May 1908: Monmouth Newspaper:
Joseph Deets, said to be the wealthiest farmer in Mercer county, died May 8, 1909, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Bruington, at Rio, aged 78 years. He had been in poor health for about a year. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1831, and came to North Henderson township in 1854, buying eighty acres of land a mile west of North Henderson. At the time of his death he was the owner of 1900 acres of land, all of it in Mercer county except about 200 acres near Cameron in Warren county. His estate was estimated at least a half million dollars, and some put it as high as a million.
He left six children; Alva Deets of Cameron, Joseph E. Deets of North Henderson, Mrs. Charles Bruington of Rio, Mrs. Gilbert Higgins of North Henderson, Mrs. Augusta Flake of Warren, Minn. and Mrs. Arch Wray of Alexis. His funeral was held at the Methodist church in North Henderson, with burial in the cemetery south of that place.
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Find A Grave Memorial# 46690514
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USA Census, 1870
Name: Joseph Deets
Event Place: Illinois
Gender: Male
Age: 38
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Birth Year (Estimated): 1831-1832
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Page Number: 19
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Joseph Deets M 38 Pennsylvania
Augusta Deets F 32 Ohio
Ethselda Deets F 12 Illinois
Addie L Deets F 9 Illinois
Alva B Deets M 7 Illinois
John Deets M 5 Illinois
Joseph Deets M 3 Illinois
Frederick Strongreen M 32 Sweden
Household ID: 119 , Line Number: 13 , GS Film number: 000545759 , Digital Folder Number: 004263698 , Image Number: 00599