Mrs. Sarah Balderson
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday April 10, 1897
Dave Groff received a letter from his wife at Cortland, Nebr., Thursday, announcing the death of her mother, Mrs. Sarah Balderson, at an early hour that morning. The funeral was held yesterday.

Barnes Infant
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Feb 19, 1909
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Barnes, residing 6 miles southeast of Fairbury, died Monday and was buried Wednesday morning, Rev. Maxwell officiating. The child was 11 months old. Death resulted from pnuemonia, following the measles.

Albert Leon Beer
Source: The Fairbury Journal, January 16, 1919
Albert Leon Beer was born four miles north of Alexandria, Oct. 17 1896. Died Dec. 24, 1918, age 22 years, 2 months and 7 days. When three and a half years old he was stricken with spinal fever which left him deaf. He attended the Omaha school for the deaf and graduated in June 1916. Bert leaves to mourn his loss his father, W.C. Beer; sister, Edna Decker; brothers, Frank and Chas. Beer, Charles somewhere in France; sisters-in-law, Alma and Mable Beer; besides a long list of relatives.

Dave Bennett
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Friday, Jan. 6, 1905
Another one of the old pioneers of Jefferson County passed away Friday evening, when Dave Bennett departed this life at this home at Endicott. He had been in very poor health for a number of years, in fact never having been well since he had an operation performed several years ago before he left Fairbury. Dave Bennett was born in Indiana and was nearly 70 years old when he died. He came to Jefferson County in 1867 and settled on a farm near Rose Creek. He was one of the characters of the early days of Fairbury, being a man of powerful physique, and as nervy as he was large. He served as city marshal in Fairbury for several years, the last time during the McLucas administration in 1896. In the early days, Dave Bennett was the only man who, as marshal, could keep things quiet on Saturday nights in and around Fairbury. Deceased leaves a wife and two children, Mrs. Pete Peterson of Endicott, and John Bennett.

Elizabeth Bennett
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Thursday, July 1, 1915
Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, widow of the late Dave Bennett, a one-time Fairbury character, and later a resident of Endicott in his latter years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. C. Peterson, west of Endicott, on Monday, June 28, 1915, at the age of 78 years, 6 months and 2 days. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Dennis and she was born at Terre Haute, Ind., December 26, 1836. She was married to Dave Bennett in 1860, and came to this county in 1869, she and her husband among the first settlers in the county. Her husband died in 1906. She leaves two children, Mrs. Emma Peterson and John Bennett. Three children are dead. (Ed. note: William H. d. 1884, Georgina d. 1888) Funeral services were held at the home of her daughter, on Wednesday and the body was buried in the Fairbury cemetery.

Frederick Bigler
Source: The Fairbury Journal, July 18, 1918
Frederick Bigler died at his home on Third St., in Fairbury, Nebr., Monday, July 15, 1918, at the age of 57 years. He had been ill for some time from kidney disease. He leaves a widow and one daughter, Mrs. Joe Ogen. Mr. Bigler had lived in Fairbury only since last December, being in the employ of the Rock Island railroad. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the house, in charge of Rev. Rolla E. Brown of the Baptist church in Fairbury, and the remains were taken to Sabetha, Kans., for burial.

Emerald (Emanuel) Bodtke
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday January 22, 1898
The Fairbury Journal Nov. 28, 1918 Mr. Bodtke received word last week of the death of his brother, Emerald Bodtke. He passed away at his home in Iowa. The remains were brot to Gilead (Neb.) Sunday and laid to rest in the Komrs cemetery near that place. Emerald was one of the twin boys.

