After an illness of but little more than one week, Edward Pilcher died at his home on Wednesday from the effects of paralysis. The Republican is informed that the funeral will be from the residence at 2 o’clock on Friday. A wife and three married daughters, Mesdames Dell Ballard, Sam Wilson and Burette Hancock and an unmarried daughter and three sons, Edward, Charley and Loyd, mourn the death of an excellent father and husband. He was about 72 years old and settled at Cuming City in 1856.

#2-Pilot 22 Aug 1904 (veteran)

Edward Pilcher

Edward Pilcher, of this city, who was stricken with paralysis July 29, died at his home in Dexterville at 5 o’clock Wednesday evening. The funeral services will be conducted at the house by Rev. S.W. Richards at 2:30 o’clock Friday afternoon and interment will be in the Blair cemetery. Mr. Pilcher was born in Canterbury, Kent county, England, November 1, 1833, and came to America in 1851 when he was 18 years of age. After a year spent in New York state he came west as far as Iowa, where he lived until 1856, when he came to Nebraska, settling on a homestead about three miles northwest of Blair near the old Cuming City trading post. In the early days before Blair was thought of, Cuming City promised to become a place of some renown. In the civil war Mr. Pilcher served his country and received an honorable discharge after one year of service on account of an injury to his left side. After returning from the war Mr. Pilcher served for fifteen years as a school director of district. No. 6. In 1862 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Teeters, and to this union eleven children were born, seven of whom, with the widow and mother survive him. With others of the early settlers, Mr. and Mrs. Pilcher went through many hardships, but with careful husbanding they prospered and accumulated 380 acres of land, besides several town lots in this city. Feeling that they had earned a rest and desiring to spend their declining years in peace, these two pioneers moved to Blair in 1890. --- World Herald, Friday.

#3-24 Aug., 1904 - Blair Courier - Ed Pilcher - Civil War Veteran

Last week we reported Ed Pilcher as having received a second cerebral hemorrhage and that he was lying at death’s door. At the very time we were printing those words at about 5 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon, the end came peacefully and his sufferings were over. Mr. Pilcher was getting ready to go down to the races on the 29th day of July when he suffered the first hemorrhage and while he seemed to rally from this stroke somewhat, the second stroke received on Monday afternoon left him unconscious and with no hope of recovery. The funeral was held at the residence in Dexterville at 2:30 o’clock Friday afternoon, Rev. S. W. Richards officiating. There was an unusually large number of old settlers present, the line of carriages reaching from the city limits to the cemetery grounds. Mr. Pilcher was born in Canterbury, Kent county, England on Nov. 31st, 1833, and came to this country at the age of 18 years. He remained in New York City for about four years, then came out west as far as Iowa where he remained another year, finally in 1856 he came to this county and settled on the farm located some three miles northwest of this city where most of his life was spent. Here he was married to Miss Mary Ann Teeters on Nov. 25th, 1863, and of their union 11 children were born. Four girls and three boys are now living as follows: Mrs. Dell Ballard, Mrs Mike Wilson, Mrs. Burdette Hancock, Miss Ada, Edward C., Charles L. and Lloyd R. One daughter, Mrs. Grant Stewart died in 1893. One sister living in England is now the only surviving member of his family. By hard work and economy Mr. Pilcher increased the size of his farm to 380 acres besides owning several lots in this city and was considered one of the substantial farmers of the county. He was always a leading spirit in his neighborhood and served for fifteen years as director in School District No. 6. He was an old soldier, having served one year in the Civil War, obtaining an honorable discharge at the end of the War on account of a wound in his left side. About five years ago Mr. Pilcher moved to this city and was enjoying life to the full when he received the fatal stroke. He was always a good citizen and neighbor and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

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