Castell, John M.

CASTELL, SAMUELSON, FLETCHER, HOWELL

Posted By: Bill Rathbun (email)
Date: 3/6/2004 at 00:09:13

The Fairfield Ledger, May 7, 1902, Page 3, col. 5.
OBITUARY: John M. Castell was born in Sweden Aug. 15, 1826 and came to America and Jefferson County in 1848. He resided here until 1852 when he went to California where he remained five years, returning in 1857. He was married to Clara Samuelson in 1858, and located near Parsonsville, about four year later removing to Salina to the farm where he lived until his death. He untied with the Swedish Methodist Church near Four Corners in 1850... There remain of his family the wife and nine children, all being present in his last hours except Mrs. Fletcher of Mason City and Mrs. Howell of Martinsburg. He died Wednesday April 30th at 10:30 a.m. He was a man of wide experience, possessing a large share of practical information, having come from a foreign country and traveled extensively in the United States. There were many thrilling incidents connected with the trip to California in the early ‘50’s, going by wagon and returning by the Isthmus of Panama and New York City. He had keen observation and a good memory, and it was pleasing to hear him relate the experiences of his trip… The remains were laid to rest in the Swedish cemetery near Four Corners…_________________________