(transcribed by Pat O'Dell: genpat@netins.net)

Copyright © 2003 by Pat O'Dell: This data may be used for your own family research; it may not be copied in any form or used for any other purpose (commercial or otherwise).

John M. Hume died at his home, four miles west of Sidney, on Friday, September 25th. He was in his 87th year, and was one of the pioneer setttlers of Fremont county, where he has lived for more than sixty years.The story of Mr Hume's life contains many stirring and interesting events. He was born in Kentucky in 1828, and at the age of 21 he ran away from home and joined Lopez in his filibustering expedition to Cuba in 1850. Lopez was captured and executed at Havana, and young Hume, after suffering untold hardships, narrowly escaped a like fate. The word "filibuster" was added to the English language as a result of the Lopez expedition.

The Hume family came west and settled on the western border of Iowa because the women refused to go further through fear of the Indians. The red men were plentiful here at the date mentioned, and old John Brown and Gen. Jim Lane, with their troopers, on different occasions marched by the Hume home, and in one instance complelled one of the Hume boys to haul a wagon load of their belongings to Nebraska City, which was then little more than an Indian village, on the west bank of the Missouri river.

Mr Hume married, settled down and became a large landowner. At the time of his death he was rated as one of the wealthiest men in this community. He is survived by a widow and five children, two sons and three daughters.

The funeral services were held at Knox on Sunday, conducted by Rev Enoch Hill of College Springs, and interment was made in the cemetery near that place.

On Sunday evening occurred the death of James Maxsted at his home in Shenandoah following a sudden stroke of paralysis. The funeral services were held at Shenandoah Wednesday afternoon and the remains were taken to Riverton and laid by the side of his first wife.

Mr Maxsted was 7? (paper gone) years of age and was for about twenty years a highly respected citizen of this place and about four years ago moved to Shenandoah where he was employed at his trade that of harness maker. Mr Maxsted was a man of deep religious convictions and was steady and reliable in his habits and work. He leaves a wife, five children, three daughters and two sons, all of whom were present at the funeral. Quite a number from here attended the services.

Harriet Binker was born in Lee county, Iowa, March 2, 1850 and died at Sidney September 28, 1914. Her parents moved to Taylor county when she was a mere child. There she grew to womanhood. She was married to George Gould May 23, 1867. To this union nine children were born. Since her marriage, with the exception of a few years her home has been in Fremont county. Thurman and Sidney have known her, known her helpfulness in times of sickness and trouble. Her unselfishness is her greatest virtue.

Mrs Gould was a good christian woman and a loving mother. She joined the Methodist church in 1867. She is survived by a husband and eight children. The funeral services were held Wednesday, conducted by Rev. Enoch Hill of College Springs.

The sudden death of Smith Burgner, which occurred at the Julien hotel on Monday night, was a distinct shock to everyone, as he had been around in usual health, and many had remarked upon how well he looked.

About 11 o'clock a call came from the livery barn to the effect that one of Mr Burgner's horses was very sick. Landlord Fisher went to his room and called Smith, who said he would get up and go down. Smith had gotten into part of his clothes when he was stricken with a stroke of apoplexy and he called for help. L.H. Carder happened to be near and ran to the room. Burgner was leaning against the door and his limbs were stiff. He was assisted to the bed and the doctor called. His daughter, Mrs Hugh Thompson, and husband were also called and arrived about the same time as the doctor, but it was too late, Smith was beyond help.

For over twenty years, Mr Burgner has been engaged in the livery business at this place and enjoyed a wide acquaintance. He was a friend to everyone, and while peculiar in some of his ways, those who knew him well speak of him in high praise. Smith had many charities, known to few, and made no show of his good deeds. He started out in life to be an engineer, and not liking this was appointed deputy U.S. marshal, and many were the tales he told of experiences he had while hunting moonshiners in the south. After serving the government for some time he came north and engaged in farming until he entered the livery business.

Smith Doak Burgner was born in Chuckney, Tenn., July 9, 1850, and had reached the age of 64 years, 2 months and 26 days. He is survived by three sisters, one brother and one daughter, Mrs Hugh Thompson, besides a host of friends. The funeral services were held at the Hugh Thompson home Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Theo J. Asmus, and interment was made in the High Creek cemetery.

On Friday, October 9, occurred the death of George W. Sykes at the State Hospital in Clarinda, and the remains were brought to Hamburg Saturday.

