LINN, JOHNSON, PRINCE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 2/28/2011 at 19:50:00

“The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger”
Saturday, December 23, 1944
Page 1, Column 5

SCHILLERSTROM PROMINENT MERCHANT DIES

Joseph SCHILLERSTROM, 89, proprietor of the Salina general store since 1884, passed away late yesterday at the Jefferson county hospital. He was probably the oldest continuous merchant in Iowa.

He was born November 28, 1855, the son of Swedish immigrants who settled in Jefferson county in 1846 in the New Sweden community. He was the fourth of the six children of Gustaf Oscar and Inga SCHILLERSTROM, of whom only one, Gust, of Fairfield, survives.

He was educated in the public school of the county his favorite teacher being the late Hiram Heaton.

In February 1881, he went with a brother, Paul, to the state of Nevada and settled on a ranch 30 miles north of Elco, remaining there for three summers. In October 1883 he returned to Iowa and began his long merchandising career by purchasing the Frank Thurson store in the then thriving village of Salina. He had been a merchant in this place for over 60 years last January.

Mr. SCHILLERSTROM married Josephine EDMUND in 1895 and to this union were born four sons and four daughters. The eldest son, Edward, and eldest daughter, Nettie HICKENBOTTOM, preceded him in death, as did his wife, who passed away on January 18, 1919.

Surviving are the following children: the Rev. Glan J., a Presbyterian pastor in the metropolitan district of Chicago; Townsend, a farmer and merchant of the home community; Curtis, manager of the Massachusetts Protective Insurance company agency in New York City; Mrs. Leland LINN (Pearl) of Lockridge, Ia.; Mrs. Ralph F. JOHNSON (Mary), Fairfield; and Mrs. Paul PRINCE (Frances) of the Beckwith community. Also surviving are 26 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Joseph SCHILLERSTROM was a Christian gentleman and a good and loyal neighbor, ever ready to support good institutions and especially the church. His home was always open to preachers supplying the Salina churches.

Short funeral services will be held at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon at the Hoskins funeral home, with services at the Salina Presbyterian church at 2:30. Rev. M. S. Ellick and Rev. Pearl DeKalb will officiate, Interment will be in the Salina cemetery.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.