Obit: Buss, Joseph "Uncle Joe" R. (1853 - 1937)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Buss, Brown, Hutchinson, Longenecker, Whitman, Selves, Huckstead, Vine

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 25 Feb. 1937

Buss, Joseph R. (25 April 1853 - 14 Feb. 1937)

Joseph R. Buss one of the oldest resident of the town of Grant, died at his home in that town February 14, 1937, in his eighty-third year.

Joseph Buss son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Buss was born at Buffalo, N. Y., April 25, 1853. His mother died when he was two years old, and he came with his father to this county in 1863. Here he grew to manhood and on Oct. 7, 1880, he was united in marrieage with Catherine Brown, daughter of J. J. Brown of the town of Grant.

They settled on the forty acres of land which has been their home ever since.

Mr. Buss worked in lumber camps in the winter for many years. In those days the trees were all felled with axes, and he was considered one of the best choppers in this region. Beside this work in camp, and clearing on his own farm, he cut a large number of big white oaks in the town of Grant, and "scored" the long timbers for board-ax hewers, who prepared them for ship building in the east. Mr. Buss was a man of quiet habits; he loved his home and farm and his farm animals and preferred this life, to any kind of public service or office.

Until well past eighty years old he carried on the work of his farm and only when failing health and strength came did he call for any assistance. Last April Mr. and Mrs. Buss asked their nephew Herb Brown to come out and help them, and since that time he not only carried on the farm work but helped care for Mr. Buss as he grew weaker and was confined to his bed.

Besides his wife he leaves on sister, Mrs. Phoebe Hutchinson of Humboldt, Iowa. He was the only son in his parents’ family; there were seven sisters, only one of whom, Mrs. Hutchinson survives. There are many nephews and nieces and other good friends of the deceased who deeply mourn his death.

The keenest sympathy is felt throughout the community for the aged wife.

Funeral services were held at Pleasant Ridge Church Thursday afternoon, Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating, and burial taking place in the Grant Cemetery.

The sister who is not in good health could not attend the funeral, but her daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Whitman of Humboldt, Iowa, came. Six nephews of deceased acted as the pallbearers: Richard Selves, Edward Selves, Arlo Huckstead, Geo. Vine, Frank Vine and Fred Vine.

A lasting tribute was place on the casket with these words: "Uncle Joe" –For thus he was known throughout the community.