Maynard, Proctor Edwards, 1841-1908

EDWARDS, BENTON, HOWE, HEGGIE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2012 at 04:27:24

OLD PIONEER GONE
P. E. Maynard Dies Suddenly Last Sunday
Was One of the Pioneers of South Dakota and an Old Resident of Hawarden

In the death of Proctor Edwards Maynard Hawarden mourns the loss of one of her highest esteemed citizens. Death came to him at 9 o'clock last Sunday evening from heart failure, following an attack of bronchial pneumonia.

For twenty years Mr. Maynard has been a resident of Hawarden and in all that time no man ever questioned his integrity or found him false in any way. This is not to say that he was not without fault, but he had less than the majority of men, and his virtues were many and stood out in bold relief. In his early business career he adopted the square deal as his motto and he carried it out to the very letter in every transaction.

Proctor Edwards Maynard was born at Rockdale, N.Y., March 2, 1941. His father was Lonson Maynard and his mother was Adeline S. Benton. Both Maynards and Bentons are Massachusetts families going back to Colonial times. His father died in 1851. He had two brothers, one half-brother and three sisters. Only his brothers and half-brother lived to maturity. His elder brother, Dexter A. Maynard, died in 1870, and his younger brother, Elvin J. Maynard, died in 1902. His remaining half-brother, Arch C. Howe, now lives at Milford, Delaware. He was educated in the common schools and attended an academy or "select" school one year. He taught school in Pennsylvania winters and clerked in a store and worked on a farm in summers. In 1863 he enlisted in the 53rd Pennsylvania infantry and served to the end of the war. He then taught school and worked in Michigan and Wisconsin.

In 1868 he was married to Mary S. Heggie at Clinton, Mich., and at once came to Elk Point where he took a homestead. Here he lived for fifteen years and here his children, Prof. Archibald B. Maynard and Myra E. Maynard, were born. He also taught several terms of school in South Dakota. In 1883 he bought a clothing store in Elk Point and was in business there one year. In 1884 he moved to Beresford where he conducted a general store for four years. In 1888 he came to Hawarden and joined with others in the erection of the city's first brick block, and started a clothing store in the store room now occupied by C. M. Smith. In 1897 he sold his clothing business and took a rest for one year. The next year he opened a general store again but disposed of it in 1904. Since then he has been looking after his real estate investments. He served on the school board, the city council and in other public capacities and was always faithful in the discharge of such duties. He was a member of the G.A.R., Eastern Star and Masonic orders, each of these societies taking part in the obsequies at the grave.

The funeral was held Wednesday at the Presbyterian church and was one of the most largely attended ever held in Hawarden, many members of the Masonic order from neighboring towns being present. Rev. C. M. Westlake of Sheldon preached the funeral sermon. The deceased leaves his devoted wife and son to mourn his death.

Source: Hawarden Independent, October 22, 1908.