Waterbury, George E. 1837-1915

WATERBURY, BROWN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/24/2011 at 15:02:05

Akron Register-Tribune
August 5, 1915

SIOUX VALLEY PIONEER DIES

George E. Waterbury passed away at his home in Sioux Valley township, Union
county, S.D., five miles north of Akron, Monday, August 2, 1915, at 8:35
p.m., of gall bladder trouble, aged 78 years. He had been ailing off and on
for some time, but was confined to his bed only a few days during his last
illness.

Mr. Waterbury was among the early settlers in the Big Sioux valley, whose
ranks have been rapidly thinning the past few years. Coming with his family
from Danbury, Conn., in the early seventies, they have ever since resided on
the homestead taken at that time. A man of industry and genial personality,
devoted to his family and a true friend, he was a true type of the sturdy
New Englander who followed the star of empire westward, and well did he do
his part in developing from its virgin state the wonderful agricultural
section in which he lived so long and loved so well. Besides the wife, who
is in enfeebled health, deceased is survived by six children, all residing
in the home vicinity—Clarence, Mrs. Thos. Haynes, Irving, Charles, Albert
and Mrs. August Kaelke—to whom the sympathy of a wide circle of friends is
extended.

Following a brief service at the family home at 1 o’clock today (Thursday),
funeral services will be held in the Akron M.E. church. Interment in
Riverside Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akron Register-Tribune
August 12, 1915

TRIBUTE TO A PIONEER.

Robt. O. Schaber, editor of the Hudsonite, of Hudson, S.D., pays the
following tribute to his wife’s uncle, Geo. E. Waterbury, a Sioux Valley
pioneer, in his last week’s issue:

Uncle George Waterbury, Mrs. Schaber’s and A. J. Waterbury’s uncle and one
of the finest old gentlemen this writer ever knew, died on the old homestead
in Sioux Valley township, Union county, on Tuesday evening, (sic-Monday
evening, August 2, 1915), shortly before nine o’clock.

He had lived a good, upright life, has always been on the square and he did
not regret answering the last roll call; in fact, he was the happiest man
you ever heard of during the last two days for he knew he was going to a
better land and he told his loved ones, the last thing he did tell them,
that he would see them all again—and surely he will.

George E. Waterbury was born at Pound Ridge, Westchester county, New York,
but his parents moved to Connecticut when he was an infant and every one
always thought he was a native of Connecticut.

He was born April 14, 1837, and died on Tuesday, August 3, 1915 (sic
–Monday, August 2, 1915), and was 78 years, 3 months, and 19 days old at the
time of his death.

Uncle George was a likely lad, a joy to his parents. He was a patriot if
there ever was one and any one that said anything against Uncle Sam or the
dear old Stars and Stripes, always steered clear of him.

When the Civil War broke out he was eager to go and in the spring of 1862,
he enlisted in the 17th Connecticut Infantry and served heroically through
the war, being honorably discharged after more than three years of service,
at the close of that great struggle.

He kept pretty close tab on world affairs and the big war over in Europe
bothered him, and he knew from his own experience what an awful thing it
was, and he always hoped that we would never get mixed up in it.

He and Aunt Ellen were married in New Canaan, Connecticut, on May 5, 1867,
and came west together with Clarence and Carrie in the spring of 1871, to
make a new home in the west. Five brothers came, Uncle George, his brother,
Isaac, Squire (Mrs. Schaber’s father), Uncle Henry and Uncle David, and of
all these Uncle David is the only one alive today (August 1915.)

Uncle George homesteaded the farm in Sioux Valley township, Union county,
where he died, and for over 44 years lived continuously on it with his
family. And you never saw a family who thought more of each other than this
one.

Six children were born to Uncle George and Aunt Ellen and all have lived if
not at home, on adjoining farms all of their lives, and Uncle George’s
taking away is the first death in the immediate family in fifty years and it
was a hard blow to the family.

Uncle George was the finest chap alive. Last time we saw him was when Cousin
Carrie was married, and he was the happiest man and the jolliest in the
crowd.

You see he had nothing on his mind. Always honest, straight forward, God
fearing, he was not afraid of the future or of traveling over to the other
side.

