Obituary Record

John Samuel Gearhard
Died on 5/31/1925
Buried in Blair Cemetery

Gearhard, John Samuel 5/31/1925

3 June, 1925 - The Pilot

After an illness of some seven weeks, six of which he was confined to his bed, John Samuel Gearhard passed peacefully away at about 5:45 Sunday afternoon. He had taken almost no food or water for the last two weeks, but his wonderful constitution held him up and he was conscious up to the very hour of his death though he was too weak to speak. The funeral was held at the Baptist Church at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. O. U. McProud officiating, assisted by Rev. W. H. Underwood of the Crowell Home. Burial was made under Masonic auspices, he having been a member of the Washington lodge since June, 1879. Deceased was born near Terre Haute, Ind., January 28th, 1837, so was past 88 years of age. He enlisted in the 4th Iowa Inf. with his brother during the Civil War, but was rejected on account of his health. Later he went to Missouri and Joined the state militia, serving until February, 1865, when he was accepted in the 51st infantry regiment and served to the close of the War. He was married to Miss Nancy Cornell at Eaglesville, Mo., March 4th, 1864, and four children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Mrs. Harry Sappenfield of this city and Mrs. Newt Sutherland of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was the youngest and last to go of a family of twelve children. The family came to Blair from Albany Mo., in 1874, and this has been their home ever since then, except for three years they lived in Dawes county while proving up on a homestead. He was a member of the Methodist church, John A. Dix Post and the G. A. R. and the Masonic Lodge. His wife passed away January 28th, 1923, and today his body was laid by the side of his companion of 59 years. The pallbearers were Harry Seltz, Elza King, Ed Matthiessen, C. T. Farnham, John McKay and John F. White. Mr. Gearhard was a good husband and father and therefore a good neighbor and citizen who will be greatly missed by many friends.

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

FindaGrave #57412122

Printed in the Blair Pilot on 6/5/1925


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