Aurit, Jerry (Jerome), 1873-1938

AURIT, SULLIVAN, MCGUIRE, KESSLER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Sioux County Capital, September 22, 1938:

Jerry Aurit of Rock Valley died at the Iowa state hospital Tuesday September 13. Mr. Aurit suffered a paralytic stroke on the preceding Saturday night from which he never rallied. Mr. Aurit was a victim of epilepsy for many years and the past year was in very poor health.

The subject of this sketch was born in Wisconsin, November 20, 1873, and came to a farm east of Rock Valley where he grew to manhood. At the time of his passing he had attained the age of 64 years, 9 months and 23 days.

He leaves five children: Lawrence Aurit; Frances, Mrs. W. C. Ver Mulm; Florence, Mrs. Ted Hamann; and Leo all of Rock Valley, arid Josephine Aurit of Canton. S. D. He is survived by two brothers, John Aurit of Dubuque, la., and Henry Aurit of Mankato, Minn. and three sisters Mrs. Kate Schemmer of Chicago, Ill., Mrs. John Stengel of Worthing, S. D. and Mrs. Arthur Warren of Windom, Minn.

Funeral services were held at the St. Mary's church at nine o'clock on Thursday conducted by Rev. Mr. A .J. Foerster. Burial was made in St. Mary's cemetery.

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Similar obituaries were published in the Sioux Center News (Sept. 22) and the Alton Democrat (Sept. 23); both note his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Aurit. The Rock Valley Bee for September 16, which probably included his home-town obituary, is missing.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Aurit, Jerome, b. 1873, d. 1938, Father, St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Rock Valley IA.

His FindaGrave.com page (Jerome Aurit, 1873-1938) gives his parents, Valentine Aurit (1844-1825) and Anna Maria Sullivan Aurit (1847-1913); 10 siblings listed; spouse Susan McGuire Kessler (1892-1983, married 1909). Three children listed: Frances Josephine Aurit Ver Mulm (1912-1988), Florence Mary Aurit Hamann (1917-1998), and Josephine Mary Aurit Lottman (1923-2008). His wife’s second husband was Harry Kessler; they are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Canton, S.D. There is a photo of his headstone.

His death certificate gives his name as Jerry Aurit, usual residence Rock Valley; a resident of the Cherokee State Hospital, Cherokee. Iowa for 9 months 25 days; born in Wisconsin Nov. 20, 1872; parents Valentine Aurit and Marie ----, both born in Germany; divorced, wife Susie McGuire; occupation, odd jobs; died at 9:25 a.m. September 13, 1938; causes, cerebral arteriosclerosis with hypertension, and cerebral hemorrhage (9/11/1938); contributory cause, "senile psychosis, simple type.”

The Sioux County marriage register for 1910 has groom Jerry Aurit, age 36, resident of Rock Valley, occupation section boss, born in Wisconsin, parents Valentine Aurit and Myra Sullivan; bride Susan McGuire, age 18, resident of Rock Valley, born in Perkins, Iowa, parents Matt McGuire and Jane Woods; married in Rock Valley June 17, 1910. (But Ancestry.com also has a South Dakota marriages list that includes groom Jerry Aurit, age 33 and bride Susan Maguire, age 19, both residents of Rock Valley, married by a justice of the peace in Hudson, October 14, 1909.)

His World War I registration card (Sept. 1918) gives his birth date as November 20, 1874; resident of Rock Valley; a railway laborer for the C M & St P Railway [probably Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul]; medium height, slender build, brown eyes, grey hair. He signs it Jerry Aurit.

Jerry Aurit of the county home was brought before the Commissioners of Insanity and was found to be a fit subject for treatment at the Cherokee state hospital (Hawarden Independent, Dec. 2, 1937). County commissioners’ records of claims paid show that he had been receiving county relief aid for the past few years.