Fancesville and vicinity lost its age citizen, Simon Aeschliman, whose death came after a sickness of four months. He was born in Bern, Switzerland, January 13, 1847; came to this country and married Miss Katherine Wetzler Dec. 29, 1872, she died in 1926. He leaves five sons: David of Roanoke, Ill.; Lewis of Kokomo; Joseph, Secor, Ill.; Andrew, Euclid, Minn., and John at home; also four daughters, Mrs. Mary Switzer, Alton, Ill.; Mrs. Emma Gerber, Algora, Iowa; Mrs. Lydia Alt, Medaryville and Miss Perseda Aeschliman at home: three brothers, Matthew of Roanoke, Ill.; Joseph, Sabetha, Kas.; and Philip, Cissna Park, Ill; also 27 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. The brothers have all passed 80 years of ago. Mr. Aeschliman's occupation for many years was that of farming from which he retired many years ago. The historical life of our most venerable citizen is that he came to our shores, after a forty days' cruise in a sail transport. Many of the incidents of that voyage he recalled reminiscently in his last days. The family settled in Monroe county, Ohio, then came to Bluffton this state, but in 1865 they located near St. Paul, Minnesota. That was back in the days of Indian insurrections, when many of the white families were massacred as they traveled the trails. The Aeschliman family barely escaped the Indians, being saved by a detachment of government troops. In 1905 they located in East Grand Forks, and in 1915 they purchased a farm near Medaryville, where they resided until his retirement. Mr. Aeschliman was a member of the Apostolic Christian church of this community, from which the funeral was held Tuesday morning. Rev. George Yergler of LaCrosse, was the officiating minister. Burial was made in Roseland, the cemetery east of town. Six grandsons were the pallbearers.
Francesville Tribune 2 Dec 1937