Friedrich Wilhelm Damme was born March 21, 1837, at Bergholzhausen, Germany and died at his home two miles northeast of Cook,Sunday evening, May 16 at 8 o'clock, aged seventy-two years, one month and twenty-five days. He had been sick for the past three months with asthma and water dropsy set in. When six years old he came to Berger, Missouri, and in 1857 to Nebraska, and homesteaded the farm where he died. In 1863 he went back to Missouri and married Ms. Christine Roedemeyer, and they started housekeeping in their Nebraska home. The wife died 1869 leaving him with three small children.

In 1871 he was married to Ms. Anna Neemann and to this union ten children were born, of which three died in infancy. The oldest son, George,died May 1897. Mr. Damme was one of the few left who endured all the hardships of pioneer life. The log cabin which was the family home for so many years was many miles away from the next neighbor. The nearest town was Nebraska City which was laid out only a few years before. All was prairie, no roads, bridges or fences. Yes things are quite different now since 52 years ago.

Deceased was one of the six who organized when be St. Paul church was founded on January 2, 1871, and always was one of its best members and attended church services every Sunday, and less sickness prevented. He had a large circle of friends, who highly respected him. Mr. Damme was a kind husband and an affectionate father, was quiet and modest, and was one of the wealthiest farmers in this county.

The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon and the remains laid to rest in the St. Paul cemetery. The services were conducted by Rev. A. Graber of Talmage as Rev. Able is very sick. The funeral was the largest ever held here. It is thought that 250 teams is a low estimate. His death is mourned by his wife, three sons, three sons-in-law, six daughters,three daughters-in-law, twenty-nine grandchildren including the husbands of the three married, two great-grandchildren and one brother, Louis Damme and a large number of other relatives the most sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved ones.

Source: Cook Weekly Courier, 21 May 1909, Pg. 8, Col. 1-2.