Eva V. Bonawitz
Source: The Fairbury Gazette
Mrs. Eva V. BONAWITZ of Fairbury, Nebr., passed away here on July 11, 1940 at the age of 76 years, 5 months, and 1 day. Eva Viola Lott, daughter of John and Frances LOTT, was born February 10, 1865 at Carthage, Ill. Her parents came to Jefferson county to homestead east of Fairbury when she was a small child. Eva Viola LOTT and William F. BONAWITZ were married at Fairbury on September 16, 1889. After their marriage they lived on a farm west of Fairbury until 1897 when Mr. BONAWITZ was elected sheriff. The family lived in Fairbury during his two terms of office. They lived on a farm east of town until 1910 when they moved to Endicott, where Mr. BONAWITZ died on June 24, 1931. During the past four years, she has been living in Fairbury and a very active member of the First Methodist Church. Mrs. BONAWITZ in survived by three daughters: Nell, Mrs. Oscar YEAKLE of Fairbury; Delilah, Mrs. Earl LYNCH of Summerfield, Kans.; and Mrs. Bess WALBURN of Montrbello, Calif.; by three brothers: Charlie LOTT of Jansen, Hiram LOTT of Hastings and John LOTT of Foley, Alabama; also 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Five of the daughters, Alice, Frances, Gladys, Huldah, and Phoebe, and the son, Franklin preceded their mother in death. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, July 14, in charge of Dr. Paul M. Hillman. Mrs. W. V. Corp and Miss Edna Forslund sang, accompanied by Mrs. J. H. Bond. Burial was in Fairbury cemetery.

Mrs. Phoebe Bonawitz
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday January 22, 1898
Died, at Marshall county, Iowa, on last Sunday morning, January 16, 1898, Mrs. Phoebe Bonawitz, aged 69 years. The deceased was the mother of our present sheriff, F.W. Bonawitz, also of A.C. Bonawitz, a prominent grain buyer of Gladstone, both of whom, in answer to a telegram, started for that place Saturday, reaching there several hours before her demise.

Martha Boomer
Source: The Fairbury Journal, Feb. 19, 1909
Miss Martha Boomer, age 12 years, 11 months, and 15 days, died very suddenly at 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon of heart trouble at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Mitchell on 6th street. Martha Boomer was born Feb. 22, 1897 at Grand Junction, Iowa, and about four years ago she came to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell of this city. Miss Martha was an exceptionally bright girl and her sudden death will be much regretted by her many schoolmates and friends, and Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell feel very sad indeed over the death, for she was one with whom everyone would make friends, and her death is a sadder one for the reason that she had been quite well and died so suddenly. The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Christian church, and a large number were present to pay their last tribute to their young friend.

Fred C. Bower
Source: Fairbury Journal, 1915
PASSING OF A PIONEER
Fred C. Bower, One of the County's Early Settlers, Dies Suddenly in Fairbury With the sudden death of Fred C. Bower, Sunday morning Nov. 28, 1915, at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 21 days, another old settler is gone. While there were a few earlier settlers in the county than Mr. Bower, he was among the pioneers. Mr. Bower had always enjoyed fair health until a little over a month ago, when he was taken suddenly ill with an attack of acute stomach trouble. From this he rallied and had been about as usual for ten days previous to his death. Sunday morning he walked over the home of Wm. Boddye, whose house joins his premises on the north and was visiting with his old neighbor when he was stricken with apoplexy, dying suddenly. Mr. Bower was born June 7, 1849, at Thompson, Ohio, and came west in 1869, to this county. He was then less than 21 years old. As soon as he became of age, which was some time in 1870, he homesteaded two miles east of the present site of Bower and a year later, he married Miss Lois A. Sutton, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Sutton, pioneers of Jefferson County. To this union six children were born: one died in infancy and the others are, Edward of Cleveland, Ohio; Harlow who lives on the old homestead; Mrs. Jennie Richards, of Alwine, Colorado; Mrs. Florence True of Fairbury and Paul, who lives at home. Other near relatives are his wife, H. T. Bower, a brother, in Fairbury and a sister near Madison, Ohio. The Bower family remained on the farm until 1910, when they came to Fairbury to live. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 1:00 P. M., from the family home, 910 H. Street, all the children being present. Mr. Bower was a member of the Christian Church at Bower. Rev. J. K. Shellenberger of the Christian Church of Fairbury conducted the funeral services, and the remains were taken to the Bower cemetery for burial.

