Oliver M. Rakestraw was one of the 13 children that came to bless the home of Henry and Sarah Jane Rakestraw. He was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, June 11, 1865.

When he was 14 years of age the family moved to the state of Nebraska where young Oliver grew to manhood. He married Jessie Matson, daughter of Tip and Susan Matson of Strang and became the father of three children, Hazel, Ruth and Neil. The wife and all three children, as well as his parents and all the members of this once large, happy family, save the eldest son William and the youngest, Roy, preceded him in death.

October 6, 1924, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Brown of Plymouth, Illinois, she having been a childhood schoolmate back in Indiana. Theirs has been a happy journey together.

Mr. Rakestraw readily made a place for himself in the Plymouth community and has continued to enjoy the respect of many friends. The active years of his life were spent largely in farming but when there was opportunity, he loved to roam the fields and woods with gun and rod. Thus he lived humbly and walked uprightly. He was a member of the Methodist church and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and fashioned his life by their teachings.

The frailties of life had been evident the past several months and he had been lovingly and tenderly cared for in the home of his devoted companion and step-son Clyde Brown. February 11 he was removed to the St. Francis hospital in Macomb, Illinois, so that oxygen might be administered, however the long, active life ended on Wednesday evening, February 20, 1957 at 9:45 p.m.

He leaves to mourn his passing the aged companion, three grandchildren, Mrs. Eleanor Jones of Lincoln, Charles Rakestraw of Alaska and Jerry Tipton who is stationed in England and four great grandchildren; two brothers, Will of Hebron and Roy of Geneva, and three stepsons, Clyde and Laurel Brown of Plymouth, Illinois and George Brown of Galesburg, Illinois; three step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren and other more distant relatives and innumerable friends.

(The Nebraska Signal - Thursday, February 28, 1957 - Page 9)