George B. Okeson

Birth: Mar. 19, 1890 Death: Jan. 22, 1925

HIAWATHA DAILY WORLD - MONDAY, FEB 11, 1918

GEORGE OKESON AMONG THE SAVED - - - Sunday Sam Okeson, of Fairview, received a message giving the official information that his son, Sergt George Okeson, Co. E, 6th Battalion, 20th Engineers, is among those saved when the Tuscania was sunk. George Okeson is probably in an Irish Port.

OBITUARY : FAIRVIEW ENTERPRISE - FEB 26, 1925

George B. Okeson was born at the family home north-west of Fairview March 19, 1890. He attended Spring Grove and Fairview schools and spent two years in the Academy at Ottawa University where he was graduated in 1907. Later he had one year in Manhattan. He united with the Baptist church here January 15, 1911.

George's desire to see the country led him to a good many different places where he was usually employed in some lumber company. At Kansas City, Mo., he volunteered his enlistment in the army and was a Sergeant 1st Class, Co 17, 20th Engineers. He was on the Tuscania going to France when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Ireland. Most of the long service in France was in the timbered mountains toward the border of Spain, getting out material for use at the front. He was mustered out at Camp Lewis, June 11, 1919, serving nearly two years.

He left the Isley Lumber Co., of Dodge City and went to California agbout two years ago, spending most of his time around San Jose. It was from that place, on January 10, that he left with a man named Gilbert for a supposed gold mine in Nevada. He was last seen alive about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of January 22, as he and this man Gilbert started on a walk from Sharp, Nevada, to a mine supposed to be about ten miles out. His body was found on the afternoon of February 15 by a searching party headed by his father and brother, Rex. Death was caused by a bullet wound in the back of the neck.

This dastardly murder for robbery by a companion has shocked the conscience of all the communities that ever knew George Okeson. He was strong physically, a man of fine intellectual capacity, a worker, a young man of model habits and high ideals. His kind is not common. He was an honor to his family, to his church, and to his community.

How unfortunate for such a promising life which had cheated the blood-thirsty Atlantic and disappointed the hungry dogs of war, that he should fall a victim to a lone companion on a desert. Peace to this soldier of misfortune!

The funeral of George B. Okeson was held Wednesday afternoon at the Baptist Church, conducted by Rev. Roy Hillyer of Horton. The Masons took the service at the cemetery. Interment was make at Mount Hope Cemetery, in Hiawatha.

Family links:

Parents:

 Samuel Albertson Okeson (1862 - 1952)

 Grace Amelia "Peek" Okeson (1862 - 1929)

Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery Hiawatha Brown County Kansas, USA Plot: Block 2 - Lot #45