Published in the January 24, 1919 Enterprise, Blair, Nebraska

PAXTON WARE

“In the midst of life we are in Death” is exemplified in the demise of Paxton Ware, confirming the adage that “Death loves a shining mark;” likewise that “The Good die Young.”

The death of this universally esteemed and much loved and admired young man occurred at his home on the farm southeast of this city at one o’clock P.M. last Saturday the 18th, inst., after a brief illness of a week with the prevailing influenza epidemic.

Deceased was a native Nebraskan, born January 10th, 1887* at Ogalalla and coming with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Ware, to this farm when a child. He attended the Blair school and later took a course at Creighton college before taking up his chosen vocation of farming. Near five years ago he was married to Miss Ruth Cook, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. F. Cook, at Beaver Dam, Wisc., and set up housekeeping in a home on the farm near his paternal home, where they have lived happily since, deceased having the entire management of the big farm since his father’s health failed some years ago. When the first premonitory symptoms of the disease which cause his death were noted he was with his father, who had recently gone to an Omaha hospital for treatment, and came home, having no thought that his indisposition was of a serious nature. His wife was taken down with the same ailment and they were both bedfast for a time.

Paxton was a general favorite; everybody liked him, as boy and man, for his hearty, unselfish, kindly nature, and many are the expressions of regret heard on every hand of his untimely death.

He leaves his wife, who had been his sweetheart since their school day association as boy and girl of tender years, father and mother who idolized him; and one sister, (Margaret) Mrs. W. F. Waltemath, of North Platte, this state; to mourn the loss of the companionship of a devoted, loving husband, son and brother.

Funeral service was held at the Catholic church on Monday A.M., Father O’Driscoll, his pastor since childhood, coming from Florence to assist Father Beyersdorfer in the service. Beside the immediate family relatives a large number of friends from Omaha were in attendance. Mr. Ed. F. Cook, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and daughter, Vera, now Mrs. Wm. Williamson, of Dayton, Ohio, Mrs. Ware’s father and sister, were in attendance at the funeral. Mr. Jas. Ware, father of deceased, had recently undergone an operation at the hospital and was unable to come to the funeral; and Mrs. Waltemath, sister of deceased, remained with her father at the hospital in Omaha to comfort him in his bereavement. The funeral was largely attended by residents of city and country and the floral tributes to the deceased were numerous and beautiful.

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

FindaGrave memorial # 130648982

*Note: the newspaper article had his birth in 1889, but his tombstone has it at 1887.