This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Underwood, McPherson, Benton, Lewis Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Vl.2ADE/422 Message Board Post: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil November 12 1922 S. G. Underwood, Died, result of fall. Pioneer Farmer and Business man was nearing 94th Milestone. Death Result of Fall Came to America From Scotland in Sailing Vessel -- Made Trip to Coast with Ox Team in Early Days. After an illness of three weeks which followed a fall to the floor in his home at 827 Fourth avenue, Samuel G. Underwood, pioneer resident of Council Bluffs, died at 8:50 o'clock Saturday night in the ninety-fourth year of his life. The aged man was 93 years ten months and eleven days old at the time of his death. The immediate family of Mr. Underwood was called to the bedside during the afternoon and remained in attendance until the end. S. G. Underwood came to Pottawattamie county from Dumfreishire Scotland, March 7, 1854. He was born January 13, 1829. At the early age of 14 years he left his home in Scotland and shipping aboard a sailing schooner visited outlaying parts of the earth until he reached Montreal, Canada, in 1846 and came inland to Chicago, when that city boasted no more than 35,000 inhabitants. Later he rode horseback to St. Joseph, Mo., and fitted out a team of oxen and prairie schooner with which he journeyed to Sacramento, Cal. For two years he resided on the Pacific coast where he was engaged in farming. At the end of this period he returned via the Isthmus of Panama to Indiana, then to Pottawattamie county where he purchased section 24, of, Lewis township. He removed to Council Bluffs in 1856 and from that year until 1873 was engaged as a machinery agent by the McCormick Harvester company of Chicago. Mr. underwood was the first man to sell machinery in this city, and hold all trade as far west as Salt Lake City and north as far as settlements reached on the Missouri river. He built the first house ever erected in Curtis Ramsey's addition, west of the court house on Fifth avenue in 1857. In 1873 he again moved out to the farm which he had purchased in Lewis township and became known as one of the best breeders of registered Hereford stock in the state of Iowa. He was married March 13, 1856 to Miss Helen McPherson, a native of Scotland, daughter Captain John McPherson, for many years a prominent citizen of Council Bluffs. Mr. Underwood served as city assessor and member of the board of county supervisors in years past. Mr. Underwood is survived by his eight children: William, in the stock business, South Omaha; Mrs. E. H. Benton of this city; Miss Anna Underwood at home; John M. Underwood at Neola, Ia.; S. G. Underwood Dumfries, Ia.; and Fay L. Underwood, at home. Funeral services will be held from the residence at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, with burial in Walnut Hill cemetery. Submitters notes: Also living but not listed, Mrs. Ninnie Marion Underwood Lewis, and Herbert Underwood. Respectfully submitted for other researchers