Obituaries can reveal historical information

The common phrase used lately seems to suggest that this world will never return to “normal” or what was considered normal after Covid 19, but, as those of us who have an abundance of gray hair these days knows, it will, just as it did after the pandemics of 1918, 1957 and 1968. Politicians will still be politicians, countries will still fight wars, human beings will suffer starvation amidst an abundance of food, bars will again be full of souls not wanting to go home, and people will still die alone.

Before I became wrapped up in genealogy, the only obituaries I read were of people I knew personally. I never really gave much consideration to what was in those words, mostly I was looking to see where I should send a card.

Now I understand what a powerful thing an obituary can be after going back to read the obituaries of my family members! We don’t really know anyone fully. My recollection of my grandparents is just a short snapshot of the latter part of their life. It doesn’t include what my mom and dad knew of them, which was of course just a small part again of the people they were.

My parents understood that. Both were private people and I believe that they pretty much thought their lives before their children were born was none of our darn business, not to be shared unless there was a life lesson involved. When it came to death, though, mom had carefully recorded the highlights of both of their lives in a green notepad. Some may find that odd, I personally found it to be one of the most loving gestures they gave to us.

Here is an obituary from the 1910 McCook Republican that demonstrates the importance of recording a life in that form. Obituaries and weddings from early McCook newspapers are available online at: www.swngs.org.

Indianola from the Reporter and reprinted in the Republican: “ Jasper S. Phillips was born in Marian County Indiana, February 13, 1854 and departed this life at his home in Indianola, May 19, 1910, aged 56 years, 3 months and 6 days. Funeral services were conducted at the home, Rev. Allen D. Burress of Methodist Church officiating assisted by Rev. Leslie B. Cox of the Christian Church. The body was laid to rest in the Indianola cemetery. The deceased was united in matrimony, May 10, 1877 to Miss Louisa Connelly, of Manchester, Ohio. To this union there were born seven children. Three survive, his wife Lousia, three children, Mrs. Hazel Daffer, Glen, Marjorie, a brother, Wilber, and a sister, Mrs. Amanda Drake of Muncie, Indiana. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Phillips moved to Indianola, Nebraska, where he resided permanently excepting one year’s residence in Missouri. He was one of Indianola’s pioneer businessmen, alert and enterprising. While in the beginning of his career in Indianola, as a contractor and builder associated in partnership with his constant friend, Robert H. Thomas, he constructed the first dwelling house in Indianola, and the first court house and the first bank building in Red Willow County. Since then his avocations have been diverse; dealing in hardware and furniture, practicing law, and editing the Indianola Courier and the Indianola Reporter. At the time of his death he was proprietor of the People’s store, in conjunction with which he conducted an undertaking business. Mr. Phillips was an earnest, faithful worker in the church and Sunday School and will be missed by those who were associated with him in the work.” June 10, 1910

If you were researching the Phillips family or early Indianola history, this obituary would give you vital information about the area and also about Jasper Phillips personally. That is why the summation of a life is so important to history as well as genealogical research. Join SWNGS online and use our free website for your research.