The funeral of Clifton Newkirk was held Tuesday afternoon at the St. Paul Lutheran church at Orum. Mr. Newkirk was one of the most popular and well-to-do farmers of this neighborhood, and the funeral was one of the largest ever seen here.

#2-23 July, 1903 - Blair Courier - Clifton Newkirk

The Grim Reaper entered our neighborhood and took one of our oldest and most respected citizens. Mr. C. Newkirk, after being a patient suffered for two years, was called on Friday morning of last week at Hot Springs, S.D., where he had gone seeking health only a week before. He leaves a wife, two daughters and five sons and a host of friends to mourn his departure. He was buried on Tuesday of this week at 2 o’clock from the Danish church in Lincoln Township.

#3-23 July, 1903 - Blair Courier - Clifton Newkirk - Civil War Veteran

Clifton Newkirk was born in Indiana Oct. 23, 1833, died at Hot Springs, S.D. July 10, 1903, aged 69 years, 8 months and 23 days. He enlisted in the U. S. army in 1861; was severely wounded in the battle of Fort Donelson, and lay in the Federal hospital for two years and was then discharged. In 1864 he married Miss Mary C. Wray who now survives him. Five sons and three daughters were the fruit of this union. But one of these children preceded him to the Great Beyond. Coming to Nebraska in 1868, he took up a homestead three miles northwest of Orum where he since lived continuously until his decease. A very large concourse of people attended the funeral obsequies, thereby testifying to the high esteem in which he was held. Interment was made in the Swedish cemetery northwest of Orum.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #50884264