From The Buffalo Journal, Vol. XXIII, June 10, 1909.
Lafayette Varner
Lafayette Varner, who died at hid home a mile north of Buffalo Wednesday June 2nd, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1841. He was one of a family of twelve children, nine boys and three girls. Of these nine brothers came to Wright county, Minnesota. Four of them served in the Civil War. The three sisters are all dead, and all but three of the brothers, William, who lives in Texas, and Henry and David, who live here.
On February 5, 1862, Mr. Varner married Miss Christine Hickman, who has been his companion for more than forty-seven years, who ministered to him during his last sickness, and is now left to mourn him. They had ten children, of whom eight are living, all near Buffalo: Mrs. Frank Olson, Mrs. George Chiffchik, Mrs. Frank Elletson and Mrs. Jack McEachern, and the three sons, Sol, Zach and Knute. Besides these there are 29 grandchildren living.
Mr. Varner enlisted in Co. K. of the 4th regiment of Cavalry of Pennsylvania Volunteers on Feb. 28th, 1884. He was honorably discharged after faithful service July 1, 1865 at Lynchburg, Va. He came to Minnesota before the war but returned to Pennsylvania then to enlist with those who were willing to defend their country and die for it if necessary. In the spring of 1866 he drove from Pennsylvania to Minnesota, his family following later in the summer. He has lived on his farm near here for 43 years and died there June 2nd of tuberculosis of the bowls. He was 78 years of age.
The funeral was held at his late home last Friday. Rev. J. H. Sellie, pastor of the Presbyterian church had charge and the choir of the same church sang. Mr. Varner was a member of the local Post of G.A.R. and his comradeds was pall bearers and with the W. R. C. attended the body. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows and the lodge had charge of the service at Lake View cemetary when he was buried. The funeral procession is said to have been the longest ever witnessed in Buffalo. Mr. Varner was one of the best farmers of the county and his opinion was law in matters of agriculture. He was,,,,
(The above obituary was transcribed by Claudia Menzel without corrections to spelling, grammar, and dates.)
Editor’s Note: Important correction: Paragraph 1: Only 6 brothers came to Wright County, not 9; Paragraph 2: Spelling of Chiffchik should be Schefchick.
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Obituary of Christiana HICKMAN VARNER, wife of Lafayette VARNER:
From The Buffalo Journal, December 20, 1923.
MRS. LAFE VARNER HAS PASSED AWAY
ONE OF EARLIEST PIONEEERS OF WRIGHT COUNTY DIED TUESDAY EVENING
Mrs. Lafe Varner passed away at the Varner homestead in Buffalo township at 10 o’clock Tuesday evening, at the age of 78 years.
The funeral will be held from the homestead on Friday afternoon, Rev. J. H. Sellie of LeSueur officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview cemetery.
Mrs. Varner was one of the earliest pioneers of Wright county, having come to help her husband carve a home out of the wilderness in July, 1856. She was born Christina Hickman, March 20, 1842, and was married to Lafayette Varner, February 5, 1860. Mr. Varner died in 1909.
(This was transcribed from the original obituary by Claudia Menzel without corrections in spelling or punctuation.)
Editor’s note: Lafe came to Wright county in 1856, Christiana came later.