Surnames: Prosser, Smith, Hoover, Nelsen, Folstad, Hoeft, Bitter, Cramer, Thompson, Apfelbeck, Spurling, Merwin, Bates, Gardiner, Oviatt, Fiebig

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin) 06/20/1940

Prosser, Frances (16 Oct. 1850 - 16 June 1940)

Funeral services for Mrs. Frances Prosser, who died at her home, Sunday, were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the home and at two o’clock at the Presbyterian church. The Rev. L. C. Smith of Kimberly and the Dr. E. L. Hoover officiated at the last rites.

During the services Lloyd Smith accompanied by Mr. Nelsen at the piano sang "Resting, Sweetly, Resting" and Mrs. L. C. Smith accompanied at the piano by Mrs. A. J. Folstad sang, "Evening Bells."

The floral offerings were in charge of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Home and Foreign Mission. Veterans of Foreign Wars acted as pallbearers. They were Lloyd Smith, Ed Hoeft, Ervin Bitter, Chesley Cramer, Maurice Thompson and Leo Apfelbeck. Internment was made in the Colby (Colby, Clark Co. Wis.) Cemetery.

The deceased is survived by three daughters: Mrs. William Spurling of Nevada, Ia., Mrs. Ben Merwin of Riverside and Mrs. Clinton Bates of Abbotsford; one step-daughter, Mrs. R. H. Gardiner of Minneapolis, four grand children and one great grand child.

Mrs. Prosser was born Frances Elizabeth Oviatt, October 16, 1850 at Little Genessee, New York. At the age of 16 she moved here with her parents who made their home on the farm now known as the H. H. Fiebig farm.

On April 12, 1889 she was united in marriage to John Franklyn Prosser at Colby, Wis. They lived on his farm which was a soldier’s claim in the Town of Frankfort. Here four children were born to them, three daughters, all of whom survive, and a son, Walter, who died at the age of 22. Thirty-nine years ago Mr. Prosser preceded her in death.

Mrs. Prosser and family remained on the farm for some time. Twenty-six years ago they moved to Abbotsford where she has resided until her death which came Sunday morning at eleven o’clock at the age of 89 years and eight months as a result of complications and age. Mrs. Prosser had been ailing in health the past three years but with her last illness had been in bed only since Friday evening.

During her long and useful life she was a charter member of the Ladies’ Aid of Riverside, a member of Harper’s Memorial church, formerly located at Riverside, until the family moved to Abbotsford when they became members of the Presbyterian church here. For 16 years she served as treasurer of the Home and Foreign Mission and was an honorary member of that organization at the time of her death.