Individual Details

Birth

1880 census says born in Iowa, 1870 census says born in Virginia, and the Brighton Enterprise obituary says she was born in Ohio. She arrived in Montana April 24, 1889 with two of her daughters, by the westbound Manitoba train.

Death

Obituary: "As announced last week, Mrs. Mary Knerr died near Denton, Montana on July 25, 1893 and her remains were brought here for burial. They arrived at 10:00 Saturday morning accompanied by her son, Jacob. The funeral took place at 2:00 Sunday at the Lutheran Church near Germanville, Iowa. She was buried in the Union Free Cemetery.

"Mary Schafer was born in Ohio on March 1, 1831 and came to Iowa with her father, Christian Schafer, deceased, who was long known as one [of] the prominent and wealthy farmers of Walnut township. She was twice married but was left a widow again and finally sold her farm and went to live with her children in Montana, where she has resided for four years past. Her health had been failing for a year past but congestion of the lungs was the final cause of death. The body was embalmed and taken by wagon 62 miles to the nearest railroad station and then by rail 1600 miles to be buried at the old Iowa home, being four days making the journey. She leaves a family of seven grown up children all of whom live in Montana except Mrs. G.A. (Mary Ann) VanWinkle of Brighton, Iowa, only daughter by her first husband. Those living in Montana are Jacob, Christian, Levi, Lewis, Mag Edwards, and Lorena. The family desires to extend thanks for kindness shown by neighbors here and in Montana."

Note from Iowa genealogist: "Mom made a notation at the bottom of her chart there are three more children listed John, Caroline, George, who is listed as died in Geyser, Montana on July 9, 1943."