BUTLER COUNTY PRESS
ESTABLISHED 1873
DAVID CITY, NEBRASKA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1919

Perhaps the foundation of their friendship was their life habits in common. They each united with the Methodist church early in life and were faithful members for many years. It would be impossible to discriminate as to which was the better or most lovable women, for each had traits that had endeared them to all who came in touch with them and had lived lives that will be rich compensation to their families and friends.

Mrs. McMullen's death was due to her advanced age, she having passed her 85th birthday anniversary on January 6 last. She had been in falling health for three years and had been bedfast for ten weeks.

Her maiden name was Lucy Ann Bates and she was born in Pennline, Pa. She was one of nine children, four of whom, with the parents, preceded her to the Great Beyond. The surviving brothers and sisters are: Mrs. W. M. Lord and A. H. Bates, of Pennline, Pa. David Bates, of Madison, S. Dak.; and W. W. Bates, of Long Beach, Calif.

The Marriage of Lucy Ann Bates and Dunnels S. McMullen took place in the year 1855 at the family home in Pennline. After a year of married life Mr. and Mrs. McMullen moved to Wisconsin and shortly after to Waukon, Iowa, where they took part in the pioneer life and activities of that day. Mr. McMullen served in the Civil war and at the close of the war moved his family to Des Moines, Iowa.

In 1882 the McMullen family came to David City and aside from two years spent on a farm six miles northwest of David City this had been their home ever since.

Two children, daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. McMullen, Mrs. M. M. Boles and Miss Emma McMullen of David City. Since Mr. McMullen's death in 1908, Miss Emma McMullen had been the constant companion of her mother and the two had lived together in pleasant unity, making a home which was a delight to enter.

Besides the two daughters, Mrs. McMullen leaves two grandchildren and six Great-grandchildren. The grandchildren, Roy Boles of Madison and Mrs. Ed. Miller of York, with their families, were in David City to see their grandmother several days before passing.

They were also in attendance at the funeral services, held at the family home Friday afternoon, Feb. 7, at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. J. M. Bothwell, pastor of the Methodist church, conducted the services. The hymns sung were "Rock of Ages", "Asleep in Jesus", and "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" and the singers were A. L. Hughes, Dr. R. E. Sturdevant, Mrs. E. G. Hall and Mrs. L. C. Harris. Burial was in the David City cemetery, the following men acting as pallbearers: C. W. Bennison, George Clymer, G. W. Davis, J. J. Kay, I. T. McCaskey and D. P. Treadway.

Apoplexy was the cause of Mrs. Diemer's death. She suffered the stroke at 5 o'clock Monday afternoon, Feb. 3, and never regained consciousness before her death. She had been in poor health for some time.

Mrs. D. W. Baer of David City and Mrs. D. M. Miller of Columbus, daughters of Mrs. Diemer, left for Morrill the day they received the message of their mothers illness, but were detained and did not arrive until Tuesday, at 11 a.m.

Mrs. Diemer was a resident of Butler county for 44 years. She came here in 1873 with her husband and located on a farm in Olive township, sharing with him in the misfortunes of the early settlers here and doing her share in making Mr. Diemer the successful farmer that he was. Mr. and Mrs. Diemer returned from farm life in 1908 and moved to David City. In 1911 Mr. Diemer passed away, but Mrs. Diemer continued living here until 2 1/2 years ago, when she sold her home and went to Morrill to visit. She was extended such courtesies in the home of her grandson and her presence was so welcome in the family circle became her home.

Hester Alice Clingman was Mrs. Diemer's name before her marriage. She was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, February 25, 1841, and that was her home until coming to Nebraska. January 5, 1859, was the date of her marriage to Hiram Y. Diemer.

Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Diemer but two, Mrs. Eda Baer and Mrs. Addie Miller, survive the mother. Five children died in infancy and the eldest, a son, Arthur, died six years ago. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three brothers. The brothers are Judge S. C. Clingman of David City, Frank Clingman of Bellefourche, S. Dak.

Mrs. Diemer's body was brought to David City for burial, the funeral services being held in the Methodist church Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. J. M. Bothwell had charge of the services. Two selections, "Lead, Kindly light" and "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me", were sung by a quartet, Mrs. A. L. Hughes, Mrs. E. G. Hall, A. L. Hughes and Charles Scudder of Central City. Mr. Scudder also gave a vocal solo, " Face to Face." The pallbearers were Arthur, Jesse and Walter Baer, and Wayne Diemer and Roy Miller, grandsons of Mrs. Diemer, and Harry Lichliter. Burial was in the Diemer family lot in the David City cemetery.

Those from out-of -town in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Miller and sons, Roy and Karel, and Mrs. Roy Miller from Columbus, Wayne Diemer from Morrill, Charles Scudder from Central City, and Arthur and Jesse Baer from Rising City¹²⁵

¹²⁵Source: The original clipping is in possession of Don Baer Jr.

