Updated:12/22/1999

ANOKA COUNTY OBITS

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of Mar 28, 1884
Death of a Prominent Minnesotian. News has been received in Anoka, Minn., of the death at Whitcomb, Georgia, of the Hon. Dwight Woodbury, of Anoka. Mr. Woodbury left Anoka about two weeks ago for the south in hopes of beneficial results, his health having been impaired for some time past. The funeral occurs Thursday at Charlestown, South Carolina at which place the remains will be interred. Mr. Woodbury was one of the oldest residents of Anoka, and a pioneer of the state. He represented Anoka in the state legislature several times, and filled many offices in his village and county.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of May 2, 1884
Willie Gray, aged thirteen, son of J. D. Gray, a shoe merchant of Anoka was accidentally killed on Tuesday, the 24^th, during a charivari party, tendered Fred Champlain and wife, who were married on Sunday, the 20^th, Willie was killed by a pistol shot, the bullet severing the jugular vein. The weapon was evidently held close to the boy’s neck when fired, the wound was powder burned. It is supposed the shot was fired by a companion, as the pistol was picked up near the scene of the accident.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of May 16, 1884
Mrs. Hitchcock of Pilot Mount died recently aged 85 years. She was well known to Minnesota people.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of Jan 21, 1891
In Anoka, Thursday, Jan. 15^th, 1800, after a long illness, Miss Ina L. oldest daughter of Hon. and Mrs. M. C. Bean aged 22 years. The funeral services were held Saturday afternoon and were largely attended.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of Jan 21, 1891
In Anoka, Friday, Jan. 16^th, 1891 of consumption, Samuel D. Leeman, aged 72 years. The deceased was one of the oldest residents of this place, and has been sick for three years past. He leaves a wife and ten children to mourn his loss. The funeral services were held last Sunday afternoon.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of March 4, 1891
DIED. In Boone, Iowa, Feb. 22^nd, Mrs. L. W. Shelton, aged 44 years. The deceased was a sister of Freeman Tilden of Ramsey, and was a resident of Anoka for twenty years. A husband and a little daughter are left to mourn her loss. The remains were interred at Newport, below St. Paul.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of March 4, 1891
In Anoka, Feb 25^th, 1891 after a short illness, John Cundy, aged 77 years. The deceased came to Anoka in 1853, and with the exception of a short time living on a farm at Oak Grove, has been a resident of the city ever since. He was a sawyer by trade, and was a hard working man. At the time of his death he was possessed of considerable valuable real estate in this city, which he had accumulated by careful and strict economy. Mr. Cundy was a man respected by all who came in contact with him, and will be greatly missed. The writer has known him for many years and realized that Anoka has lost a good and enterprising citizen. He leaves two children, Mrs. Mary Graham and W. E. Cundy, both living here. The funeral services were held from the house Friday afternoon and were largely attended. Messrs. H. L. Ticknor, E. A. King, J. C. Frost, M. V. Bean, L. W. Hatch and A. A. Merrill acting as pallbearers.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of March 4, 1891
Frederick De Haas Commits Suicide Without a Single Motive Known to Friends.
Mr. Frederick De Haas, of the firm De Haas & Van der Velde, managers of the Germania Life Insurance Company, died at 5:30 yesterday afternoon, from the effects of a gunshot wound which was self-inflicted at 9:30 yesterday forenoon. Mr. De Haas resided at 744 East Sixth Street. On his way down town yesterday morning he called in at the residence of his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Frey, 735 East Fifth Street, to accompany the later on the way. Mr. De Haas was very much agitated about something, and invited Mr. Frey to go upstairs with him to a private room to talk over some matters. They started upstairs together, and Mr. Richard De Haas, brother of Frederick, followed them. The three went into a bedroom, where Frederick at once began to talk excitedly and incoherently. Mr. Frey, becoming alarmed at his conduct, talked soothingly to him, with the hope of quieting his nerves. Mr. De Haas finally became silent, but continued to pace from one end of the room to the other, while his brother and Mr. Frey sat quietly at one side of the room, looking at him. All of a sudden Mr. De Haas wheeled around the end of the bed, and as he did so the two who were watching heard the report of a pistol and saw him fall. This was the first they knew that he had a revolver with him.
The presence of Dr. Stamm was secured as quickly as possible, and within a few moments after his arrival Doctors Ohage and Senkler were there. Everything possible was done to save the unfortunate man’s life, but all was of no avail. The revolver was evidently aimed at his heart, but the bullet passed below and the right of the mark.
As is well known De Haas & Vander Velde have for some time past, been the managers of the business of the Germania Life Insurance company in St. Paul, with offices in the great building of the company, at the corner of Fourth and Minnesota streets, of which they also had charge.

About two weeks ago Mr. H. Cillis, secretary of the Germania Life Insurance company, and Mr. Cohn, an expert in the employ of the company, arrived in St. Paul to look over the company’s Northwestern business in general. There was nothing unusual in their visit, as it was simply routine in character. Mr. Cillis was seen at his room last evening by a Pioneer Press reporter.
"This is a most sad affair,"; said he the first thing. "I haven’t eaten since it happened; I am absolutely sick. There wasn’t a reason in the world why the man should kill himself. There is no possible way accounting for it. Our visit here is purely of a routine character. Mr. Cohn does nothing else but travel over the country and visit our various important places of business. I occasionally go out with him. This is my first trip to St. Paul, and I came here more to see what our building looked like than any other purpose. Yesterday afternoon I met Mr. Haas in the Commercial bank, and he was so agitated that he could not talk intelligently. It is a most sad affair and I am heartsick over it."
Mr. De Haas was thirty-eight years old. His wife is a daughter of Mr. Paul Hauser and a niece of Hon. Albert Scheffer. He leaves with her five children.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of Nov 14, 1891
Died--At Anoka, Nov. 12, Mrs. Sadie J. Green, wife of Clarence D. Green. Mrs. Green was born in Corinth, Maine, 41 years ago. She moved to Iowa in 1874, and on Nov. 20^th, 1876, was married to Mr. Clarence D. Green of this city. Mrs. Green has been ever prominent in all charitable and church work, especially being interested in the temperance movement. She was one of the ladies of the W. C. T. U. work in this city, for years being the moving spirit in the Loyal Legion. The welfare of the boys and girls of the city of Anoka were especially dear to her. She early united with the Methodist church, but of late years had associated herself with the Baptist church of this place. Her husband and two children, Ethel and George, survive her. The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon, at 2 o’clock from the Baptist church. The husband and children have the sympathy of the whole community in their sorrow and bereavement.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of Nov 14, 1891
Died--In Anoka, yesterday morning, Mrs. Agnes Tombler, nee Houston of consumption, aged 34 years. She leaves a husband and three children. Funeral tomorrow from the residence of Mrs. Martha Houston.

Ashby/Grant County Farmer of Jan 3 1894
In Minneapolis, December 28^th, 1893, of puerperal fever, Mrs. Chas. Swahn, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dawson, of Blaine, aged 22 years. The deceased leaves a child two weeks old. She was a woman beloved by all of her acquaintances, and her loss will be deeply felt. The funeral services occurred from her late home Sunday afternoon.