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Submitted: 3/13/11 • Approved: 1/31/24 • Last Updated: 2/3/24 • R106491-G106491-S3
Mary S. Dolan Huntemer
Birth
27 Nov 1849
Potosi, Grant County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
20 Feb 1914 (aged 64)
Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Death of Mayor Huntemer
And Wife
Mr. Huntemer Passed Away Sunday
Afternoon, and Mrs. Huntemer
Friday Forenoon
Double Funeral Held Today
At St. Mary's Catholic Church Attended by a Large
Concourse of people
It is seldom indeed that death claims both the wife and husband within comparatively a few hours, from natural causes, but such was the case in the demise of Augustus Huntemer, mayor of this city, and his wife, the later passing away Friday, Feb. 20th, at 10:15 a.m., and Mr. Huntemer following her into the shadows of eternity Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, both succumbing to pneumonia.
Mr. Huntemer had been showing a perceptible decline in health the past year or two, but kept steadily at his business and was at his office on Saturday afternoon, February 14th, but for several days had been struggling to keep up. He went home some time during the afternoon, and during the evening was taken sick, so sick in fact that he apparently could do little for himself, and was unable to phone for help, which he said he tried to do but could not find the phone.
Mrs. Huntemer had lost her mind, a condition that had grown steadily upon her for a number of years. She would have no one stay with her, and the constant worry over her condition undoubtedly had much to do with Mr. Huntemer's failing health. Hence she could not realize his condition, nor do anything for him. Because of his attack Saturday evening he was not able to tend his furnace, and during the night the fire went out. Sometime near noon Sunday Mr. Huntemer managed to get to the telephone and called a doctor, and when he reached the house Mrs. Huntemer was in the kitchen, where she had started a fire in the range, but had dropped the lids down in the fire, and the gas and smoke filled the room. He found Mr. Huntemer lying on the lounge in the sitting rom. He was delirious most of the time from the first seizure of the disease, and therefore was unable to give a very clear account of the circumstances after he reached home.
That evening Mrs. Huntemer was also taken with the same disease and from the first was pronounced worse than he was. As soon as the doctor discovered the conditions the neighbors were called, and the relatives in the country were phone to, and they promptly came and took charge, a trained nurse was secured, and everything possible was done, but there was very little hope for their recovery.
Mrs. Huntemer passed away Friday morning at 10:15. No arrangements had yet been made for the funeral, and on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Mr. Huntemer followed her. They never had any children, and therefore there is no one left of the family or household.
Augustus Huntemer was born at Potosi, Wis., August 28th, 1847, being the oldest of a family of twelve, eight brothers and four sisters, all of whom survive but one brother, Joe, and one sister, Mary. They are William and Henry, of Madison; John, of Tacoma, Wash.; Chas. B., G.V. and Frank, of Huntimer, Mrs. Peter Bowen, of Dell Rapids; Mrs. C.C. Hamilton, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Mrs. Amelia Riley of Fowler, Colorado.
Mr. Huntemer grew up at Potosi, Wis., and married Miss Mary Dolan there in 1870. He continued to live there, engaged in the cooperage business, until 1885 when they came to South Dakota, locating on a farm here purchased near where his brothers live in this county, now known as Huntimer, they having preceded him here many years before. He lived on the farm for a number of years before he moved to Dell Rapids, which was about 1891 or 1892. He opened a cooper shop here and worked at that for a time, and then took up the land business, which he followed ever since.
He served four years as postmaster of tis city, being appointed by President Cleveland about January, 1895, succeeding W.C. Nisbet, who had served on term.
He had be secretary and manager of the Creamery Co. for many years and also served as a member of the board of education for several years, which position he resigned when he was elected mayor of the city, four years ago next April.
He was a man of broad public spirit, conscientious to a degree, a warm and true friend, and was honored and respected by all.
Mrs. Huntemer, whose maiden name was Mary Dolan, was born at Potosi, Wis., Nov. 27, 1849. She was a woman of rare virtues and idolized by her husband, but, at least for many years, was of very retiring disposition, and rarely left her home. She was, however, universally respected and esteemed.
She leaves to mourn her death three sisters, one, Mrs. Kate Bell living in Seattle, Wash., and the other two in California.
A double funeral was held today at 10:30 at St. Mary's church, the large edifice proving entirely inadequate to accommodate the throng that gathered to pay their last tribute of respect and honor to this worth couple.
The service was the Solemn High Requiem Mass, Rev. Father Boley, Celebrant, assisted by Father Bontere of Flandreau as Deacon, Father Martin of Bryant as Sub-Deacon, and Father Cafferky of Huntimer as Master of Ceremonies.
After the service Monsignor Flynn, of Madison, delivered the eulogy and sermon, paying high tribute to the exemplary life led by Mr. and Mrs. Huntemer, and applying the lesson to the living. If a funeral may be said to be beautiful, and why not? It was a beautiful and impressive scene, with the two caskets side by side, hand in hand as it were in death as in life, while the benediction of the church they had through life loved and adhered was being rendered.
The floral tributes were most beautiful and lavish, conveying their messages of love and esteem. Interment was made in the St. Mary's division of the Dell Rapids Cemetery, side by side in one large grave, surrounded by the large number who accompanied the remains to the cemetery, while from about the snow fell thickly, quietly, peacefully, ad a mantle and a benediction from On High.
Practically every business house in the city closed during the funeral hours, as a special mark of honor.
All the family relatives of Mr. Huntemer, excepting his brother, John of Tacoma, where present at the funeral, but none of the relatives of Mrs. Huntemer where able to come.
Albert Staudenraus, of Chicago, a nephew of Mrs. and Mrs. A. Huntemer, came to attend their funeral, and will also visit with his relatives at Huntimer.
Contributed on 3/13/11
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Record #: 106491