George Washington Sykes was born in Waynesburg, Ohio, Feb 24, 1839, and when but a child moved with his parents to central Illinois. On Dec 29, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Wilkerson, who preceded him to the grave July 15, 1911. To this union three children were born: Ulysses, Della and Roy. In 1888, with his family, he moved to Hamburg and owned a farm east of town, afterwards moving closer in, and upon the death of his wife took up his residence in town. Mr Sykes was a man of many parts, and enjoyed very much the companionship of good books. In his younger days he took an active part in the affairs of the county. The funeral services were held at the home of his daughter Della on Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Theo J. Asmus, and interment was made in the Mt Olive cemetery. He leaves a sister in Sweetwater, Ill, and two children in Hamburg, besides many friends.

Monday at noon death came to Mark Copeland, ending his sufferning, and following a long period of sickness. He was 64 years, 5 months and 4 days of age.

Mr Copeland was born near Gainsburg, Overton county, Tenn., and when young moved to Illinois with his parents where they lived until after the war. His father enlisted with the north and after serving about a year was killed and following this the family came west, first locating in Clarinda where young Mark was employed in the woolen mills which were then one of the thriving institutions of the place. In 1870 the family moved to Hamburg, which has since been his home, with the exception of a period in Nebraska City. He followed the work of hotel cook and worked in many places and on January 12, 1874 was married to Miss Jennie Kieth of Nebraska City and one son, Frank, was born to them. For some twenty years he has conducted a hotel here. He leaves a wife, son, two sisters: Mrs Silas Beason of Nebraska City, Mrs John O'Neil of this place and two brothers: John of Omaha and Henry of Chicago.

The funeral services were held at his late home on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by REv. B.H. Coonradt and the interment was made in the Hamburg cemetery.

Owing to an oversight we neglected to find a notice of the death of T.O. Hern which occurred at Hot Springs, Ark., September 30. He had been there for treatment and was found dead in bed.

Thomas Overton Hern was born in Howard county, Mo., in 1863. In 1881 he came to this county with M.U. Payne, he being a nephew to Mrs Payne. After the death of Mr Payne in '95 he became manager of the ranch near Payne, which position he held until lately when the condition of his health compelled him to give it up. His mother and one sister reside at the old home at Fayette, Mo., and one brother, Paul, lives in Omaha. Funeral services were held last Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the residence of Dr S.P. Cresap at Nebraska City.

The sudden death of Joseph Pritchard in the hospital in Omaha on Saturday was a distinct shock to his many friends. On the Wednesday before he underwent an operation, and his heart was not strong enough to withstand the shock, and death followed three days later.

J.F. Pritchard was born in St Clair county, Illinois, Aug 16, 1845. In the fall of 1854 he moved with his parents to Keokuk, Iowa. In 1865 the family moved to Atchison county, and the year following he took up his residence on the farm which he owned. On September 29, 1870, he was married to Mrs M.M.Worlen, whose death occurred February 12, 1911. They had no children of their own, but raised Mrs Hiram Clarey, her daughter, Mrs C.D. Breedlove, and her son, Alfred, who has made his home with the Pritchards for many years, and who had been of great help to Mr Pritchard during the past few years when ill health had forced him to give up active work.

Mr Pritchard is survived by four sisters: Mrs L.T. Harned of Sigourney, Iowa; Mrs E.P. McDowell, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs S.R. Jones, Fort Worth, Texas; Mrs A.L. Hice?, Minerva, Ohio, and one brother, O.E. Pritchard, Brewster, Neb. The funeral services were held at the Baptist church Tuesday at 2 o'clock conducted by Rev A.W. Tandy, and interment was made in the Hamburg cemetery. The Odd Fellows of which he was a member had charge of the services at the grave.

In the death of Mr Pritchard the community has lost a good man and a friend of many. His acquaintance was very wide on account of the fame of the lake which bears his name, and the many people who visit the lake for miles around know Joe and remember the kindness which he showed them as utter strangers.

Matthew McKibbon passed from this earth on last Sunday as a result of a stroke of paralysis which he suffered last week. Mr McKibbon was born in Ohio, October 29, 1829, and just lacked a few days of being 85 years of age. On November 7, 1852, he was united in marriage to Sarah Pollard, and to this union four children were born, G.D. being the only living child.

McKibbon moved to the vicinity of Hamburg some forty-five years ago and followed for years the work of farming, and when old age caused him to give up active work he came to Hamburg, which has since been his home. The funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. John Chapman, and interment was made in the Hamburg cemetery.