Emily Peterson, daughter of Peter and Joanna (Anderson) Peterson, was born in Knoxville 14 Oct 1865, and passed away in St. Mary's Hospital, Galesburg, 8 Apr 1941 at the age of 75 years, 5 months, and 25 days. When 10 years of age, her mother and only sister, 5 years old, were killed in a cyclone in Kansas and she started out on a sea of hardships with a determination which she carried through to the end, never complaining.
In August 1884, she was married to Addison Means in Cameron, Ill. To this union were born eight children: Roy Emert, who passed away two years ago at the age of 53, Viola Frew, Belle Dredge, Pansye Straub, Frances Wadham, Alta Edwardson, and two babies who died in infancy. Most of her life was spent in or near Knox County, and the last 40 years in Knoxville.
Thirty-eight years ago her husband died, and she was left with six small children. With her determination and unfailing faith in God, she was able to raise her family, who now rise up and call her blessed.
On Sept 30, 1925, she was married to Lewis Eiker, and spent the next four years on a farm south of Knoxville. He passed away 8 Oct 1929, and since then she had kept house alone in Knoxville until her health failed her a year ago. Then she made her home with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Frew, south of Knoxville. On Feb. 28 of this year she fell and broke her hip, and a week ago developed pneumonia, which was the cause of her death.
In her early childhood she united with the Christian Church, and had been a faithful member till the end.
Besides her children and sons-in-law, Harry Frew, Fred Dredge, Clarence Straub, William Wadham, and Axel Edwardson, and daughter-in-law Mrs. Roy (Maud) Means, she leaves the following grandchildren: Lois Reynolds of Grafton, Dale Dredge of Peoria, Ruth (Dredge) Rosine of Delong, Robert Means of Knoxville, Carol Straub, Kenneth, Rosemary, and Billy Edwardson of Galesburg; one great-grandchild, Gayle Rosine; the following step-children: Mrs. Tom Mathews and George Eiker of Knoxville, Charles Eiker of Canton and Curtis Eiker of Highland Park; a half-sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson of Swedesburg, Iowa, and a half-brother, John Olson of Kansas City, MO. The following half-sisters and brothers preceded her in death: Anna Temple, Nellie Goldquist, Mary Ladew, Frank Peterson of Galesburg and Knoxville; John Peterson of Hannibal, MO; Olaf Olson of Kansas City, MO, and Emma Mathews of Crab Orchard, Neb. She also leaves a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon (April 11) at the First Christian Church, Knoxville, with Rev. L. Hadaway of the Abingdon Christian Church presiding. Interment was in the Knoxville Cemetery.