Town Had Only 3 Building When He Came Here in 1880
Paul Seger, who came to this community several months before the town of Atkinson was officially founded in 1880, died Saturday, July 14, at his home in this city.
He was 87 years of age. He and wife observed their 59th wedding anniversary the 24th of May, this year.
When Mr. Seger was 11, the family made its westward trec by ox team and covered wagon, looking for a place, called "Atkinson," where land was available for homesteading.
On April 1, 1880, they saw a cluster of three buildings on the prairie. Paul's father stopped the wagon in front of one of them and told Paul to hop out and ask for directions.
Inside, he inquired of the first man he saw, "How far is it to Atkinson?"
"You're in Atkinson right now, sonny," replied the storekeeper, who was the late Frank Bitney on whose land the Original Town of Atkinson was established.
Mr. Seger lived on a farm near here until 1909, when he and his brother, the late N. D. Seger, formed the business partnership in Atkinson known as Seger Brothers. The firm, in 1910, was the first Ford automobile dealership west of Norfolk. They erected what is now the Miller Theatre building, in which they operated for some 25 years. Mr. Seger retired from business in 1941.
Funeral services were held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, July 17, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The rites were conducted by the Rev. Richard J. Parr, pastor. Atkinson business places were closed during the funeral hour.
Burial was in St. Joseph's Cemetey. The pallbearers were Aloys Wewel, John Laible, Dan O'Connell, John Kramer Jr., Francis D. Lee and William Troshynski.
Paul Seger, son of Donatus and Margaret Seger, was born May 21,1869, at Chicago, III.
When he was nine years old, he moved with his family to Omaha. Two years later, the family came west in a covered wagon drawn by ox team, arriving at Atkinson on April 1, 1880. Mr. Seger's father homesteaded along the Elkhorn river five miles west and a mile north of here. The place is now owned by Edward Kramer.
He was married to Catherine Christ at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Atkinson May 24, 1897. They lived on a farm five miles northwest of Atkinson until 1909, when he and his brother, the late N. D. Seger, purchased a farm implement business in Atkinson which was owned by the late J. J. Stilson. 1910, they established the first Ford agency west of Norfolk. Mr. Seger retired from business in 1941.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine; five daughters, Mrs. Joe (Margaret) Langer of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Ray (Mary) White of Martin, S.D., Mrs. Judd (Gertrude) Bond of Omaha, Mrs. Harry (Catherine) Bose of Le Mars, Ia., and Mrs. R. J. (Agnes) Leininger of Ft. Pierre, S.D.; three sons, Joe, Leo and Frederick, all of Atkinson; 12 grandchildren and one great grandson.
He was preceded in death by one son, Edward, on November 19, 1948.
Relatives and friends who came from a distance to attend the funeral included: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Langer, Denver, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. Ray White, Martin, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. Judd Bond, Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bose and Karen, Le Mars, IA., Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Leininger, Kay and Chuck, Ft. Pierre, S.D., Dr. and Mrs. R. P. Bose, Council Bluffs, IA.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Callahan, Gayle White and John Seger, all of Omaha.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Norris, Shenandoah, IA., Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Seger and Chuck, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Seger, all of Newport; Mr. and Mrs. Elite Irish and Marilyn, Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Seger, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Krueger, Mrs. Emma Kunz, Miss Margaret Kunz, Mr. and Mrs. Dana Bigelow, Mr. and Mrs. Arby Krueger, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Kunz, Mrs. Karl Weichman, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Wedige, John Seger, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bose, and Mr. and Mrs. Herb Lane, all of Stuart.
Mrs. John Simmons and Miss Kate Kunz, Valentine; Mrs. Julia White, Amelia; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Leininger and family, Waco: Mr. and Mrs. Milan Sharp, Norden; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wedige, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wedige, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Wedige, Mrs. Gus Seger and Mrs. Minnie Beckwith, all of Emmet.
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