Tooker, David K. Jr. 1877-1963

TOOKER, HORROCKS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2008 at 19:06:03

DAVID K. TOOKER
WAS LONGTIME
MERRILL BARBER
---SON OF EARLY
PIONEER RESIDENTS

David Kennedy Tooker was born February 22, 1877, at Merrill to David K. and Ellen Williams Tooker. He was one of ten children.

He lived his entire life in the Merrill community except about five years spent in Nebraska and South Dakota.

He was married to Emily E. Horrocks March 2, 1903, in Neligh, Neb.

They were the parents of three children, Dale O. Tooker, now of Springfield, Ore., Charles Bernard Tooker of Cupertino, Calif., and a daughter, Mrs. Lyle O. Pederson, Cresco.

Mr. Tooker was a barber for most of his life and kept a general store in Merrill for about 15 years, with his brother, Bert.

He was a longtime member of the Merrill Methodist church and served many years as its janitor. He played for years in the Merrill band, was a member of the Knights of Pythians and the Odd Fellows organizations.

Mr. Tooker had lived in Merrill longer than any other person. His father homesteaded in Plymouth township about 3 ½ miles southwest of Merrill and bought the first store in Merrill from a Mr. Smith, and therefore was Merrill’s second postmaster, so David Junior was one of the best posted men on Merrill’s history.

Mr. Tooker died May 31 at the University hospitals in Iowa City.

An obituary was published in an earlier issue of the Daily Sentinel. Jane Dennler was the organist and the singers were Mrs. Ruth Kehrberg and Donald Fry at the funeral held at the Methodist church Tuesday.

Casketbearers were Ira Johns, L.N. Hauser, J.F. Kissinger, Ronald Thompson, Harry Hurd, and Warren Hauff.

Interment was beside his wife in the Merrill Hillside Cemetery.

~Source: LeMars Daily Sentinel, June 6, 1963