.

HESTER ALICE (CLINGMAN) DIEMER
ESTATE - FINAL DECREE
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF BUTLER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Now on this 31st day of December, 1919, at 10 o'clock, A.M., this cause came on to be heard upon the petition of S. Clingman, administrator of the estate of Hester A. Diemer, deceased, for the allowance of his final account as such administrator, and it appearing to the court from the proof on file that due notice of the pendency of such petition and of the time and place fixed for the hearing thereon has been given to all persons interested in said estate as required by law, and the order of this court dated December 16, 1919, and no one objecting to the allowance of said account, and after a full and careful examination of the report of said administrator filed December 16, 1919, the court finds that said report is just and true in all respects and should be approved and allowed as the final account of said administrator of the estate of said Hester A. Diemer, deceased, in this state.

It is therefore considered, adjudged and decreed by the court that said report be, and the same hereby is approved and allowed as the final account of said administrator of the estate of Hester A. Diemer, deceased, in this state.

The court further finds from examination of the records and files herein, and from the evidence, that said Hester A. Diemer, deceased, departed this life on or about the 5th day of February, 1919, and at the time of her death, she was a resident of Butler County, Nebraska, and that she died intestate, and that S. Clingman was duly appointed administrator under the laws of Nebraska, and administered the estate of said deceased, in accordance with the laws of the state of Nebraska for all the property coming into his hands as such administrator, and that all claims against said estate have been fully paid and settled in settlement of said estate in the County Court of Butler County, Nebraska, where said estate was duly administered.

The court further finds that there has been an order made forever barring all claims against said estate.

The court further finds that the sole and only heirs at law of said deceased, are, Eda F. Baer, David City, Nebraska, daughter, Addie L. Miller, Columbus, Nebraska, daughter, and Arthur Wayne Diemer, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska, son of deceased son of said deceased, all of legal age.

The court further finds that the deceased died seized of the following described real estate, to-wit: the East half of the North West Quarter of Section 30, Township 22, Range 57, West of the 6th P. M., Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, to be distributed among the heirs at law of said deceased.

The court further finds that the deceased died seized of personal property to be distributed to be distributed among the heirs of said deceased, in the amount of $800.00

The court further finds that after payment of all claims, demands, and debts against said estate there remains in the hands of the administrator the sum of $485.10.

It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that said S. Clingman, administrator of the estate of said Hester A. Diemer, deceased, pay out of said sum of $485.10 to Eda F. Baer, the sum of $161.70, to Addie L. Miller, the sum of $161.70 to Arthur Wayne Diemer, son of deceased son of said deceased, the sum of $161.70.

It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that said land, above described, be assigned to said heirs at law of said deceased, in common.

It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that after filing in this court, the receipts of the heirs of said Hester A. Diemer, deceased, that S. Clingman, administrator, be discharged and he and his bondsmen, released from any further liability in this estate¹²⁶.

I. T. McCaskey
County Judge

¹²⁶Source: The original clipping is in possession of Don Baer Jr

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Diemer. On January 13, 1859, Mr. Diemer was united in marriage to Miss Hester A. Clingman, the wedding taking place in Stephenson county, Ill. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Diemer, only three of whom survive him. They are A. B. Diemer of Morrill, Neb., Mrs. D.W. Baer of Rising City and Mrs. D. M. Miller of Columbus.

Mr. Diemer and family moved to Butler county from Illinois in June, 1873. They homesteaded land five miles northwest of David City which continued to be their home until they moved to David City in the fall of 1908. Since that time they have resided in the eastern part of town.

Mr. Diemer's death came after an illness of three weeks. He recently suffered a nervous breakdown.

He had been a faithful member of the Methodist church for a number of years. With his pleasing ways and personality he had won a large number of friends in this vicinity.

Besides Mrs. Diemer and three children, he leaves two brothers and two sisters.

The funeral services were held at the home Saturday morning, April 8, at 11 o'clock. Rev. J. R. Gettys, of the M. E. church, preached the funeral sermon. A quartet, composed of Mrs. Wm. Stephens, Mrs. Guy Walling, Mrs. John Eberly, and Miss Ada Munns, with Miss Theo Stephens at organ, furnished the music for the services. The bearers were Messrs. John Curry, Harve Nichols, W. J. Martin, G. J. Whitney, H. Alma and T. J. Hinds. The body was interred in the David City cemetery.

In attendance at the funeral from out of town were: A son, A. B. Diemer, from Morrill, Neb.; a daughter, Mrs. D. M. Miller, her daughter, Mrs. Nettie Avery, and her son, Roy Miller, all of Columbus; a daughter, Mrs. D. W. Baer, of Rising City. Miss Jerusha McKellips, a friend of the Diemer family, came from Freemont¹²⁷.

