On behalf of the Lied Pierce (Nebraska) Library Genealogy Help Group we are are happy to supply the following obituary:

Pierce County Call; Pierce Nebraska
Thursday, April 4, 1940 – Page 1

Death Summons Mother Hitchcock

Pioneer Milliner of Pierce Passes Away at Fremont Saturday Evening

Word was received by Pierce friends Saturday evening of the passing of Mrs. Katherine G Hitchcock at the home of her son, Dr. N. A. Hitchcock, in Fremont. She had been ill for several weeks. Had she survived until August 1st next, she would have been 87 years of age.

The body was brought to Pierce Monday for the last rites, which were held in the Methodist church that afternoon, Rev. E. T. Antrim being in charge. Following a fine tribute to the deceased by the pastor, the ritualistic funeral services were given by the officers of Pierce Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, of which the worthy lady was a member. A woman’s quartet sang three appropriate hymns. Burial was made in the family lot in Prospect View cemetery with C. W. Mohrman, Chas. Chilvers, W. C. Ulrich, R. S. Steinkraus, R. E. Dutcher and S. M. Durfee as casket bearers.

Mother Hitchcock was widely known in northeast Nebraska, where she had been a prominent business woman in Norfolk, Long Pine and Pierce, having been engaged in the millinery business for nearly a half a century. She came to Pierce in 1885 to engage in the millinery and dressmaking business. She built a one story house on the lot east of Green’s Grocery store. It was set back from the main street line with a front porch and lawn between. Later an extension was made to the main street line with a second story for living quarters. This building was destroyed by fire three years ago. During her long residence in Pierce she was active in the Methodist church, for a long time being an official of the church board. She was a member of the W.C.T.U. that established the first public library on the site of the present Andersen garage. The library was supported by contributions from the business men and local organizations. Hers was a strong influence for good in church, civic and social life.

Katherine Kelly was born Aug. 1, 1853, near Tamworth, Can. She was one of ten children left fatherless at the age of five years. When she was about fifteen years old the mother and several younger children moved to Adams Center, N. Y., where a woman made it possible for the young girl to attend a seminary. Later she learned the millinery and dress making trades.

In the early seventies she was married to Asa Hitchcock. A few years later they moved to Norfolk, where many early day brides had their wedding dresses and hats made by Mrs. Hitchcock. For a time they lived at Long Pine, near where she had a brother.

Mr. Hitchcock died in Pierce in 1902. One son died in infancy at Long Pine.

Mrs. Hitchcock was the last member of her family and her son, Norris, her only immediate survivor. There are a number of nieces and nephews. A sister, Mrs. Anna (Morey) Drew, died in February.

Accompanying the remains Monday were Dr. N. A. Hitchcock, Miss Rood, Lillian Boughn, Mr and Mrs Alfred Saeger and Miss Minnie Smith, of Fremont, Mr and Mrs Marion Gross, Omaha and Mr and Mrs Arthur Abraham of Valley. The later was Rose Mathers before her marriage, a trimmer in Mrs. Hitchcock’s millinery store in pierce many years ago.