E. S. Gaylord died very suddenly Monday afternoon of heart failure. He was sitting on the porch feeling as well as usual and went into the kitchen on his way uptown. He suddenly became dizzy and fell to the floor. His niece, Mrs. Foote, was working in the kitchen and went over to the neighbors for help. Dr. Stewart was called and helped get him into bed, but nothing could be done for the stricken man, the heart had failed and death came at a few minutes past 3 o’clock. His will was opened that evening, and it was found that he had left a request to have his body taken back to the old home at Norfolk, Conn., and interred in the family lot. A short funeral service was held at the residence, first door east of the Clifton Hotel, at 3:30 and Mr. and Mrs. Foote left on the afternoon train to accompany the body to its last resting place in the old home state. Mr. Gaylord was born in Norfolk Dec. 25, 1823, and was therefore in his 87th year. He came to this county in an early day and was a member of the state legislature in 1875-6. For eighteen years he lived on a farm in Lincoln township, but had been a resident of this city for many years. He was never married and left no heirs nearer than a nephew and a niece, Walter and Fannie G. Barber of Waterbury, Conn. and a nephew and a niece in this county, E. E. Gaylord of Herman township and Mrs. J. H. Foote, who was living with Mr. Gaylord at the time of his death. Mr. Gaylord had accumulated a fortune of possibly $40,000 which his will directs shall be left as follows: Walter and Fannie Barber get $500 each and one half of the balance of the estate goes to E.E. Gaylord in cash. The other half is to go to Mrs. Foote in trust, with Mr. F. W. Kenny as executor. She is to receive all interests and rents during her lifetime and property is then to go to her children, of which there are two, a boy and a girl. Mr. Gaylord was a man of spotless character and was therefore a citizen we shall all regret to lose from our midst. He had always given quite liberally to his church and charitable institution, and his gift to the Y.M.C.A. of this city will long be remembered.

#2-4 Aug., 1909 - The Tribune - Everett S. Gaylord

E. S. Gaylord, a retired capitalist, aged 88 years, died at his residence here Monday afternoon after only a few minutes sickness. Mr. Gaylord was born near Norwalk, Conn., and came to this county in 1867, locating on Bell Creek near Fontanelle. He was a member of the Nebraska legislature in 1876 and came to Blair in 1884 where he was associated with A. C. Jones in the elevator business for seven years and a member of the school board for twelve years. For a number of years he had been a stockholder in the Blair National bank and at his death was one of the directors of the bank. Mr. Gaylord was never married and the only near relatives are a niece, Mrs. Harry Foote of this city and a nephew, Ed Gaylord of Herman. He was identified with much of the early history of this county. The body will be sent to his old home in Connecticut for burial. The funeral services were held at 3 o’clock yesterday at the home. Mr. Gaylord left a will which gives $1,000 to a nephew and niece in Connecticut and the balance of his estate to his niece, Mrs. Foote, and his nephew, E. E. Gaylord.

#3-5 Aug., 1909 - Blair Democrat, Blair, Nebraska - Hon. Everett S. Gaylord

A SUDDEN DEATH

Another one of the pioneers of Washington county has been called to his eternal rest, this time the reaper claiming Hon. Everett S. Gaylord, who has been a resident of this county since 1868.

For the past several days Mr. Gaylord had not been feeling as well as usual, but felt better on Monday and had eaten a very hearty dinner. Coming into the house from having put a step ladder into the barn, he was seen to stagger and fell into a chair as though dizzy or overcome. His niece, Mrs. Foote, who have been visiting there for the past few weeks, noticed his plight and offered him assistance, but he told her to “Never mind; he’d be all right in just a minute.” He failed to rally and fell over on the floor almost immediately. Mrs. Foote called to some of the neighbors for help and they laid the old gentleman on the bed, but by the time a doctor could arrive on the scene, life was nearly extinct and in a few moments the spirit had fled to its giver. Hardly a quarter of an hour had elapsed from the time he was seen to stagger and fall until the end had come.

The will of the deceased was opened at the court house Monday evening for the purpose of learning what disposition he wished made with his remains, and it was learned that it was his desire that they be shipped to the place of his birth in Connecticut, and services held in the old church that he attended years ago, and which is still presided over by the same minister who was there when Mr. Gaylord left east.

Everett S. Gaylord was born in Norfolk, Connecticut December 25, 1823, and had he lived until this coming December, would have been eighty seven years old. He came to Nebraska in 1868, and farmed in Lincoln township for eighteen years. He was a member of the state legislature of 1875-6, being elected on the Republican ticket. After this he moved to Blair where he has ever since made his home. He was one of the directors of the Blair National Bank, and is said to have been worth about $50,000.

Short services were held at the home of the deceased at three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Marsh, and the remains were shipped east that same evening.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #128549112