Madison Pioneer Dies in S. Dakota; Services Sunday

Francis Dover, 92, Madison county farmer and pioneer, died at the home of his son in Martin, S. D. on March 22.  Francis E. Dover was born at Silver Creek, Delaware County, on August 21, 1857.  He was educated in Massachusetts and when yet a young man came to this state.  On December 24, 1881 he was united in marriage with a cousin, Miss Jane Dover of Madison.  To this union four children were born, two sons and two daughters, three of whom preceded him in death.  Mrs. Dover died on October 19, 1905.

On May 23, 1911 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Rose E. Emery of Sansarc, S. D. She passed away on May 19, 1934.   Source:  excerpts from Madison Star-Mail Thursday, March 30, 1950 on page 1.

Young Lady Dies Suddenly This A. M.

Residents here were shocked this morning at the word of the death of Merle Dye, daughter of Homer Dye.

For some time Merle has been ailing with diabetes.  Her condition was not generally considered critical but Wednesday evening she dropped into a coma from which she never awakened.

Survivors are her father and step-mother, a brother, Wayne, who is in Washington, and two half brothers, Klair and Reed, who attend school here.  She is also survived by her aged grandparents, Mr. and  Mrs. E. L. Twiss of Penticton, Canada, and her grandmother, Mrs. Long, of Iowa.

Funeral arrangements are not made, depending on word from Wayne.

Source:  Meadow Grove News, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1937, page 1.

Merle Dye Funeral

Funeral services were held here Saturday for Merle Dye who died suddenly Thursday morning after a brief illness.  The services were held at the home at 1:30 and at the M. E. church at 2:00.  Rev. David Scott being in charge.

Songs for the services were furnished by four girls, Margaret Kauffman, Edith Hannen, Eva Hansen and Ann Hamley with Miss Ruth Crook as accompanist.

Pall bearers were five of her classmates, Ben Hamley, Pat Blair, Dale Horrocks, Jack Daniel and James Beech, the sixth being Gordon Higbee.

Burial was in the Emerick cemetery.

                                                     Merle Edith Dye

Merle Edith Dye was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada on March 8, 1917 and passed away at her home in Meadow Grove, Nebraska, on February 4, 1937 at the age of 19 years, 10 months and 26 days.

Her mother passed away when Merle was 18 days of age.  When two years of age she came to Meadow Grove with her parents and has lived here ever since.  She attended school here and graduated with the class of 1936.

For some time she has been ill with diabetes but her condition was not considered critical until Wednesday when she dropped into a coma from which she never awakened.

Survivors are her father and step-mother; one brother, Wayne of Spokane, Washington; two half brothers, Klair and Reed; three grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Twiss of Penticton, Canada and Mrs. J. W. Long of Ida Grove, Iowa; together with many other relatives and a host of friends.

Probably the outstanding characteristic with Merle was her great love for children and many of them are to be counted as her intimate friends.

Source:  Meadow Grove News, Thursday, Feb. 11, 1937, page 1.

Mother Dies in Virginia

Word has been received of the death of Mrs. Leona Dunivan, mother of Mrs. J. C. Bagwell and of Chas. Dunivan.  She passed away March 24 at her home at Fox Creek, Va., at the age of 59 years.  Word came here too late for the relatives to attend the funeral services. Our sympathy to the bereaved.  Source: Meadow Grove News, Thursday, April 11, 1935, page 1.

Last Rites Performed    

Funeral of Frank Dufphey

Interment at Mt. Zion Cemetery

The funeral of Frank Dufphey, brief mention of whose death was made last week, was held at the J. A. Wright home in Battle Creek at 10:30 last Saturday afternoon, Rev. M. Doherty of the First Baptist church conducting the services. Interment was made at the Mt. Zion cemetery southwest of Battle Creek.

In the passing of Frank Dufphey, Madison County loses another pioneer. Born in Virginia, he came to Madison county in 1879 and worked with his brother, Joe, until 1883, when he was married to Miss Ellen Casey and bought the farm which has since been his home. Though experiencing all the hardships and privations with which the early settlers had to contend, he had faith in Nebraska and after years of hard work found himself free of debt and in position to enjoy his declining days. Honest to a fault, he was held in highest regard by all acquaintances and his death is a loss keenly felt by the community.

Mr. Dufphey was 61 years and 6 months old. Aside from the wife and one daughter, Mrs. Stover Mink of Emerick, deceased is survived by four brothers and three sisters, Joe and Mrs. J. A. Wright of Battle Creek, Lawrence and Tom of Tilden, Mrs. Joe Osborn of Schoolcraft, Dick of Idaho and a sister in Virginia.

Source: Battle Creek Enterprise, Battle Creek, Nebraska, July 16, 1914, page 1.  A note that the burial of Franklin M. Dufphey who was born 19 February 1853 and died 10 July 1914, is at Osborn Cemetery. Source: Personal visit to cemetery by Richard R. Strenge on August 12, 2001.

Jurors Decide Fatal Stabbing Accidental

A corner’s jury called to investigate the death of Frank P. Diederichs, 31, of Norfolk, found the accident unavoidable and without felonious intent.  Diederichs, it will be recalled died instantly when a knife held by his wife pierced his heart at the family home last Friday evening.  The dead man, an automobile repair man, came home to dinner at the usual hour Friday evening. He found his wife in the kitchen preparing some radishes and almost instantly after placing his arms around her, slumped to the floor as if in a faint. Mrs. Diederichs, not realizing what had actually happened and thinking him only ill, called a physician who after a hurried examination found the man dead. An examination revealed a knife wound about a half inch long directly over the heart.

Diederichs is survived by his wife, two small sons, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Diederichs and one brother, Henry of Norfolk.  Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at St. John’s Lutheran church.   Source: Madison Star-Mail, Thursday, March 12, 1931, page 1.

Brother Dies in Iowa

Julius DeCamp, brother of Mrs. Jennie Fichter and of Geo. DeCamp, died at Randolph, Iowa, and funeral services were held Tuesday. Those from here who attended were Mrs. Jennie Fichter, and sons, Ray of Neligh, and Judson, and her daughter, Mrs. John Horrocks; Geo. Jr., Roland, Lucy and Margaret DeCamp; Mrs. Mae Moore and Mrs. Vera Weingart.  Source: Meadow Grove News, Thursday, April 11, 1935, page 1.

Mrs. Jennie Fichter and Judson, Mrs. John Horrocks and Ray Fichter of Neligh drove to Randolph, Iowa, Tuesday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Fichter’s brother, Julius DeCamp, who died Sunday. Mrs. Curtis Olmstead of Neligh is staying with Grandma DeCamp during their absence. Source: Meadow Grove News, Thursday April 11, 1935, page 8.