Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
This is a continuation of Block 3 of St. John's Cemetery. This part includes the final five of the 12 unmarked graves in Block 3 – Joe Burke, Thomas Georges, Mrs. John Pottner, Martin C. Connelly and Martin J. Connelly.
Joe Burke: Joe Burke was born Aug. 24, 1863 in Hastings, Minn. to parents Thomas and Bridget Burke. In the 1910 census, Joe was a single man living in Eddy Township, Eddy County, N.D., being a hired man for Andreas Odegard and his wife Mabel.
In the 1930 census, Joe was in the village of Minnewaukan, N.D. at the Benson County jail. He was 66 years old. In the 1940 census, he was living in New Rockford, N.D. as a lodger at the home of Alvin and Ida Womacks and daughter Shirley. No occupation was listed. He was 76 years old. Joseph Burke died on Feb. 24, 1942 at City Hospital in New Rockford, N.D. after a one year stay. He was buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery on Feb. 26, 1942. He has no marker. His obituary from the March 1942 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows:
Funeral services were held for Eddy Township resident Thursday. Funeral services for Joseph Burke, 78, whose death occurred Tuesday morning from old age and complications after several months' illness during which time he was confined in the New Rockford City Hospital occurred Tuesday morning, will be held at St. John's Catholic Church Thursday morning at nine o'clock with burial in Calvary (St. John's) Cemetery north of this city (New Rockford, N.D.), the body being at the Robertson-Knott Funeral Home awaiting the last rites.
Deceased was well known in the Eddy Township community where he had spent the past 45 years employed on various farms in that Township. He was an unmarried man and only one known relative, C.F. McDonald, a nephew of Red Lake Falls, Minn., survives. Mr. McDonald arrived here Tuesday evening to take charge of the funeral arrangements.
Thomas Georges: Thomas John Georges was born Oct. 20, 1899 in Greece to John and Marena Georges. In the 1930 census, Thomas and his wife Marie and two daughters, Norma and Delores, were living in New Rockford, N.D. His occupation was listed as a restaurant proprietor. In the 1940 census, Thomas and his wife Bernice were living in New Rockford, N.D. where his occupation was listed as a cook in a cafe and Bernice's occupation was listed as a seamstress. Thomas died on May 10, 1944 in City Hospital, New Rockford, N.D. after a two-day stay. He was buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery on May 13, 1944. He does not have a marker. His obituary taken from the May 18, 1944 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: Funeral services held on Saturday morning for Thomas Georges. Funeral services were conducted from St. John's Catholic Church Saturday morning at nine o'clock for Thomas Georges, 45, who passed away at City Hospital Wednesday following a brief illness.
Final rites were attended by a large number of close friends of the New Rockford resident with Rev. Fr. J.J. O'Donovan officiating. Pallbearers were Samuel Rich, Howard Boe, Henry H. Ewals (my grandfather), Ole Nokleby Sr., Daniel McCrank and George H. Dunham. Burial was made in the Catholic Cemetery north of this city (New Rockford, N.D.).
Born Oct. 10, 1895, in Greece, Thomas Georges came to the United States at the age of 12 years. He came to New Rockford in 1929 and opened a restaurant in this city which he operated for several years.
Mr. Georges was united in marriage to Miss Marie Fortman at Sauk Center, Minn. in 1921, and to this union two children were born: Norma and Delores, who are making their home with their grandmother in Long Prairie, Minn. Mrs. Georges preceded her husband in death some 10 years ago.
Although confined to the hospital only two days prior to his death, Mr. Georges had been in failing health for some time past.
