Columbus Journal Obituaries, 1878-1879
City of Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska

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1878-1879 Obituaries from the Columbus Journal, in Columbus, Platte County Nebraska.

BONESTEEL, Philip Benjamin, Obituary

BONESTEEL - At Chicago, Sept. 8th, 1878, at midnight, of quinzy, resulting in diptheria, Philip Benjamin Bonesteel, in the 29th year of his age.

The deceased left this city two weeks ago this morning, and was in Chicago on business, when he was taken ill withsore throat. His last letters to his wife and his brother Norris G., stated that he hoped to be up on Friday, and at home by the middle of the week. All other subsequent communications by letter and telegram were from Farwell & Co., of Chicago, telling of series illness and requesting Mrs. Bonesteel to come, then of his death at the time stated.

Yesterday morning the following gentlemen went to Omaha to receive the remains of the deceased: J. P. Wells, for the Encampment; E. J. Baker, for the Odd Fellows' lodge; J. R. Meagher, for the Knights of Honor, and J. Rasmussen and D. Kavanaugh, on behalf of the Firemen. It is expected that they will arrive here at 1:30pm today. The funeral will probably take place at four o'clock this afternoon, possibly not till tomorrow morning.

The deceased was born in Canada, Dec. 29th, 1849, and removed to Nebraska Mar. 1868; in 1870, with his elder brother, Norris G., he embarked in the dry goods business in this city, and was thus engaged at the time of his death. In May 1875, he married Miss Kittie L. Dale, an estimable lady, who, with their little daughter, Pearl, are left to mourn the departure of a devoted husband and fond father. Words can not tell the agonizing grief of the stricken wife who was not permitted to be present to soothe the dying brow and catch the last beam of affection from the fading eyes so soon to be closed forever in death, and to feel the last fond pressure of the hand that ever so bountiful to her and from which she had never known ought but kindness, but such are the ways of Providence toward man; but faith, that faith which lays hold upon eternal life, and sees the ever-kind Father, through the storm of grief, the cloud of sorrow and the night of pain, and knows that all is well, will sustain her who mourns today, and bid her look forward to a reunion with her beloved in the happy Summer-land.

The members of his family are not alone in their grief, for the deceased had many, warm personal friends, and no many, warm personal friends, and no enemy that we know of. The remarkable uniformity of his conduct, his good judgment, his gentlemanly bearing under all circumstances, and the thorough integrity of his character, qualities always admirable, endeared him to a host of acquaintances, and especially to those who were near to him in business or social relations. He was one of the oldest members of the Odd Fellows' lodge of Columbus, having passed through all the different chairs, and at the time of his death, occupied the highest office in the lodge. He was likewise a member of the Masonic lodge of Columbus, and of the Knights of Honor, and an active member of the Fire Department, for some time its chief, and while his trip to Chicago was mainly one of business, he carried the certificate of the Department authorizing him to represent them at the Grand Tournament which took place in that city.

It is natural for us to grieve when Death comes in any shape, but when he comes so quickly, and hurriedly carries away one of our number so universally esteemed, as an exemplary citizen and business man, and one so fondly loved as husband, father, brother and friend, the clearest Faith and the strongest Hope can but look on our grief approvingly, and as becoming those who live in frail tenements, whose lives are as shadows upon the wall, and as a fond tribute to the memory of the departed whose spirit already occupies the house not made with hands. [The Columbus Journal, (Columbus, Neb.), September 11, 1878, P.3.]

EDWARDS, Lydia A., Obituary

EDWARDS - At 3 o'clock Sunday morning last, of dropsy, Mrs. Lydia A. Edwards, wife of Solomon J. Edwards of this city, aged 58 years.

The deceased formerly resided at New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, at which place and at others where she was known, the intelligence of her decease will bring recollections of tender ministrations at the times of sickness and distress, the appeal for which she never disregarded when it was possible for her to respond.

Her last sickness, the effect of a complication of disorders, though painful in the extreme, and extending through a period of months of acute suffering, was borne by her with Christian fortitude, almost entirely repressing manifestations of suffering through regard for the feelings of her family, and at the last, surrounded by her family, and sustained by the Christian faith, she passed to her rest. [The Columbus Journal, (Columbus, Neb.), October 16, 1878, P.3.]

McCREA, Infant Child, Obituary

McCREA - An infant child of Robert McCrea's, on the 26th inst. [The Columbus Journal, (Columbus, Neb.), August 28, 1878, P.3.]

NORTON, Daughter, Obituary

NORTON - On last Saturday night, a little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norton, of this city, aged 14 months. [The Columbus Journal, (Columbus, Neb.), October 16, 1878, P.3.]

RAMSBURGH, Mary A., Obituary

RAMSBURGH - Aug. 24th, at Clarksville, Miss. Mary A. Ramsburgh, sister-in-law of Dr. Mitchell. [The Columbus Journal, (Columbus, Neb.), August 28, 1878, P.3.]

SCHWARTZ, Louisa, Obituary

SCHWARTZ - Aug. 23d, Mrs. Louisa Schwartz, aged 67 years, mother of Henry and Louis Schwartz. [The Columbus Journal, (Columbus, Neb.), August 28, 1878, P.3.]