The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

September 1931 - Friday, pg. 14, col. 1

 

Marion Besse, 67, a worthy representative of one of the leading pioneer families of Whiteside county, passed away at 6:30 o'clock Thursday evening at a hospital in Rochester, Minn., where he had been taken two weeks ago for treatment of a complication of diseases.  Mrs. Besse and son Ward were at his bedside when he was summoned by death.  Mr. Besse had been a resident of Portland township for three score and six years, where he followed the vocation of farming until about one year ago when he retired and moved to Prophetstown.

 

Marion Besse was the son of Backus and Sarah Crook Besse, who were among the earlier settlers of Portland township, coming to that community to make their home in 1835.  Mr. Besse was born August 23, 1864, at the family home in Portland.  He obtained his education in the common schools, and worked on the home farm through the period of his boyhood and youth.  He was married to Miss Winifred Schmied of Prophetstown, who, with a son Ward, survives.

 

Besides the widow and son, Mr. Besse is survived by four sisters and two brothers.  They are:  Mrs. K. L. Besse, Mrs. Louisa Fuller of Prophetstown,  Mrs. Josephine Paddock of Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. Lucy Wemple of Los Angeles, Calif., Robert Besse, Sr., of Sterling, and  Frank Besse of Springfield, Mo.

 

The body will be brought by train to Prophetstown to the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Schmied, parents of Mrs. Besse, with whom she and Mr. Besse had made their home since retiring from the farm about a year ago.  Pending the arrival of the remains by train at 7i o'clock Saturday morning, definite funeral arrangements will not be completed.