Ernest J. Jewett

Ernest Jewett Found Dead Friday Morning

Ernest J. Jewett, 73, was found dead on the prairie in northeastern Niobrara County near the south Dakota line at 9:30 a.m. Friday by Joe Trotter and Bill Trotter of Rumford, S.D. George Earl Peet, Niobrara county Cornoner, stated that death was from a heart attack and had probably occurred Thursday morning. He said no inquest would be held as all witnesses had observed the conditions in which Mr. Jewett was found and that there was no sign of death from violence or from lightning.

Mr. Jewett has been employed by Cyril Kane, a rancher of near Rumford, for the past 12 years. When the Kane ranch needed a herder for a band of sheep which was running on land leased from Richard Pfister in northeastern Niobrara County, Mr. Jewett volunteered to stay with the sheep temporarily.

The Trotters, who had leased the hay land from Mr. Pfister, were staying near the Kane sheep and saw Mr. Jewett frequently, the last time being Wednesday evening. They did not notice him Thursday and by Friday morning became alarmed and started to search. They found the sheep straying and later saw Jewett's saddle horse. Further search revealed Mr. Jewett lying in the grass near a pond where the sheep had watered.

The Trotters drove immediately to the Albert DeGering ranch where they telephoned to Ernest W Jugler, Niobrara County sheriff. He notified Mr. Peet and the two men with Walther Doctor took the sheriff's car and the ambulance to the scene. There they were joined by Cyril Kane who had been notified during the interval. The remains were brought to the Peet Mortuary in Lusk and funeral services were held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in the Methodist church at Harrison with the Rev. Keith Bruning, pastor, officiating.

A mixed quartet composed of Miss Carol Wallace, Mrs. Lois Morris, Clarence Schnurr and Grant Seifert, sang "Crossing the Bar" and "Abide With Me", accompanied by Mrs. martin Koch, organist. Pallbearers were Jack J. Kane, Bud Konrath, Jack Johnson, all of Edgemont. Interment was in the Harrison cemetery beside the graves of his parents.

Ernest J. Jewett was born at Parker, S.D. on December 25, 1881, the son of Henry and Phoebe Jewett. He received his education in the Parker schools and when a young man moved with his parents to Miller, S.D. where he operated a blacksmith shop. In 1912 he homesteaded near Hat Creek. In later years he was employed by Howard Converse near Ardmore, S.D. and for the past 12 years has been with the Kane ranch.

He is survived by one brother, Wallace of Phoenix, Ariz., and three sisters: Mrs. Bernice Lewis of Camas, Wash., Miss Laura Jewett of Fayetteville, Ark., and Mrs. Ralph Larson of Lusk. Besides his parents, one sister, Mrs. Alsey Lutes of Denver died previously.

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