E. R. Bowman
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday Jan. 16, 1897
Telegrams were received here Thursday announcing the sudden death of E.R. Bowman at El Reno, Oklahoma, the day previous. The news of the sad affair so far received has necessarily been very meagre, but the facts obtained are as follows: He went from Hope, Arkansas, where he had resided for some time, to El Reno on business, and was taken suddenly ill in John Barmister's saloon there. He was taken at once to Mr. Barmister's residence, where he expired in a short time. Mr. Bowman was a resident of this county for some nine or ten years, having served two terms as sheriff of the county. He left here some two years and a half ago for El Reno, Oklahoma, but later removed to Hope, Ark., where his family now reside.

Mrs. C.S. Broderick
Source: The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday February 12, 1898
Mrs. C.S. Broderick died at the Martin boarding house in this city Tuesday evening from an illness from which she had been suffering for a couple of weeks. The deceased had resided here but a short time, coming, we believe, from Grand Island on the night of the 25th of January and joining her husband who had been here for some weeks previous soliciting orders for rugs and lace curtains. It seems she was ill when she came although at the time her condition was not such as to occasion any alarm. The couple had been married but about ten months and the deceased apparently enjoyed the best of health previous to her last illness. Two brothers of Mr. Broderick from Fairfield and a sister of the deceased from Aurora were in attendance at the funeral, which was held Thursday morning at 11 o'clock, Rev. Foss of the Mission church officiating.

John W. Brown
Source:Jefferson County Journal, Diller, Neb. July 2, 1897
John W. Brown, who resided five miles south-west of Diller, died at 7 o'clock Sunday evening, June 27th, of consumption, and was buried in Prairie Home Cemetery from the Christian Church of which he was a member, at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Elder Rees preaching the funeral sermon. Mr. Brown was born at Vernon, Marshall county, Illinois, and was 46 years and 8 months of age. He leaves a wife and 8 children.

Mrs. C. M. Bunn
Source:The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday May 22, 1897
Mrs. C.M. Bunn of this village (Reynolds), was buried at the old town cemetery Wednesday. Mrs. Bunn was an old resident of Reynolds and leaves many friends to sympathize with her bereaved husband and three little children.

Abba Thompson Burge
Source:The Fairbury Enterprise, Saturday, Sep. 8, 1894.
Died-Abba Thompson Burge was born near Thompson, January 27, 1875, and died Saturday, September 1, 1894, aged 19 years, 7 months, and 4 days. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Thompson, among the first settlers of this county. On September 21, 1893, she was married to Mr. J. E. Burge, the Rock Island agent at Thompson, and their married life of a little less than one year was a happy one. On Saturday, September 1, a little son was born to them and soon thereafter the mother died, leaving a heartbroken husband, son, parents, brothers and sisters to mourn her unexpected death. The funeral services were held at the home Monday, the services being conducted by Rev. J. O. Cramb, who had known the deceased from childhood, after which the remains were escorted to the cemetery east of this place and tenderly laid to rest in the city of the dead. The funeral cortage was an unusually large one, there being a great many of thie neighbors and many from this city attending. She was a very bright and cheerful lady, one who was greatly admired by her large circle of acquaintances, all of whom will no doubt join the ENTERPRISE in extending sincere sympathy to the lonely and heartbroken husband, parents, brothers and sisters in their sad bereavement.

Mrs. Harry Burge
Source:The Fairbury Journal, Feb. 19, 1909
At her home in the northeast part of Fairbury, Sunday, Feb. 14, Mrs. Harry Burge passed away after a long illness from heart disease and dropsy, aged 34 years and two days. Before her marriage to Mr. Harry Burge at Haddam, Kans., Dec 22, 1898 Mrs. Burge was Mary Catherine Harper, daughter of John Harper, now deceased, a former Fairbury resident. She was born at Pontiac, Ill, Feb 12, 1875. Mrs. Burge came to Fairbury with her parents in 1879. She has resided in this vicinity ever since. At he age of 18 she graduated from the Fairbury High School. She leaves two daughters, seven brothers, besides her husband and other relatives, to mourn her loss. The funeral was held in the Methodist church on Monday, Rev. Cline officiating and the remains were interred in the Fairbury Cemetery.

