Obit: Hinds, Katherine "Katie" (1862 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hinds, Servaty, Wildish, Prochazka, Klopf, Thill, Swanson, Stiehl, Mick, Gemuenden, Walker

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 4 March 1943

Hinds, Katherine "Katie" (28 April 1862 - 12 Feb. 1943)

Mrs. (Katie) Joseph Hinds, 80, passed away in a hospital in Belvidere, Ill., a short time after she suffered a fractured hip at her home in that city. She was the daughter of the late John and Catherine Servaty.

Funeral services were held there. John Servaty, Owen, sole survivor of the John Servaty, Sr., family, one of his sons, and wife and other relatives were present for the rites. Miss Vin Wildish, a former resident of Neillsville, now a resident of Belvidere, was present to pay her respects to the family. A frequent visitor in Belvidere throughout the years, Miss Wildish had made it a point at such times to call upon the departed and had always found her in good spirits. She marveled at Mrs. Hind’s memory of people and past incidents of Neillsville, Wis.

Mrs. Hinds was born in Belvidere, coming to Neillsville with her parents in 1883 where the father established himself in the white oak stave business. She was one of the family of six children, all of whom, with the exception of John, preceded her in death. Her father died in April of 1889, the mother passing away on the 9th day of March, 1912.

Mrs. Hinds, the daughter of the family who kept the home fires burning, took care of her aged parents until the end, maintaining the home until the last member, Julie Servaty, a former county superintendant of schools of Clark County, passed out of it, having died very suddenly soon after she was elected to the office.

In 1915, the departed was united in marriage to Mr. Hinds. She sold the Servaty homestead here and went with her husband to Belvidere where she had since made her home. Her husband died several years ago.

Mrs. Hind’s father built the house now owned by Robert Prochazka, Sr. The writer of this sketch has pleasant memories of that home, having been privileged to play in "Aunt" Kate’s spacious yard with the children of the Charlie Servaty family. Upon these visits were formed lasting impressions of the beauty of a well-kept home. The spacious yard, as well as the interior of the home being a model of orderliness and cleanliness at all times.

Surviving are the brother and a large group of nieces and nephews. The sisters and brother who preceded her in death are: Mrs. W. G. Klopf, Madeline Mick and Julie Servaty, all of whom were resident of Neillsville, and Charles, Fresno, Calif.

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----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 11 March 1943

Mrs. Katherine Hinds

Through the courtesy of Claire J. Servaty, 540 Briar Place, Chicago, formerly of Neillsville, the Press is privileged to make a few vital additions to the obituary of his aunt, which was published in last week’s issue on the life of Catherine (Katie) Servaty Hinds, a member of one of Neillsville’s pioneer families.

It was on the 12th day of February, 1943, that Mrs. Hinds broke her hip in a all on the ice while on her way to the mail box at her home at Belvidere, Ill. She was rushed to St. Joseph’s hospital where she lingered on until Feb. 18th, passing away at 12:45 a.m. that day as a result of shock, peacefully, and apparently without pain. Though 80 years of age, she had been very active up to the time of her accident.

Mrs. Hinds was born April 28, 1862, to John and Catherine Servaty, at Belvidere, Ill. The paternal parent was born in Prussia, Germany, Nov. 2nd, 1825, passing away in Neillsville April 16th, 1889, at the age of 63. The mother, Catherine (Thill) Servaty, was born in Steinbach, Alsace Lorraine, France, April 31, 1827. She died in Neillsville March 9th, 1912, aged 84. They were married at Elgin, Ill., July 15th, 1854, establishing their first home in Belvidere. When Katie was about twenty years of age, the parents moved to Neillsville, Wis. A few years later, in about 1882, the father built a lovely home in this city, which remained the family home until Katie, the last member of the family residing in this city, was married, at Rockford, Ill., on April 7tn, 1915, and went, with her husband, to Belvidere to reside. Mr. Hinds passed away Dec. 17th, 1938, at the age of 77 years. She was a member of a family of eight children, all of whom, except John, preceded her in death.

The nephew writes that during the last years of her life, he and his wife spent many of their weekends at her home, and that she was very fond of discussing the old home and friends. Her greatest interest, during the past few years, was centered about her flowers, possessing them in profusion.

Surviving are her brother, John J. Servaty, Cable, Wis., and thirteen nieces and nephews, namely: Catharine, Walter, Isabelle, Avis and Frances, children of the Charles Servaty family, all of California; C. J. Klopf, Madison, and Mrs. (Edna) William F. Swanson, Augusta, Mont.; children of Mrs. William G. Klopf; Emil Mick, Minneapolis; John G. Mick, Canton, Ohio, and Mrs. (Catherine) Joe Stiehl, Merrillan, children of Mrs. Madeline (Servaty) Mick; Claire J. Servaty, Little Rock, Ark., and Mrs. (Madeline) H. J. Gemuenden, La Crosse; the children of John Servaty.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20th, at the Atkins-Johnson Funeral Home in Belvidere, the Rev. James E. Walter officiating. She was buried, according to her wishes, beside her husband in Belvidere Cemetery.

Members of the family attending the rites were: Mr. and Mrs. John J. Servaty, Cable, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Klopf, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Gemuenden, La Crosse, and Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Servaty, Chicago.