¹²⁷Source: The original clipping is in possession of Don Baer Jr

The family, it appears came from that part of Germany which belonged to France but has been restored to Germany. Henry Diemer, Jr., was by occupation a farmer of whom any authentic history is known to the subject of this biography. He went from Bucks County to Northampton County, Pa., shortly after his marriage, and there Michael Diemer, the father of our subject, was born. Henry Diemer, Jr., died in Northampton County where he had been an early settler, successful farmer, and thoroughly identified with the county. Michael Diemer was born, reared and married in Northampton County, his wife being Susan Ralsey, also a native of Northampton County, of German descent. He came to Illinois with his family in 1847, locating first in Winnebago County, but later purchasing land which he farmed in Dakota Township, whence he went to Cedarville and died there in March 1879, aged seventy-three. The mother had previously in Washington County. Grand-parents of our subject lived to be eighty-four years old.

Our subject is the oldest but one of a family of eight children, of whom five were sons and three daughters. Four sons and two daughters are still living, all married. Harrison Diemer's birth occurred in Northampton County, Pa., Oct. 18, 1828. He was reared in Lowen, Mt Bethel Township, came to Illinois with his father, and was married in Rock Run Township to Ann R. Etnyre, who was born in Washington County, Md., and came to Illinois with her father in 1838, settling first near Adeline, Ogle County, on a farm, where her parents died, and where she was reared and educated. Her grandparents had lived and died in Maryland. They were farmers and came of German ancestry. Mrs. D. is the mother of four children, two of whom are deceased. Luther M. is married to Miss Minnie Spackman, and now resides on a farm in this township; Walter married Miss Ella Askey, and lives on the homestead of Mr. Diemer. The deceased are Martha, who died at ten months, and Oscar, whose death occurred when he was four years old.

Since his marriage Mr. Diemer has been engaged in farming here, except for two years when he was a general merchant in Cedarville. Since 1857 he has lived on his present farm on Section 27, in Dakota Township, where he owns 360 acres of land in a fine state of cultivation. He owns other timber lands, has good buildings on his farm, and is a thoroughly successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Diemer and two sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Trustee. He is a Republican, and has held some of the township offices.¹²⁸

Harrison Diemer, farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Dakota; born in Nothampton co., Penn.. Oct. 18, 1828; came to Stephenson Co., Ill., with his parents, in 1847; has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, except two years (from the fall of 1854 to the fall of 1856), during which time he was engaged in mercantile business in Cedarville; he was the fisrt supervisor for his township, after Dakota Township was detached from Buckeye, for seventeen or eighteen years a School Director, and has held other local offices. He is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the Republican Party; has a magnificent home farm of 280 acres, besides 12 acres of timber-land, in Ridott Township; all his possessions are the result of his own exertions, aided by the happy selection of a good location. He was married Nov. 6, 1852, to Miss Ann R. Etmyre; she was born in Washington Co., Md., April 2, 1836; came to Ogle Co., with her parents, in 1838; her father and mother thereafter resided in Ogle Co., her father, Henry Etmyre, died in 1842, her mother, Sara Etmyre, died in February, 1861. Mr. D's, parents, Michael and Susan Diemer, were permanently in Stephenson Co., from 1847; his mother died in 1853,aged, 54; his father lived in Cedarville the last eighteen or twenty years of his life; he died there March 29,1878, aged 73 years, having been over forty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Diemer have lived in their present location since 1856, have planned and executed the improvements on the farm, and the large, conveniently arranged and shade-embowered house, with its tasteful profusoin of luxuriant flowers, shows, in all its appointments, a cultivated taste and careful hands; they have two children- Luther M. and Walter W.¹²⁹

Walter Baer arrived from Gallup, N. Mex., a few days before his mother's passing and remained for the funeral, leaving for his home Monday. Others in attendance from elsewhere were Mrs. D. M. Miller and daughter, Mrs. Grace Kumf, of Lincoln.

Eda F. Baer, daughter of Hiram and Hester Diemer, was born at Cedarville, Ill. December 12, 1862, and at time of death was aged 78 years, 10 months, and two days. Her father homesteaded near Rising City in 1874, returned to Illinois and came back to Butler county two years later, homesteading near the present home site, he and his family being among the first settlers near David City. There Eda Baer grew to young womanhood and was married to David W. Baer, December 23,1880.

Mr. and Mrs. Baer resided in a sod house after their marriage, three of their five sons , being born there. Two sons, Charles and Louis, died in childhood. The surviving sons are Arthur E. and Jesse W. of David City, and Walter D. of Gallup, N. Mex. Mr. Baer died February 27, 1936. Mrs. Baer also leaves four grandsons, one granddaughter, and one sister, Mrs. D. M. Miller of Lincoln.

Mrs. Baer made many friends during her more than 60 years of active interest in pioneer and church affairs. In early days, she was a member of the Millerton M. E. church and was a charter member of St. Luke's M. E. church.

Card of thanks--We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for all the kindness shown us at time of death of our beloved mother. The Baer Children¹³⁰