George C. Pemberton

After being confined to his home for nearly six years, George C. Pemberton, an old and well-known resident of this precinct passed away at his residence in Arlington at 4:15 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, July 15. Funeral services were held at the residence on Thursday at 10 a.m., at the Morley cemetery. Nearly every business house in Arlington closed its doors during the impressive ceremony at the house, and the remains were followed to the cemetery by a large number of sympathizing friends, who saw him tenderly laid to rest after a life of such activity as seldom falls to the lot of one man.

Review-Herald.

#2-30 July, 1903 - Blair Republican -

GEORGE CROSLEY

Was born in Cattaraugus county, N.Y. March 23, 1839. Died July 14, 1903, aged 78 years, 3 months and 11 days. On June 2, 1858, he was united in marriage to Margaret A Swarts, who with him the following year emigrated to this state, settling on the site of their present pleasant home east of Arlington where they have since resided till they moved to town to spend the declining years of their life.

Again the whitening frosts of death have taken from our midst another friend and neighbor. He came to Nebraska in 1858, and after trading his team for a squatters right to 160 acres of government land, he had but little of this world’s goods left, but by thrift, economy and strict attention to his farm duties, had by mid life, with the help of his faithful wife, acquired a splendid farm home and a competence to tide them over the helplessness of old age.

Stricken down with partial paralysis, deprived of the precious boon of speech, and only able to express his wishes by nods and shakes of the head to questions asked him, he soon adjusted himself to these conditions and for five long years, watched over by day and night by his faithful, loving wife, he was not only patient, but often cheerful. With naturally a cheerful, loving disposition, he “divided all time into today and tomorrow. Tomorrow was without a cloud and from it he borrowed sunshine for today”. Charity for all was the rule of life with him. He was a stranger to selfishness and always tried to see how much he could do for those he loved. He rejected ornament, but at the same time was a strong advocate of truth and justice. Those who knew him best loved him most for he was the friend of all who knew him. He will remain so. “The dead are true, the living sometimes become estranged."

According to his light he lived. He sided with the weak and poor against the strong and rich. “The world was his country; to do good his religion." There is no language to express a nobler end than this. Nothing can be grander, more comprehensive, nearer perfect. This was the aim that glorified his life, and that made his death sublime.

He was afraid to do wrong, and for that reason was not afraid to die. “Having become weary, and using his burden for a pillow, he has lain him down in that dreamless sleep that kissed down his eyelids still.”

Farewell, dear friend. We loved you living, and we love you now.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #103054230