Mrs. John Pottner: Sabina Frank (Mrs. John Pottner) was born in 1829 in Germany. She married John Pottner on June 12, 1848 in Milwaukee, Wisc. In the 1880 Census, John and Sabina were living in Jefferson, Wisc. with six children. In the 1894 census, John and Sabina were listed as living in Minneapolis, Minn. where John was a finisher for NW Mfg. and Supply Co. Sabina died on July 17, 1895 and is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minn. She has a small stone there as documented in Find-a-grave. By 1900, John and four children had moved to Guler Township (Rosefield), Eddy County, N.D. John died on April 19, 1901 and is buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford, N.D. alongside two of his children, Sabina Caroline and Charles C. Pottner. I think the confusion of Sabina not having a marked grave lies with the supposition that John's wife should be buried in the New Rockford cemetery and not Minneapolis. To add to the confusion, the daughter Sabina has the same name as the mother.
Martin C. Connelly: Martin Calman Connelly was born Sept. 11, 1942 to Martin and Anna (Monigan) Connelly in North Dakota. The spelling of the name could be either Connolly or Connelly. In the 1910 census, Martin C. was living with his parents, Martin and Anna in Oshkosh, Wells County, N.D. and four siblings, John, George, Thomas and Edwin Joseph. He was eight years old. Martin C. Connelly died on Oct. 16, 1918 in New Rockford, N.D. He is buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford, N.D. He does not have a marker. His obituary from the October 1918 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: Martin Connolly, of the firm of Connolly brothers, dray and transfer, died Monday evening of pneumonia (Spanish Flu) at the home of his parents on Lamborn Avenue West. He was a young man of about 18 years, and was well thought of by many whose acquaintance he had made during the year the boys have been in business in this city. To the surviving relatives the sincere sympathy of the community is extended in their hour of affliction.
Martin J. Connelly: Martin Joseph Connelly was born on May 10, 1861 in Maine. In the 1900 census, he was living in Oshkosh, Wells County, N.D. with his wife Anna and three children, John J., George C., and Thomas. His occupation was listed as farmer. In the 1910 census, he was living in Oshkosh, Wells County, N.D. with his wife and five sons, John, George, Thomas, Edwin Joseph and Martin C. In the 1920 census, he was living in New Rockford, N.D. on Lamborn Ave. with his wife and three sons, George, Thomas and Edwin Joseph. Martin C. died on Oct. 16, 1918. George and Thomas's occupation were listed as drayman and Edwin Joseph was listed as a railroad brakeman. Martin and Anna's occupation were not listed. Martin died on June 28, 1922 in New Rockford, N.D. and is buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford, N.D. He does not have a marker. His wife, Anna died in 1949 in Milwaukee, Wisc. and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisc. according to Findagrave.com.
His obituary, found in the July 1922 New Rockford Transcript, reads as follows: Pioneer resident of North Dakota passes away at his home here.
Martin J. Connelly, age 62 years, died at his home in this city Wednesday, June 28th, after a lingering illness. Mr. Connelly was born in Maine moving to Minnesota with his parents when very young. In the early '80s he came to Dakota and located on a homestead three miles from the site of the present city of Fessenden, where he resided with his family until coming to New Rockford five years ago.
He was of a cheerful disposition, generous to a fault, ever ready to give assistance where it was needed and a true friend.
He was buried from St. John's Catholic Church, Rev. Father Schimmel celebrating Requiem High Mass. He was laid to rest beside his son, who succumbed to the influenza (Spanish Flu) five years ago. He is survived by his wife and four sons, all of whom were at his bedside when he passed away. The family have a host of friends in Fessenden and throughout Wells County – as well as in New Rockford – whose sympathy goes out to them in their loss of husband and father. Many old friends and neighbors were prevented from attending the funeral on account of the condition of the roads. The pallbearers were Dennis O'Connor, Pat O'Connor, Richard Price, Nicholas Laner, Michael O'Keefe and James McDonald. Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were Mrs. Mary Mooneg, Mrs. Margaret Cullen, Helena, Mont., Mrs. Thos. O'Rourke, of Foley, Minn., sisters of the deceased; Miss Rose Madigan, of St. Cloud, Minn., a niece; Arthur Price, Richard Price and sons, Reese and Lewis, all of Fessenden.
In the Catholic records it was listed that there were three unknown graves in Block 3, lot 19 but I could only identify Martin C. Connelly and Martin J. Connelly were buried there.
