Rundell Obituaries

   Samuel Rundell was born in Padstow, Cornwall, England, November 14, 1822.  He was united in marriage to Keziah Biddick March 31, 1848, and a few days later started for America arriving in Platteville two months after leaving England.  Here they remained for seven years, moving then to a farm in the Township of Mifflin, where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary March 21, 1898.

   After long lives spent in useful labor they retired from farm life to their pleasant home in the village of Livingston, October 3, 1900, to enjoy a well earned vacation.  Here they were tenderly cared for by their loving daughter Millie until they both passed away, Mrs. Rundell January 10, 1901 and Mr. Rundell March 31, 1904.

   To this union were born 14 children, eight daughters and six sons, ten of whom are still living, nine in southwestern Wisconsin, and one in Hurley, South Dakota.  Besides these there are left to mourn his loss numerous grandchildren, two sisters and four brothers.  Deceased was a wise father and aided by his excellent wife raised a large family to be highly respected man and woman, well trained in the habits of industry and thrift.  He belonged to that class of hardy, God-fearing pioneers who came to Wisconsin in the middle of the last century bringing with them from the old world a love of law and order which went a long way in laying the foundations of our state firm and deep in principles of justice and equity.  In his death has passed away an honest, upright man and a good citizen to whom Tennyson's line well applies, "Earth would never touch her worst, were one in fifty such as he."

   (This obituary was copied from an old scrapbook found at the city dump by Dickie Flyger.  He took it to Nina Rundell and she loaned it to Alice and me.  He found it several years ago.  Samuel Rundell was Harvey Rundell's grandfather.  Eli was the son that came to South Dakota--Harvey's father.   ELSIE RUNDELL)

Keziah Biddick, born April 29, 1826, at St. Issey, Cornwall, England.  She was married to Samuel Rundell, March 31, 1848, and sailed for America, April 15, 1848, arriving at Platteville, June 15, 1848, residing there until March 1, 1855, when they came to their farm home in the town of Mifflin, where they lived until Oct. 3, 1900, when they moved into their beautiful home in the village of Livingston, where she died Jan. 10, 1901, of dropsy, after several months of patient suffering, at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 11 days.  To this union 14 children were born, 8 daughters and 6 sons, 11 of whom are living, 10 in this immdeiate nieghorhood, and one in Hurley, S. Dakota, but was present to mingle his tears with the aged father, brothers and sisters,  Mr. and Mrs. Rundell celebrated thier golden wedding at their old farm home, March 31,1898.  As a result of this marriage, 39 grand-children and 4 great-grand-children were born.  Of Mrs. Rundell's immediate family of Biddicks, of 4 sons and 4 daughters, all have passed to the great beyond except one brother, Richard Biddick, and one sister, Mrs. Richard Rundell.  The Rundell and Biddick families were among the first settlers in this section of this country, and have been strong factors in this neighborhood for more that a generation and who are found straight forward and reliable in all affairs of life.  Mrs. Rundell had been a devoted christian for many years.  The funeral took place on Saturday at her home in the village and the remains were taken to the M.E. church where a large concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives had gathered to pay their last tibute of respect to the departed wife and mother.  Rev. Frank Bell delivered a very appropriate and effective sermon on the occasion, and the Livingston choir furnished excellent music.  Ther sermon was followed by the reading of the above obituary by J.W. Rewey.  The sympathy of a host of friends go with the sorrowing family in their sad bereavement.  "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue was the law of kindness; her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her."