He never abused his folks and he was always just the same—a gentleman of the
old school, a man who liked to see his children and grandchildren grow up
about him, a man with a kind, cheery word for everyone, a man universally
respected and beloved.

He and Aunt Ellen saw hard times. The drought and the grasshoppers did about
everything they could to the crops, but he and his life companion never
became discouraged. They always looked on the bright side, and it came at
last, and they lived happily all their years, on the old farm, enjoying life
every day.

Another year, or a little more, and these two life companions would have
celebrated their Golden Wedding, and it is no wonder that Aunt Ellen misses
him so sadly.

And he was content to go and told the folks not to worry about him. Said he
would meet them all again some day. Rev. Arlander, of Big Springs, said he
learned a lesson from Uncle George’s last hours, which were some of the
happiest on earth, for he was content to go. His wife and children were with
him when he passed away. He had only been ill a few days and suffered very
little.

His life was well spent, for he was a sturdy pioneer, paving the way to a
great state, just as he had helped pave the way to a great Nation in the
darkest hours of the Union.

Funeral services were held this Thursday afternoon at the old homestead in
Union county, at one o’clock. Rev. Arlander read a chapter from the book of
John and said a few comforting words at the home. He knew Uncle George all
right, anyone could tell that from his remarks, and he paid his memory just
tribute.

The large procession went to Akron from the home, where services were held
at the Methodist church, Rev. R. A. Arlander, of the Big Springs Baptist
church, and Rev. Arthur Miller, of the Christian church, conducting the
services.

There are a great many relatives of Uncle George’s throughout this section
and they were all present, as well as a large concourse of friends and they
thronged the church to its capacity.

Rev. Miller read the first twenty verses of the fourteenth chapter of St.
John; and Rev. Arlander preached the sermon. He drew lessons from the life
of the deceased and paid him just tribute. Rev. Miller then read the
obituary and also added a few words for he, too, had known Uncle George and
liked him as a man and a Christian.

Songs by the choir, the old beloved hymns Uncle George loved so well,
interspersed the services. The choir of young people from the Big Springs
church sang two of his favorite hymns very nicely at the house, also. Rev.
Arlander closed the services by paying a deserved tribute to Uncle George as
a soldier and a sturdy pioneer. He is certainly a fine speaker, and his
tributes were splendid ones, but well deserved.

Beautiful flowers in profusion covered the bier of the departed, loving
tributes to a good, kindly old gentleman. The pallbearers were prominent
business men of Akron and Hawarden, being B. F. Wintersteen, A.G.A. Palm,
W.R. Tremaine and L.F. Root, of Akron, and Geo. C. Eyland, of Sioux City,
and M. Schmucker, of Hawarden. Interment took place in the beautiful
Riverside Cemetery, on the hill just north of Akron.

The immediate relatives who mourn his taking away are his loving wife and
companion for so many happy years, his six children, Clarence, Charles and
Albert, all of Union county; and two daughters, Mrs. Haines, of Akron, and
Mrs. August Kaelke, of Plymouth county, east of Akron; one brother, David,
of Sioux City; and three sisters, Mrs. Alsop Wakeman and Mrs. Sarah Stevens
of Union county, and Mrs. Ben Schooler, of Detroit, Minn.; a number of
grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and their families and other
relatives survive him.

Pretty square old chap, Uncle George was, all his days. He worked hard for
the family he loved, in the early days, and he took his ease surrounded by
his children and getting the best of loving care in his declining years.

If you and I can leave a record behind us like his, there will be no cause
for worry for anyone, for he was ready and willing to go and there is a
place on High where he will await the coming of his loved ones.

His is a most affectionate family and they mourn sincerely his taking away.

Peace be to his ashes, consolation to those who will so sadly miss him.

CARD OF THANKS.
We wish to acknowledge our deep appreciation of the many kindnesses and
sympathy extended by neighbors and friends during our recent bereavement in
the loss of our beloved husband and father, George E. Waterbury; also for
their tributes in the way of beautiful floral offerings.—Mrs. George E.
Waterbury and Family.