PRISCILLA JANE BYERS

Priscilla Jane Byers was born October 20th, 1845 at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and died at her home in Herman at 7:30 o’clock Thursday, February 22, 1934, aged 88 years, 4 months and 2 days. She was the daughter of Jacob and Henrietta Elizabeth Byers. The eldest of a family of seven children, four boys and three girls. Her passing leaves one brother, Jacob Byers, the only surviving member.

She moved with her parents to Monmouth, Illinois when seven years of age.

On March 28, 1867 she united in marriage to Henry C. Cooper. Twenty years later, on March 1, 1887 they came to Nebraska. They lived on a farm northwest of here, one year later moving to a farm seven miles northeast of here in the Homestead school district which was their home for 20 years. After selling the home place, they lived in and near Tekamah 7 years. They returned to Herman in 1920 which has since been their home. They have been residents of Nebraska 47 years.

On March 28 they would have celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Cooper is survived by her husband, four sons and three daughters, Eugene of Tekamah, Nebr.; Mrs. J. T. Fitch, Herman; Wm. of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs. D. W. Rutledge of Herman; Bert of Tekamah; Harry of Herman and Mrs. Earl Prussia of Grant, Nebr. One daughter, Irene, preceded her in death twenty years ago. One brother, Jacob Byers of Pender, Nebr., twenty grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren survive her.

Deceased was a member of the Relief Corps of Herman until it disbanded, and has since been a member of the Tekamah Corps. She was a consecrated Christian. Early in life she gave her heart to her Savior and joined the Presbyterian church at Kirkwood, Illinois. She later became a member of the Methodist church at Herman. Until she was too feeble, it was a daily custom for her to read a chapter from the family Bible to her husband each evening. Their day was not finished till this was done.

“Grandma” as she was lovingly known, was of a quiet, unassuming nature. Those who knew her loved her. She was a good wife, a kind and devoted mother and a fine neighbor. A typical home-loving woman.

She took a keen interest in things about her and read the daily paper and discussed events with her husband as long as she was able. One of her chief delights was company, and she and her husband were never more happy than when relatives or friends called.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church, the pastor, Rev. C. C. Norlin officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. C. E. Johnson, Mrs. Geo. Lowe, J. H. Johnson and Roland Wachter, with Mrs J. H. Johnson at the piano.

#2-Herman Record 1 March 1934

Aged Mother Is Summoned Home

Mrs. Henry C. Cooper, long time resident of Herman and community, died at her home here Thursday night of last week after a long and lingering illness.

Funeral services were held for her at two o’clock Saturday afternoon at the Herman Methodist church, Rev. C. C. Norlin, pastor of the church officiating. The Relief Corps of Tekamah also conducted their rites at the church. Music was furnished by Mrs. C. E. Johnson, Mrs. Geo. Lowe, J. H. Johnson and Roland Wachter with Mrs. J. H. Johnson accompanist at the place. The pall bearers were six of Mrs. Cooper’s grandsons, William Rutledge, Roy Rutledge, Carl Cooper, Floyd Cooper, Wallace Fitch an Phillip Cooper. Burial was made in the Herman Cemetery.

Priscilla Jane Byers was born October 20, 1845, at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and died at her home in Herman, Nebraska, Thursday, February 22, 1934, at 7:30 p.m., aged 88 years 4 months and 2 days.

She was the daughter of Jacob and Heneretta Elizabeth Byers. The eldest of a family of seven children, four boys and three girls. Her passing leaves a brother, Jacob Byers, the only surviving member.

She moved with her parents to Monmouth, Illinois, when seven years of age. On March 28, 1867, she was united in marriage to Henry C. Cooper. Twenty years later on March 1, 1887, they came to Nebraska and lived on a farm northwest of here one year, later they moved to a farm seven miles northeast of here in the Homestead school district which was their home for twenty years. After selling the home place they resided in and near Tekamah seven years. In 1920 they moved to Herman which has been their home since. They have been residents of Nebraska forty-seven years. On March 28 they would have celebrated their sixty-seventh wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Cooper is survived by her husband, four sons and three daughters, Eugene of Tekamah, Mrs. John T. Fitch of Herman, William, Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs. D. W. Rutledge, Herman; Bert of Tekamah; Harry of Herman; Mrs. Earl Prussia of Grant, Nebraska; one brother, Jacob Byers of Pender, twenty grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren. A daughter, Irene, preceded her in death twenty years ago.

The deceased was a member of the Relief Corps of Herman until it disbanded. She has since been a member of the Tekamah Corps. Mrs. Cooper was a consecrated Christian. Early in life she gave her heart to her savior and united with the Presbyterian church at Kirkwood, Illinois. She later became a member of the Methodist church at Herman. Until she was too feeble, it was a daily custom to read a chapter from the family bible to her husband each evening. Their day was not complete until this was done.

“Grandma” as she was lovingly known was of a quiet, unassuming nature. Those who knew her, loved her. She was a good wife, a kind and devoted mother and a fine neighbor, a typical home loving woman. She took a keen interest to things and read the daily paper and discussed the events as long as she was able. One of her chief delights was “company” and she and her husband were never more happy than when relatives or friends called on them.

Wm. Cooper of Cincinnati, a son, reached Herman a few hours after his mother’s death.

Comrades Weeds and Johnsen, (rest of article missing)

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