Obituary from the Blue Earth Post, January 31, 1928:
Obituary from the Blue Earth Post, January 31, 1928:
Sudden Death of Merchant W. O. Dustin:
It was with bowed heads and deep sorrow the people of BlueEarth and Elmore, his home town, learned of the death of William O. Dustin onthe road about a mile north of Blue Earth shortly after the noon hour Monday,January 30th. Accompanied by M. M.Kerr, who has been in charge of the Dustin store at Elmore these many years,they were in route to Mankato on a business tour. They had reached the Dremel farm when Mr. Kerr noted the suddenjerking of the body of his companionand then leaning forward. The car wasturned toward town but before many seconds life had departed. Heart disease is pronounced the cause ofdeath. The wife at Elmore was apprisedof this sorrow, and the body taken to the undertaking rooms of W. B. Conings,where it was prepared for the removal to Elmore.
The deceased was born in Milrose, Mass., June 19, 1856 andwith parents came to Blue Earth. Thefather conducted a merchantile business here many years and in this environmentthe son probably received his first knowledge of merchandising which in afteryears he took on and made such an enviable success. In his boyhood days he worked for a considerable time as aprinter and later "held cases" on the Chicago Tribune. He then turned his attention to dentistryand followed this for many years. Whenthe Omaha from the north and the Northwestern from the south built to the Stateline and Elmore village born, Mr. Dustin was there with a small stock of goods,and it was then he started on a merchantile career that made him one of thewealthiest men in Southern Minnesota.
He was married February 19th, 1879 to Miss Loretta E.Nichols, who survives him. There are nochildren. Besides the wife, he issurvived by two sisters, Mrs. Minnie B. Beaver, living in Nebraska and MissFannie Dustin, living in Seattle, Washington. A brother Lewis G. died some years back.
In preparation for the inevitable hour, the deceased haderected a costly mausoleum on his lots in the Elmore cemetery and it is therethe remains will rest.
Funeral services will be conducted at the home Friday,February 3rd at 1:30 p.m.
This closes the career of one who had spent all but two ofhis 71 years in Faribault county and since young manhood they have even beenyears of real activity and earnest effort. He was a member of the Congregational Church and gave of his store housein helping the worthy unfortunate.
From the Blue Earth Post, February 14, 1928:
W. O. Dustin (Picture included)
In addition to the notice published last week of the deathof W. O. Dustin, we give these facts relative to his business and social lifeas contributed by a friend.
On July 30th, 1882 Mr. Dustin began business in Elmore,locating in the building now occupied by Mr. James, and which building he stillowned at the time of his death.
Within a few years the business had outgrown its quarters,and Mr. Dustin built additional buildings, extending to the end of the block.
He also found time to do his full quota of civic and socialduties, and was president of the school board for many years, always takinggreat interest in everything pertaining to educational matters, and wasinstrumental in getting started the high school in Elmore.
He was a charter member of the Elmore Congregational church,in which he retained membership up to the end, also taking a deep interest andgave liberally to other churches and to children's homes.
Mr. Dustin was a member of the following Masonic bodies,King David Lodge No. 179 A. F. & A. M., Elmore, Minn. Blue Earth Chapter No. 68 Royal Arch Masons,Blue Earth. Minneapolis Council R.& S. M. No. 2, Minneapolis. Fairmont Commandry No. 27 Knights Templar No. 27, Fairmont. Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Mason,Minneapolis, Zuhrah Shrine Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., Minneapolis and HiawathaChapter No. 110 Order of the Eastern Star, Elmore.
He was a member of the Minneapolis Athletic Club,Minneapolis. Sons of AmericanRevolution, Minnesota Chapter. Riverside Town & Country Club, Blue Earth, and also President of theTwin City Wholesale Grocer Co., St. Paul, Minn. President of the Farmers State Bank, Elmore, Minn. President of the Elmore Cement & TileCo., Elmore, and a director of the Minnesota Pipe & Tile Co., Mankato,Minn.
Mr. Dustin was a man of honor, and his motto was,"whatever work there was to do was worth doing well."
He was a friend to man, a man among men, an honor to thecommunity in which he lived and thus the efforts of a noble worth while life isbrought to a close.