Miss Margaret Cecelia Rittor was born at Moline Bluff, Illinois, April 15, 1853 and died July 16, 1914. She came with her parents to Iowa in 1865 to reside on a farm south of Grand Mound, where she made her home until 1884 when she was married to John Dalton. She lived at Clarence, Iowa several years then moved with her family on a farm south of Farnam.

She leaves to mourn her loss, a loving husband, three sons, Ernest, Ervin and Lawrence, a daughter Geneva, a daughter-in-law, Marie, a granddaughter, Marjorie Geneva, all of Farnam; four brothers, two sisters, two brothers-in-laws, Peter, J.J., Leo and Miss Susie Rittor at the old home west of Grand Mound; Theodore, residing at DeWitt, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Murphy of Manley, Nebr.; John Sadler of Davenport, Ia., and several nieces and nephews who also reside in Iowa.

The funeral was held at St. Philips and James church Sunday morning at 9:30 with Father Reiordon celebrating high mass. Interment was made in Calvery cemetery.

The following out of town relatives were: Mr. and Mrs. L.C. King, Muscatine, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. William Mock, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Carroll and babe, the Misses Margaret and Elizabeth Sadler, James Dalton, Mrs. , Nellie O’Brien and daughter Miss Evelyn, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McGarry, Davenport, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Charles King, C. King and son Frank, Joe King and two sons, Lew and Ray, Mrs. Vogle, and William Aultman of East Moline, Ill.; Thomas Dalton, Mr. and Mrs. P.M. McCullough, Vail, Ia.; Mrs. Kate Marron, Theodore Rittor and daughters, Miss Loretta and Mae, of DeWitt, Ia.; and Mr. and Mrs. Willie Rittor from Low More, Ia.

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank the kind neighbors and friends who so kindly assisted us in our sad bereavement, the loss of our dear wife and mother.

John Dalton...Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Dalton....Geneva Dalton.....Lawrence Dalton

The Farnam Echo 11(32):1 July 23, 1914

Loses Pocketbook.......Falls Dead in Seat

The following clipping taken from a Marshalltown, Ia., paper explains more clearly the sad incident connect with Mrs. John Dalton’s sudden death:

"Suddenly discovering that she had lost her purse, containing $25 in money, Mrs. John Dalton of Farnam, Nebr., a woman apparently 55 years old, fell back in her seat in Chicago & Northwestern passenger train No 11, due in this city at 1:35 this morning.

Mrs. Dalton’s death was due to apoplexy, as a post mortem examination revealed after the body was taken from the train here. The shock produced by the excitement of discovering her loss caused her death.

Mrs. Dalton was on her way home from a visit with relatives at Grand Mound. She boarded No. 11 at Cedar Rapids. After the train left Tama, Mrs. Dalton was in conversation with Mrs. Mary J. Bigelow of Whiting, and something was said about money. Mrs. Dalton opened her handbag as the word was spoken, and with a gasp said, "My purse is gone; there was $25 in it".

Mrs. Bigelow suggested that she call the conductor, motioned him to where the two ladies were sitting. The conductor asked Mrs. Dalton about her loss, and got no response. The woman was sitting upright in her seat lifeless.

Mrs. Dalton’s body was removed from the train at this point and was taken to the Purcel undertaking parlors where Dr. G.E. Hermance, the company surgeon and Coroner F.H. Boucher, conducted an autopsy to reveal the cause of death. The examination showed a hemorrhage of the brain.

On Mrs. Dalton’s person was a certificate of deposit for $100 on the State Bank of Farnam and $55 in currency. A letter from a daughter, written early in July, and expressing joy at her mother’s early return home was found.

The Northwestern sent a wire to the Farnam Bank, and a reply was received to the effect that a brother of Mrs. Dalton would reach this city tonight."

The Farnam Echo, Farnam, Dawson county, Nebraska; July 23, 1914; Volume 11, Number 32, page 1, col. 1 and 3. Microfilm, NSHS, Lincoln, NE: (HEH-S)