The following is his obituary:

Decatur County Journal
February l6, l888

A REMARKABLE PERSONAGE DEAD.

One of the oldest settlers of Decatur County, FERDINAND TAKACS, was
buried last Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Cash Cemetery, Burrell
Township, near his home where he has resided for the past thirty-eight
years as a hermit.

Though the papers of our county made mention sometimes of his remarkable
life, I hope it will interest many who have known him more or less if I
give a short sketch of it.

He was born in Hungary, I believe, in the year l807 from a very
respectable family.  After finishing his college education, the family
relations tried to make a priest out of him, but he did not like it and
enlisted as a private in the Austro-Hungarian army.  Soon he was made a
sargeant and in that capacity he served in the regular army for
twenty-two years.  When the revolution broke out in Hungary in l848, he
was stationed in Gallicia and leading l80 cavalry men, with their arms
ammunitions and horses, broke through and arriving at Pest, offered
their services to their fatherland, the Hungarian government.  He was
made at once, Lieutenant, and served during the whole revolution of
Hungary, participating in many bloody battles.  In l849, with his
cavalry regiment, they were ordered to enforce the garrison under
General Klapka at fortress Komern on the Danube River, a fortress called
the Hungarian Gibraltar, which was never taken by any enemy in a
thousand battles.  This garrison made from the fortress many fiery
battles, always with success.  When the traitor, Gorgey, who was
commanding general of the Hungarian forces, laid down their arms to the
invading despotic Russian forces at Villagoes on the l3th day of August,
l849, and when the communication reached the garrison at Komorn of the
sad termination of the Hungarian revolution, it was decided that further
sheding of blood would be in vain, a capitulation was effected,
guaranteeing to the whole garrison perfect free return to their homes,
then UJHAZY, who was a civil Governor of the fortress, with forty of his
countrymen, demanded their passports to emigrate to the United States.
Our deceased friend, who was made Captain for his bravery, who was one
who signed the capitulation of the fortress, joined Gov. UJHAZY and with
him came to Decatur County in l850.

For some years he lived on Elk Creek, where the indian grave yard stood.
He sold his claim rights and bought the claim rights of GEORGE POMUTZ to
200 acres of land, what is known as the WHARTEMBEE ford, there he lived
for several years alone as a hermit.

In l856, he became deranged in his mind, and though he never was
offensive, he never regained his senses.  When Congress passed a law
allowing the Hungarian settlers to buy in their l60 acres of land, on
which they made improvements, at $l.25 per acre.  We went to persuade
him to go with us at our own expense to Chariton and prove up his claim
rights, as it was required by an act of congress.  But in his deranged
condition, he asserted that a man cannot own more land than he can
cultivate, and what nature gives to every man.  He had three acres in
cultivation and nature's law being above the Congress law, he could not
be induced to secure his claim rights.

So it happened that his claim ws taken away from him by outside parties.
He grew gradually worse and worse, and was complaining that his house
stood on a public highway and was too noisy.  So in l866, he moved into
the middle of the timber where he had a life lease on three acres of
land.  A little log house was built for him.  There he lived until the
date of his death.

He was industrious, liked by every one, and with a small help he
obtained from the county occasionally, while his friends and neighbors
helped him very much.  I must mention his kind neighbors, WM. CASH, G.W.
HOWDERSHELDT, ANTHONY RAUCH, DAVID SPRINGER, C. STANLEY and JOHN ROSS,
who being nearer to him, not only helped him by their kindness, but
watched him continually.

God almighty was so kind to him that he called him away without long
suffering.  Thursday, he was seen chopping his own wood. Friday, he was
seen by MR. CASH's boys and as they did not see any smoke going up from
his chimney Saturday morning, they went to look after him.  They found
the door locked and on looking in the window, they saw him laying on his
bed.  MR. RAUCH and SELLERS were at once summoned.  They opened the door
and there he was laying as a corpse, calm, natural, the left hand
resting on his heart.

So ended a brave man's life, and ended his sufferings.  He was buried
very decently, the whole neighborhood paying the last respects to him.
I was the only one of his old countrymen, who with my son STEPHEN, were
standing at his grave, and as I tried to thank his kind neighbors for
all their kindness bestowed upon him, so I feel it as a duty and a
pleasant one, to express my heartfelt thanks to all who made his long
suffering as light as possible.  God bless them all and save any one
from such a sad fate.

Fortunately, a little sum of money was found in his possessions which
was sufficient to defray burial expenses.  His small effects I disposed
of in accordance with his desire often expressed to me.  May his ashes
rest in peace.
                               F. VARGA
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

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