Obituary Record

Israel Curtis (I.C.) Eller
Died on 12/1/1944
Buried in Blair Cemetery

Enterprise 7 Dec 1944

I.C. Eller Dies at Age of 91 Years

Eight Of Family Of Fifteen. Was Resident Of Blair Since 1880

(Photo)

FORMER LEGISLATOR, CLERK AND JUDGE

I.C. Eller, well known and highly respected citizen of this county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry Morris, of Blair on December 1st after a residence here of sixty-four years.

Judge Eller was born in Iowa in December 17, 1853, and came to Blair in 1880. He studied law with an elder brother, William Eller, and was admitted to the bar in 1883 and immediately began practicing.

On November 3rd, 1886, he was married to Miss Ella E. Kemp and to them three children were born, two daughters and one son. The son passed away in childhood. The daughters are Mrs. Harry Morris of Blair and Mrs. R. I. Roush of Des Moines, Iowa, who with five grandchildren and three great grandchildren survive.

In his early career, Judge Eller showed himself to be strictly honorable in his business dealings and gained the public trust which carried him into various public offices which he filled with great satisfaction to his constituents and with credit to himself.

He served as Clerk of the District Court for eight years and then resumed the practice of law. He was appointed as Clerk of the Court and again took the office in 1908 and filled out the vacancy caused by the death of Theodore Haller. He was again elected in 1910 but soon after resigned to be appointed as County Judge which place he filled until he retired from active work.

For the past several years he has lived quietly and has put in much of his time with his garden and his flowers.

In his passing, Blair has lost a good citizen; one who never compromised on any subject but lived and acted according to his conscience. But he had lived his life—a life of activity and usefulness—one filled with honor to himself and his friends will long point to his record as an example well worthy of emulation.

Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at the Congregational Church with Rev. Watson F. Lewis officiating, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

Another Article:

I.C. Eller Buried Sunday

Staunch Citizen Was Nearly 91 Years Old

Death Claimed “Judge Eller, For Many Years a Public Officer, Early Friday; Was Community Builder, Known Over County

A host of friends from all sections of Nebraska were present at the Congregational church, Sunday afternoon, when funeral rites were held for I. C. Eller, 90.

Long recognized as one of the staunchest and most civic-minded members of this community, Mr. Eller devoted more than half a century to public interests. He held the office of Washington County Judge over a long period of years, also held office as State Representative and Clerk of the District Court.

Mr. Eller died on Friday morning, only 17 days before his 91st birthday, at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Morris, with whom he had lived for many years. In excellent health until this fall, he was ill less than two months and took pride in casting his vote as usual in the Nov. 7 balloting despite his infirmities.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Eller, Israel Curtis Eller was born near Fairfield, Jefferson county, Ia., on December 17, 1853, a short time after the Eller family had traveled via covered wagon from North Carolina. He received his formal education at Central College, Pella, Ia.

Mr. Eller arrived in Blair in 1880 and 1882 he was admitted to the bar.

On Nov. 3, 1886, Mr. Eller was united in marriage to Miss Ella E. Kemp of Blair, the wedding ceremony taking place at the Congregational church. Two daughters, Mrs. Harry L. Morris of Blair and Mrs. R. J. Roush of Des Moines, Ia., were born to the couple. Mrs. Eller preceded her husband in death in 1914.

Besides the two daughters, Mr. Eller leaves five grandchildren: Mrs. Carleton Sperati of Arlington, N. J., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Morris; Mrs. James Lyle of Des Moines, Mrs. Erwin Kuntz of Kingfish, Okla., SK 1/c Dorothy M. Roush of the Naval Reserve in Seattle, and W. S. Roush, Navy V-12 student at Ames, Ia.; he also is survived by three great grandsons.

Mr. Eller was an organizer of the Blair Cemetery Association and served as its first secretary. Both he and his wife were directly responsible for completing the sidewalk from the business section to the cemetery gate. Through their efforts blocks without sidewalks on the Nebraska street routing were hard surfaced and then the long sidewalk from the city limits to the cemetery was completed. The fine row of trees leading to the cemetery can also be attributed to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Eller.

In addition to the public services listed above, Mr. Eller also served as city clerk for several terms and was a member of the Board of Education over a long period of time. He held membership in the Blair Baptist church, and was active in the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges.

The Rev. D. D. Kennedy, Baptist minister, and the Rev. W. F. Lewis, Congregational minister collaborated in the funeral services. A large company of the late Mr. Eller’s fellow I.O.O.F. members conducted an impressive graveside ceremony.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 12/7/1944


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