George Berry Saffell

Geo. Saffell, Pioneer Who Came Here Half a Century Ago, Dies at Lusk Home; Aged 67 Years

Information courtesy of the Wyoming Newspaper Project. The following was published in the Lusk Free Lance.

Death, early this (Friday) morning, came to relieve the suffering of George Berry Saffell, for more than a half a century a resident of this city and vicinity, and who, for the past year, has continued to fail in health. Mr. Saffell's passing occurred at 2:30 o'clock this morning at the family home in this city. He was 67 years and one month of age.

The news of his death will deal a sad blow to a large circle of friends, many of whom had known him since the day of the covered wagon trails through Wyoming. Mr. Saffell's life here had been spent mostly on the range and in the livestock business, from which he retired several years ago. Following his retirement from active life, he, with his wife and children, moved to this city to make their home.

Mr. Saffell was a native of Illinois, and came west in 1880, locating near this city. He was a son of Samuel and Melissa Saffell. Surviving, besides his wife, Mrs. Lillie Saffell, are one daughter, Mrs. Mary Brooks of Douglas; one son, Harold, of Newcastle; four brothers, Ed, of Denver, Colo.; Peter, of Orting, Ore.; Riley, of Cutbank, Mont., and Jim, of Montana; one sister, Mrs. John Pate of Ranchester, Wyo. his step-mother and two half sisters.

Mr. Saffell was a member of Custer Lodge No. 21, I.O.O.F., of this city and also of Lusk Rebekah Lodge No. 12, and actively participated in the work of both organizations for many years. He was a charter member of both lodges.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Congregational church in this city at 2:30 o'clock p.m., Sunday, August 26th, Rev. Stuart Anderson, pastor, officiating. Interment will be made in the Lusk cemetery. Geo. Earl Peet of the Peet mortuary will have charge of funeral direction.

Lusk Free Lance
August 30, 1934
Burial Services Held Sunday for George B. Saffell

Final services over the remains of the late George B. Saffell, who passed away at his home here early last Friday morning, were held at the Congregational church Sunday afternoon, August 26th. Attesting to the popularity of this splendid citizen, and the high esteem in which he was held during his more than half a century of residence here, were many friends from all parts of the county and from even more distant points. Floral tributes banked the altar, and many a head was seen bowed in sorrow as the services were conducted.

Rev. Stuart Anderson, pastor of the Congregational church delivered a very impressive sermon, touching on a life that had been well lived. A mixed quartet, composed of Mrs. H. J. Templeton, Mrs. Edna Howard DeCastro, Ford B. Kuns and R. A. Faulk, sang three of the deceased's favorite hymns.

The services were attended in body by both Custer Lodge No. 21, I.O.O.F. and Lusk Rebekah Lodge No. 12 of this city, in which organizations Mr. Saffell had held memberships until the time of his death. The Odd Fellows had charge of services at the grave. Members of each order marched ahead of the remains in the trek to the Lusk cemetery, where interment took place and where the multitude of friends had again gathered to pay their last respects to a true friend.

Pall bearers were Otis Bump. L. L. Archer, Jurdgen Lorenzen, John and Ben Sturman and Menno Kaan, all members of the local order of Odd Fellows. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of George Earl Peet of the Peet Mortuary.

Mr. Saffell died August 24th, following more than a year's suffering from a lingering illness. Two operations were performed in hopes of securing relief, the last of these taking place about two months prior to his passing. He was 67 years and 1 month of age at the time of death.

The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lillie Saffell, one daughter, Mrs. George Brooks of Douglas, and one son, Harold, of Newcastle. Four brothers and one sister, his step-mother, three half-sisters and two half brothers also survive.

Complete obituary will be found on another page of this issue.

OBITUARY - George Berry Saffell

George Berry Saffell was born in Illinois, on July 24th, 1867, a son of Samuel H. and Melissa Saffell, pioneer residents of that state. He died at the family home in Lusk, Wyoming, at 2:30 o'clock, Friday morning, August 24th, 1934, being at the time of passing 67 years and one month.

During his early years, his family moved about the country, spending a part of the time in and around Memphis, Tenn., and later settling in Missouri. It was while in these states that George received his education.

In 1880, at the age of 13 years, the family came west, locating for a time at Fort Laramie, original army outpost of this state. At the time, Wyoming was still a territory and sparsely settled. The trend of civilization from the east was in its early stages, and those who braved the conditions of that period, endured many hardships and privations, unknown to us of the present generation.

The Saffell's were trail-blazers of the truest type and to them goes their rightful share of credit for the part they played in the pioneering of the west. George, although but a young man, figured very prominently in the Roundups of 1880.

In 1886, the family set out to seek new fields and the trail brought them north to this city and surrounding vicinity. George, who had begun to follow and enjoy the life of the range, continued in that occupation after coming to this section of the state, and for many years was considered one of the best and most dependable cowboys of the time.

His long residence in Wyoming was broken only by a short period of about three years, in the early nineties, which time was spent in New Mexico. Upon his return to this state, trailing a herd of cattle from Chloride, New Mexico, he secured employment with the Russell Thorp Cattle company which was located east of Lusk, and remained with that outfit for many years, during most of which time he was ranch foreman. He finally entered the stock-raising business for himself, but after a time he returned to his chosen work as ranch foreman.

On September 10, 1896, Mr. Saffell was married to Miss Lillie May Demmon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Demmon, the ceremony being performed in this city. To this union were born two children, a daughter, Mary, and a son, Harold, both of whom survive. Mrs. Mary Saffell-Brooks resides with his family at Douglas, Wyoming, and Harold with his family, lives at Newcastle, Wyoming.

In 1925, after forty-five years of active life on the range in this state, Mr. Saffell retired and with his family moved to Lusk, where they have since made their home.

Mr. Saffell became ill about a year ago, and since that time has continually failed in health. He underwent an operation at the offset of his illness, and for a time seemed to rally, but this improvement was not to last long. A second operation was resorted to about two months ago, and from the time of that treatment he continued to lose strength until his death.

Surviving besides his wife and children, are four brothers, Edward, of Denver, Colo.; Peter, of Orting, Ore.; Riley, of Cutbank, Mont; and Jim, also of Montana; one sister, Mrs. John Pate, of Ranchester, Wyoming; his stepmother, Mrs. A. J. Saffell, of Laurel, Mont., and three half-sisters and two half-brothers.

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