1) Printed in the June 2, 1909 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska

Another Pioneer Is Gone

Mrs. A. Castetter Died Early Saturday Morning From Toxic Poisoning Following Erysipelas

Helen Marr Castetter, widow of the late A. Castetter, died rather suddenly at 2:45 last Saturday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. F. H. Claridge. All the members of the family were in the death chamber when the end came, as peacefully as sleep.

She had been suffering from an attack of erysipelas and had been in bed but about eight days. The disease was not considered particularly dangerous though it was treated with every care and its progress was stayed in the usual time.

Friday morning a strange stupor began to come on, and the family was frightened for the first time. Dr. Bridges was called by telephone and he came up at once in an auto to consult with Dr. Murdoch, the attending physician. He said the stupor was due to toxic poisoning and that nothing could be done, the disease often taking that turn in old age.

She had failed to recognize Mrs. Nash when she came Friday morning and gradually sank into a slumber that became deeper and deeper until it became the sleep of death at 2:45 Saturday morning.

Monday being Decoration Day the funeral was set for 3:30 Tuesday afternoon at the Episcopal church. Rev. A.E. Marsh was assisted in the dignified and stately service by Bishop Williams and Rev. John Williams, of Omaha.

The casket was covered with the floral tributes of friends, the hearse was filled with them and the family lot piled high with beautiful flowers in token of the love and esteem in which the deceased was held by all.

The active pall bearers were: E.C. Jackson, F.W. Arndt, W.J. Cook, Dr. G.A. Langstaff, Herman Aye and Jas. Ware. The honorary pall bearers were the four living who were pall bearers for Mr. Castetter: F.H. Matthiesen, Joe S. Cook, Watson Tyson and H. Chapman. The other two were C. McMenemy and R. Blaco, now deceased.

Helen Marr Phelps was born in Willston, Vt., May 3rd, 1837, and on May 3rd, just passed, she celebrated her 72nd birthday with a dinner to the family. She was then in perfect health and it seemed as though she might live many years yet.

She went to Akron, Ohio as a school teacher and there met Mr. Castetter. They went back to the old home at Williston and were married May 9th, 1854. They came to Nebraska in 1856 and settled at DeSoto, and joined their fortunes with the hardy pioneers of those early days.

DeSoto was then the county seat, and when Mr. Castetter was chosen county clerk his office was their own home and Mrs. Castetter did much of the work of recording. Many instruments now on file in that office are in her hand writing as deputy, a fact not known to many.

In 1869 Blair was started and Mr. and Mrs. Castetter moved here with the rest of DeSoto. Mr. Castetter then engaged in the banking business and laid the foundations for the modest fortune he left his widow when he died, April 23rd, 1900, and which she now leaves her children, Frank M., Mrs. B.F. Haller, Mrs. F.H. Claridge, Mrs. J.H. Nash.

But she leaves them more than money, she leaves with them the sweet memory of a gentle, generous, kindhearted, loving mother to bless and guide them through all of the life to come. None but her knew of the many kindnesses she bestowed from her generous means.

A conspicuous example of her giving is the present rectory, now occupied by Rev. March. She gave this to the church of her choice in memory of Mr. Castetter, and it now becomes a fitting memorial to her as well. Generous gifts were also made to Clarkson Hospital and the Child Saving Institute in Omaha.

Her simplicity and gentleness of mind and manner won her many friends in Blair and elsewhere and her comparatively sudden death has brought to them a depth of sorrow unusually keen and poignant.

But her quiet life and friendships have not been in vain, the memory of them will make life better, sweeter and brighter for us all.

Besides the children above named, the deceased leaves three sisters, Mrs. Fred Chittenden, of Omaha, Mrs. W.H.S. Whitcomb, of Burlington, Vt., and Mrs. Kate Chapin, of San Diego, Calif. A niece, Miss Eva Phelps, made her home with Mrs. Castetter up to the time of her marriage to Dr. Lisle and now lives at Parral, Mexico.

Among those from out of town who came to attend the funeral were: Mrs. C. McMenemy, Miss Clara Clark, Mrs. Albert Nolie, Frank Chittenden , Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Chittenden, J.C. Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Paxton, Mrs. Beecher Hibgy, F. S. Howell, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Eldridge, Mr. and Mrs. D.J. O’Brien and John S. Hedelund, all of Omaha; Mrs. Louise Sheen, of Lincoln, Mr. E.F. Folda, of South Omaah, Mr. and Mrs. H. Chapman, of Arlington, Mrs. J.M. O’Connell, of Ponca, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Nash, of Cedar Rapids, Ia., and Mrs. E.H. Clark, of Ft. Calhoun.

2) Printed in the June 2, 1909 Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Mrs. A. Castetter

The death of Mrs. A. Castetter Saturday morning, came as a surprise to many friends of the family. She was taken sick on Friday, the 21st, with erysipelas of the face, which spread rapidly, terminating in her death at 3 o’clock on the morning of the 29th.

Helen Marr Phelps was born at Williston, Vermont, on May 3, 1837. She was married to Abram Castetter on May 9, 1854. They moved to Washington county in 1857, settling at DeSoto. In the fall of 1868 they came to Blair, at which time Mr. Castetter made arrangements to start a bank, which still exists under the name of The Banking House of A. Castetter. To Mr. and Mrs. Castetter were born six children, two of whom died in infancy. The four who survive her are Miriam C. Haller, F. M. Castetter, Helen M. Claridge, and Flora Nash of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30.

3) Printed in the June 3, 1909 Blair Democrat-Blair Courier Blair, Nebraska

Mrs. A. Castetter Dies

After an illness lasting only a week and one day, Mrs. A. Castetter died at her home in this city last Saturday morning about three o’clock. She was taken sick a week ago last Friday with erysipelas in the face. The disease spread quite rapidly and the end came suddenly, due to toxic poisoning.

Helen Marr Phelps was born in Williston, Vermont, May 3, 1837, and was married to Abram Castetter on the 9th of May, 1854, coming to Washington County in 1857, and settling at DeSoto, where they remained until the fall of 1868, when they moved to Blair. Soon after coming here Mr. Castetter established the Banking House of A. Castetter, which institution is still in existence in this city and has been one of the leading financial institutions of the community ever since its organization.

Mrs. Castetter was the mother of six children, two dying in infancy and four surviving her as follows: Miriam C. Haller, wife of B.F. Haller, a prominent real estate dealer of this city; Francis M. Castetter, now president of the banking house bearing his father’s name; Helen M. Claridge, wife of the cashier of the Castetter bank, and Mrs. Flora C. Nash, wife of Jos. H. Nash, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Episcopal church, Rev. A. E. Marsh officiating and interment made in the family lot in the cemetery east of Blair.

In the death of Mrs. Castetter the community loses a woman who was a pioneer of this county and one whose interest in the development of the town was perhaps greater than the average woman. She was public spirited and charitable at all times and there are many families who could tell of her kind deeds and goodness of heart; acts that were known only to those who benefitted by them. She was a kind and loving mother and will be greatly missed by all who knew her, and while she has gone to that great beyond, her goodness will live in the hearts of the community for many years to come.

In their bereavement the family has the sympathy of the entire community.

Note: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection in the upper layer of the skin. It is similar to another skin disorder known as cellulitis, which is an infection in the lower layers of the skin. Both conditions are similar in appearance and are treated in the same way.

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

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