The Cedar Vale Messenger, Friday, Nov. 4, 1921, Pg. 1

Vol. I, No. 33

Obituary

Peter H. Skavlen was born in Plymouth township, Rock county, Wis., May 25, 1845. He remained on the farm until 1862, when he went to Beloit, Wis., to learn the blacksmith trade at the shop of John Thompson. He enlisted September 2, 1864, in Co. “D”, Forty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war, being mustered out June 24, 1865.

After his discharge from the army he returned to Wisconsin, but soon after went to Minnesota, locating at Rochester, where he remained until 1869, thence he returned to Wisconsin and in the Spring of 1870, emigrated to Kansas.

Arriving at Big Caney river, (then called the “Osage Diminished Reserve) March 2, 1870, he located on a claim March 11, which subsequently proved to be section 11, township 34, range 8, East, Howard county, which latter became Chautauqua. At the time he staked his claim the county had but five settlers. The county was not organized and the survey was not complete. He was 120 miles distant from the nearest railway.

When the town of Cedar Vale was laid out the platting took two acres of his farm. Later he platted an addition to Cedar Vale of 22 acres which is known as the Skavlen addition. He also gave a water company water rights and a site for a pumping station. He built the first ice house in this section and furnished the city with ice for about 30 years. He later erected a building and was in business in the city for three years.

He was married November 20, 1872, at Beloit, Wis., to Martha Erickson Rockney, of Dodge county, Minn. To them six children were born, of whom four died in infancy. Those living are; Walter P. and Norlen Odeen, both of Cedar Vale.

The good wife and mother passed away at the old homestead January 31, 1917.

Mr. Skavlen at the time of his death was a member of Cedar Vale Post, No. 99, G. A. R.., and also remained devoutely true to the religious faith of his childhood as he had been instructed in the Lutheran church.

Mr. Skavlen had been failing in health for some time and at last was forced to surrender to the Great Father’s will who said, “It is enough.” He died at St. Mary’s hospital, Winfield, Saturday, October 29, 1921. The funeral service was held at the Methodist church Monday, October 31, conducted by the pastor, F. B. Benson.

A touching incident occurred at the close of the service when a little bundle was produced by one of the sons and was placed in the casket by the side of the body. It was a familiar sweater which the mother on her dying bed had given to her husband and which he had held as a sacred thing, even to the carrying it with him to Winfield where he waas taken to the hospital.

The entire service at church and cemetery was made the more impressive by the presence of the members of the G. A. R. and the American Legion. After the burial rites were said taps were blown by a Legion member.