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AT REST

(Potter County News, February 22, 1900)

 

Rev. Dawson Barker, of Hitchcock, S.D., died at Ausbury Hospital, Minneapolis, Friday evening February 16th, 1900, where he had gone to have an operation performed for cancer about two weeks previously.

Deceased was born July 22nd, 1839, at Yorkshire, England, coming to America when about two years old with his parents who settled in Canada. After arriving at man’s estate he was converted and commenced preaching in the Methodist Church.  He soon over­taxed his vocal chords and had to quit the ministry, but later on his health improving he again returned to his work. In 1883 he was run down by overwork and came to Dakota to take a homestead and recuperate. He filed a homestead eight miles south of Orient. He brought a large tent with him and the first Sunday had it full to overflowing with the neighboring settlers, preaching to them.

            Rev. Barker was sent to Gettysburg in 1895 by the M.E. Conference and returned here the two following years. He was universally esteemed and respected here. He was sent from here to Hitchcock, a year ago last summer.

            The remains were returned to Hitchcock for internment and the funeral was held, last Tuesday afternoon. There was a very large attendance and an abundance of flowers. The funeral services were conducted by Elder Jenkins of Huron assisted by Rev’ds Davis of Orient, Terral of Miller, Warren of Wolsey, and Minzer of Redfield. He leaves his wife and one daughter, Miss Nellie, surviving him.

 

DIED

(Potter County News February 8, 1900)

 

Mrs. Anna Henrietta Boke, wife of William Boke was born in north Switzerland September 30th, 1835, grew to womanhood there, and married William Boke. In 1882, they came to America with three children, Hans, Peter and Henry, settling in Chicago. They moved to Potter County settling in Lucas Township. She was taken with acute pneumonia last week and died Sunday evening February 4th, 1900.  She was a member of the Lutheran Church. The funeral was held at the house at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Rev. R. B. Hall preaching the sermon. The interment took place at the Gettysburg cemetery Tuesday afternoon.

 

 

MURDER AND SUICIDE

(Unknown date or Publication Bef. 1901) 

 

A Horrible Grime Occurs at Forest City--Ed Rosa  Shoots Mary Brehl and then Turns the Gun on Himself.

A tragedy of the first-class occurred at Forest City between 10 and 11 o’clock last Monday morning, When Ed Rosa shot and instantly killed Mary Brehl and then immediately suicided with the same weapon-- a 44-calibre Colts revolver. Coroner Hurley was called to the scene on Monday afternoon when he summoned.

            Lyman Harrington, Wm. Small and. S. M. Howard as a coroner’s, jury who returned a verdict in accordance with the following facts and circumstances surrounding the case:

Ed. Rosa and Mary Brehl were young people of Forest City, he being about 25 and she about 18 years of age.  They had been keeping company to some extent and went to a Christmas ball together, from which the girl was escorted home by another fellow. At the time mentioned Ed went to the residence of Charley Stewart, whose wife is a sister of the deceased girl, and asked to see Mary. He was accompanied into an adjoining room where Mary was by Mrs. Stewart, who on being requested by him to leave them alone for a short time, retired but had scarcely yet closed the door when a revolver shot came, and glancing back Mrs. Stewart saw her sister falling; she was about to return to the room when Rosa, pointing the revolver at her, told her to "git"; but she fled from the house and had but just gained the open, air when she heard a second shot.  Apparently on finding himself alone with Mary, Ed had drawn a concealed weapon and shot the helpless girl, the ball entering back of' the ear and causing instant death. He then turned the weapon on himself, the ball entering his head at the base of the nose.  He lingered in an unconscious condition for perhaps an hour.  The foregoing will give our readers some idea of the horror of the situation.  As to the cause which may have led to this deplorable affair it is generally talked  that Ed and Mary had been engaged and were to have been married in the spring, and that he had made her presents of considerable value; but that lately he

had been superceded in her affections by a young man from Walworth county.

Mary Brehl was a daughter of John P.  Brehl who is the blacksmithing business at Forest City, and was formerly the agency blacksmith.  He has quite a large family upon whom this calamity will fall very heavily.  Ed Rosa was a brother of C. B. Rosa south of Forest City; his parents live at Watertown, he has a married sister living at Huron--all estimable people who will be shocked on hearing of the young man’s crime.

 

 

AT REST

(Potter County News May 25, 1899)

 

Last Sunday evening, May 21st, at 7:30 o'clock, occurred the death of Minnie Francis Briscoe at her home in Artichoke Township, Potter County.

The deceased was born in Dwight, Livingston County, Illinois, April 21, 1877 and was at the time of her death 22 years 1 month of age.  In 1884 at the age seven she came to Blunt, Hughes County.  For the past five years she has been engaged in teaching school in Potter and Sully counties.  Four weeks ago last Friday she finished a six month term of school in Logan township, Potter County and returned home to rest and regain her health which was in a very delicate condition., she was energetic, conscientious and a most successful teacher.  She entered her chosen work with zeal which overtaxed her strength and since the close of her last term of school she has been afflicted with nervous prostration which caused her death.

            Everything that medical skill could do was done for her and loving parents, relatives and friends did all possible to relieve her suffering and  restore her health.

The deceased was a young lady in the bloom of womanhood, dearly beloved for her gently disposition intellectual attainments and pure character.  She leaves to mourn her sad and untimely death her sorrowing parents, three sisters and three brothers. She was prepared to go and has passed to that peaceful world the eternal home and reward of the faithful.

            The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Smith in the Catholic church of this place.  A large Concourse of relatives and friends attended the funeral and followed the remains to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery.