Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Fillmore County > Geneva > Geneva Cemetery > Mary Havens McPherson

Mary Havens McPherson

Birth	:	1 Nov 1840 Ocean County, New Jersey, USA
Death	:	18 Jun 1930 Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.5359900, -97.6064900
Plot	:	Sec. 4 Lot 152 Plot 05
Inscription	:	"GRANDMOTHER"
Description	:	McPHERSON, MARY—Mrs. Mary (Havens) McPherson, pioneer of Fillmore County, died at Geneva at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 1930, aged 80 years, 7 months and 17 days. The funeral service will be held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Geneva, Neb., at 10 o’clock this morning and will be conducted by Rev. H. C. Capsey. Interment will be in the Geneva cemetery. The Nebraska Signal 19 June 1930 pg. 8 ALSO: Mrs. Mary McPherson, who died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 1930, was born November 1, 1840 in Ocean County, New Jersey, near Atlantic City, one-half... Read More	McPHERSON, MARY—Mrs. Mary (Havens) McPherson, pioneer of Fillmore County, died at Geneva at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 1930, aged 80 years, 7 months and 17 days. The funeral service will be held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Geneva, Neb., at 10 o’clock this morning and will be conducted by Rev. H. C. Capsey. Interment will be in the Geneva cemetery. The Nebraska Signal 19 June 1930 pg. 8 ALSO: Mrs. Mary McPherson, who died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 1930, was born November 1, 1840 in Ocean County, New Jersey, near Atlantic City, one-half mile from the Atlantic Ocean. In migrating west with her parents, brothers and sisters, Mary Havens lived first at Richmond, Ind. For twelve years. The next move was to Iowa Falls, Ia. In Iowa, at the age of twenty-four, she was married to Cyrus McPherson. Six years later, with her husband and two small children, Mrs. McPherson was a prairie schooner passenger across the Missouri River into Nebraska and eventually disembarked from the canvas covered wagon in Fillmore County. Mr. McPherson secured a homestead four miles east of Ohiowa on Walnut Creek, and here for nine years the family lived in a dugout. After a time a second room was added to the original dwelling and a cave for provisions was finished. There was no Geneva or even Fillmore County in 1870 when the McPhersons angled across the bleak prairies, making slow progress over unmarked highways. They made their own roads over the virgin land and so became trail makers through the wildflower strewn grass, buffalo beans and buffalo wallows. The Burlington railroad was just being extended west from Lincoln. Beatrice was the nearest trading point for the residents of that period, and Mr. McPherson did freighting between the Gage County town and Lincoln. While her husband was absent, often three months at a time, Mrs. McPherson not only attended to the household and farm work, but often fed strolling Indians, who frequently appeared and by the sign language indicated their desire for food. She was not frightened by the sight of redskins, as she had seen Indians many times in Iowa. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McPherson. They were Carrie, Hugh, Annie, Lennie, John and Ross in the order named. All are living except for Carrie and Lennie. Mr. McPherson died in 1915, and Mrs. McPherson continued to make Geneva her home until her death. She was of the independent type and chose to take care of herself and work as long as she had the strength. This spirit sustained her during the long life which was full of care, sorrow and hard work. On the Fillmore County farm, Mrs. McPherson plowed the fields, drove a team with a baby in her arms in hauling grain to market and often picked corn in snow up to her knees. She could never be content herself to be idle. At the age of eighty-two Mrs. McPherson went to the Old Settler’s Picnic at Fairmont—the pioneers’ gathering was her one annual diversion—and, missing the train back to Geneva, started to walk the eight miles home. She accomplished the feat by spending the night at a halfway house with friends and continued her journey the next day, rejecting proffered help. Her funeral took place at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Geneva at 10 o’clock Thursday morning, June 19, and was conducted by Rev. H. C. Capsey. Her sons, John of Wauneta, and Hugh of Hayes were in attendance at the funeral, as were a grandson Leroy Whitman of Primrose, and a sister, Mrs. Oscar Anderson of Mason City. Interment was in the Geneva Cemetery. The Nebraska Signal 26 June 1930 front page. The following has been contributed by Janet Maus: Mary had 6 children Hugh, Carrie, Anna, Leni, John and Ross. She raised two of the children of her daughter Carrie Whitman. Carrie died on June 22, 1889 at age 24 and left 3 children, Martin Whitman who went to live with his fathers parents and Roy Whitman and Mable Whitman who went to live with Cyrus and Mary McPherson. The father of the children was C.R. Whitman and all I know is he died in 1931. Mable Whitman, had a son she named Martin. Carrie is buried in Franklin Cemetery in Fillmore County, Nebraska. Headstone has 1928 as the year of her death.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Mary Havens McPherson's memorial?
Mary Havens McPherson's memorial is located at: Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, USA.
When did Mary Havens McPherson death?
Mary Havens McPherson death on 18 Jun 1930 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Mary Havens McPherson's memorial?
Latitude: 40.5359900
Longitude: -97.6064900

Family Members:

Parent

James Havens

(1813 - 1887)

Hannah Johnson Havens

(1816 - 1897)

Spouse

Cyrus McPherson

(1841 - 1910)

Siblings

Elizabeth Havens Reece

(1835 - 1910)

Benjamin Havens

(1842 - 1931)

Sylvester Havens

(1849 - 1941)

George Washington Havens

(1852 - 1929)

Catherine “Kate” Havens Anderson

(1854 - 1939)

Children

Carrie Evaline McPherson Whitman

(1865 - 1889)

Anna M McPherson Loghry

(1870 - 1957)

John H. McPherson

(1874 - 1959)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Geneva Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5359900, -97.6064900

2. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5184200, -97.6145000

3. Fairmont Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6267014, -97.5674973

4. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4668999, -97.7097015

5. Chelsea Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4808006, -97.4882965

6. Fairmont Catholic Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6394005, -97.5689011

7. Saint Marys Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4816700, -97.7295400

8. Holy Cross Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6150017, -97.7108002

9. Grafton Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6157990, -97.7106018

10. Shickley Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4166985, -97.7082977

11. Glengary Pioneer Cemetery
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4518100, -97.4544100

12. Salem Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3945000, -97.6733000

13. Bohemian Brethren Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5098300, -97.4058300

14. Roe Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6912000, -97.5955000

15. Harmony Cemetery
Strang, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3788986, -97.5381012

16. Fairview Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4817009, -97.8133011

17. Ohiowa Cemetery
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4235992, -97.4428024

18. Exeter Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6521988, -97.4364014

19. Horton Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6911011, -97.5025024

20. Bohemian National Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4818993, -97.3878021

21. Saint Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery North
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4213982, -97.4253006

22. Kasak Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5393000, -97.3683000

23. Stockholm Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4091988, -97.7767029

24. Summit Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3656006, -97.6913986