A Sad Christmas in 1912

Arthur N. Pauff, the husband of my maternal 2x-great grandaunt, Margaret Rose Lancaster, died on 21 December 1912 of lobar pneumonia.[1] He was just 39 years old. The notice of his death was on the front page of the Las Vegas Age.[2] It begins with “The above brief announcement marks the sorrowful passing of one of the foremost citizens of Las Vegas.”

This must have been a sorrowful time for the family, with just a few days to Christmas. He left a wife and two sons, Harry, 11, and Arthur, 9.

He also left a thriving business, the A. N. Pauff, Men’s Clothing. An ad in an earlier issue stated how his store was preparing to be ‘handsomely decorated with Christmas trees and a wonderful variety of articles suitable for gifts.”[3]

The funeral services were held Monday, December 23. As he was a member of the local masonic lodge, the Vegas Lodge No. 32, F. &. A. M., took charge. The Masonic service was held at the Methodist Church with Rev. Paul B. James and Rev. E.A. Palmer taking part. There were many at the church paying their respects as well as many floral tributes. After the service, the remains were taken to the train depot. His wife, Margaret, brother Owen Pauff and sister, Mrs. Frederick, accompanied the body to Los Angeles where the interment was held in an unknown cemetery the next day.[4]

What a sad Christmas holiday it must have been for the Pauff family in Los Angeles. A beautiful card of thanks was printed in the newspaper.[5]

Margaret transferred ownership of the business to Mort. S. Rieser in March and she moved to California.[6]


[1] "Nevada, Death Certificates, 1911-1965," digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60974/ : accessed 24 Dec 2022), no. 12-000911, Clark County, Arthur Noble Pauff, 1912.

[2] “Died,” Las Vegas Age, 21 Dec 1912, p. 1, col. 6, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 Dec 2022).

[3] “Christmas at Pauff’s,” Las Vegas Age, 7 Dec 1912, p. 3, col. 1, Genealogy Bank (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 24 Dec 2022).

[4] “Funeral of A. N. Pauff,” Las Vegas Age, 28 Dec 1912, p. 1, col. 5, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 Dec 2022)

[5] “Card of Thanks,” Los Vegas Age, 28 Dec 1912, p. 3, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 Dec 2022).

[6] “Pauff Store Changes Hands,” Los Vegas Age, 19 April 1913, p. 2, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 Dec 2022). Also Las Vegas Age, 28 March 1914, p. 3, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 Dec 2022).


Copyright © 2022 by Lisa S. Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family, All rights reserved.

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