Christine W. Busing
Source:The Fairbury Journal, Feb. 10, 1916
Mrs. Christine W. Busing was born in Hanover, Germany Gebruary 20, 1847; died February 6, 1916, age 68 years, 11 months, 17 days. She came to the United States in 1861. She was united in marriage to Gerhardt Busing at Nebraska City, June 25, 1871. To this union were born ten children, seven of whom are still living, as follows: Mrs. Wm. Baruth, Francitas, Tex., Gay, Otto and George Busing, of Alexandria, Nebr.; Mrs. Nels Moody, Helvey, Nebr.; Henry Busing, Helvey, Nebr.; and Mrs. A. Grafton of Fairbury. Besides these children she leaves a husband and one brother, Henry Witt, of Davenport, Iowa. She united with the German Lutheran church in Germany at an early age. A short funeral service was held at the home, 212 Third street, Fairbury, and the remains were taken to Alexandria for interment in the family burying ground, after a service in the Presbyterian church there.

Fred Busing Sr.
Source:The Fairbury Journal, Nov. 27, 1903
KILLED BY BRICK.
Fred Busing Sr. Meets Death Under A Falling Wall on the South Side. Fred Busing, Sr., a prominent and wealthy farmer, living near Powell, was killed about noon Wednesday, by a portion of the wall on the Steele opera house falling on him. Mr. Busing was coming from Groff's restaurant, where he had just had his dinner and was passing in front of the building, when a portion of the brick cornice at the top of the building, probably thirty-five feet from the ground broke loose and fell, some of the brick and mortar striking him squarely on the top of the head. He was picked up as dead and carried into one of the empty buildings, where he recovered consiousness for a short time and conversed briefly with those about him. Soon, however, he lapsed into unconsiousness once more, in which condition he remained until about one o-clock Thursday morning, when he died. An operation was performed in hopes of saving his life, the crushed skull being raised from the brain, but without avail. Cornor Dodge was apprised of all the facts and concluded not to hold an inquest, as there did not seem to be anyone particularly to blame. The wall of the building was in process of construction, and the bricklayers had gone to dinner, leaving the brick cornice projecting. Probably a few more brick would have tied it down so it would not have fallen, but there was nothing to warn the bricklayers that it might fall. The building, which belongs to C. F. Steele, was nearly finished and pedestrians had been in the habit of passing in front of it, although Mr. Steele had many times taken the precaution to erect a temporary fence to turn them around the front, but the fence had often been removed in order to get material into the building. A peculiar co-incidense happed in connection with the sad death of Mr. Busing. Some time ago he injured his hand in some machinery and the wound had not properly healed. Necrosis of the bone set in, and Dr. Pritchett, the unfortunate man's physician, had decided that a portion of the hand must be removed. Accordingly, Mr. Busing had come to Fairbury on the day he was killed and had set the hour of 2 p.m. as the time for the operation. Fearing that it might not result favorably, he had gone before noon to the law office of W.H. Barnes to have his will drawn. Mr. Barnes made a rough draft and told Mr. Busing to return a little later when he would have it drawn up in proper form by his stenographer. Mr. Busing was on his way to Mr. Barns' office to sign the will when he was killed. Fred C. Busing was born in Bremer, Oldenburg, Germany, March 25, 1844. and was consequently 59 years and 8 months old at the time of his death. He came to America in 1866, where he homesteaded the farm which has been his residense continously ever since. He was married January 15, 1873 to Matilda Nelson. To this union were born five sons and five daughters. one of whom died in infancy. Thos surviving, besides his wife, are Charles, Frank, Edward, Louie, and Edward C., Mrs A.H. Knispel, of Powell, Mrs. Elmer Barker of Mitchell, S.D., Emma and Otelia at home. He also leaves one brother, Gerhard Busing, residing near Alexandria and several brothers and sisters in Germany. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at the residence.