FLOOD, ROBERT W.
Funeral services for Robert W. Flood who died October
27, at Mayfield, Ky., were held in Holton yesterday afternoon at Gabel & Poterfields undertaking parlors, conducted
by Rev. F. C. Waring. Music was furnished by Keith Vine, Rev. Waring, E. D. Woodburn and F. B. McCrery. Burial
was made in the Holton Cemetery. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, November 1, 1923 transcribed by Jim Laird)
LAMME, J. W.
J. W. Lamme, died Tuedsday at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. C. J. Hardin. Funeral services will be held from the home this morning at 10:30 conducted by Rev. F. C. Waring.
The G. A. R. will hold ritual services. The body will be taken to Hiawatha for burial. (The Holton Signal, Thursday,
November 1, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
HOYT, CHARLES W.
Charles W. Hoyt, 201 Western Ave., died at 6 o'clock
last night in a hospital at Emporia, where he had been living temporarily and conducting a grain business. Hoyt's
death followed an illness of but two days. His residence was in Topeka, where he had lived for the past twenty-three
years. He is survived by his widow and one son, Charles B. Hoyt of New York, who were with him at the time of his
death, the son, editor of a New York magazine, being home on a vacation at the time his father was stricken.
Mr. Hoyt was 57 years old and was born near Jamestown,
Pa. He came to Kansas with his parents at the age of 12, the family settling at Morganville, Kan. He was married
to Mary Bamfield of McPherson, Kans., in 1896. Mr. Hoyt formerly lived in North Topeka. In recent years he was
connected with the Kaw Milling company.
The body will be brought to Topeka for burial.-
Saturday's Topeka Capital.
Mr. Hoyt is a brother-inlaw of Mrs. J. A. Charles
of Holton. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, August 16, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
REAM, SAMUEL
A message was received Tuesday evening by George
Barker advising him of the death of Samuel Ream who was attending the National Encampment of the G. A. R. at Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. No particulars were given. Mr. Barker gave instruction to have the body shipped to Holton. It is expected
to arrive tonight. Mr. Ream was a corporal in Co. C. Independent Pennsylvania Battery. He served from February
1862 to June 1865. He was 76 years old at the time of his death. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, September 6, 1923,
transcribed by Jim Laird)
ALLEN, LUTICIA EVELYN
Luticia Evelyn Allen was born at Chautauqua, Kansas,
March 16, 1877. She came with her parents, to Jackson county in 1878, settled on a farm east of Holton, where they
lived nine years. They then moved to Holton where she spent her girlhood days. At the age of 20 years she was converted
and joined the Christian church at this place, after which she went to Topeka, Kans., where she found employment,
making that place her home until about ten days ago she returned to her mother's home, here, where she departed
this life, August 3, 1923. She leaves to mourn her loss, a mother, three sisters, two brothers, and a host of relatives
and friends; her father, one brother and one sister preceding her to the great beyond. Funeral services were held
Sunday afternoon atthe Christian church conducted by Rev. F.A. Munneke of the Presbyterian church. Music was furnished
by Mrs. T.A. Mitchell and Miss Dorothy Stephens. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, August 9, 1923, transcribed by Jim
Laird)
REYNOLDS, MR.
Floyd Reynolds, having received word of his father's
death went to Mankato, Kansas, Friday evening to be present for the funeral there. The deceased was 74 years old
and was making his home temporarily with some of his children. He lived here last winter with his son, Floyd and
family. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, July 26, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
SMITH, JOSIE
Mrs. Josie Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Hill, formerly of Circleville, died July 12, in a hospital in Topeka. Funeral services were held at the M.E. church
in Circleville Saturday afternoon conducted by Rev. Joy Held. Burial in the Circleville cemetery. (The Holton Signal,
Thursday, July 19, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
BATEMAN, ED
Ed Bateman, formerly a resident of Holton, died
at Billings, Montana, last week. The body was brought to Holton Monday and services wer held from the Methodist
church Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. L.F. Waring and Rev. Joy Held. Burial was in the Holton cemetery. (The
Holton Signal, Thursday, July 19, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
TAYLOR,
INFANT
A still born baby daughter was born to Mr. and
Mrs. Virgil Taylor, July 14. Burial was made in the Holton Cemetery. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, July 19, 1923,
transcribed by Jim Laird)
KESSINGER, M. MRS.
Mrs. M. Kessinger died yesterday afternoon about
three o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Miles Kinkade, after an illness of almost a year. Funeral will
be held at 10:00 o'clock Friday morning at the Christian church. Burial at Denison. (The Holton Signal, Thursday,
June 21, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
FRANKS, DAUGHTER
The one year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franks,
of Lyons, Kansas, died Sunday at the home in Lyons. The body was brought to Holton Monday and services were held
from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Whittey, Tuesday morning conducted by Rev. PerLee. Burial in Holton cemetery.
Mrs. Franks is a sister of Mr. Whittey. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, June 21, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
BLANKA, SON
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Blanka, Sunday, June
17, died Monday. Services were held from the home southeast of Holton Monday conducted by Rev. PerLee. Burial in
Holton cemetery. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, June 21, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
VAN SWEARINGEN,
WILLIAM
Funeral service for William Van Swearingen, who
died Thursday will be held from the Liberty church this afternoon at 2:30 conducted by Rev. Grant Hamm. Burial
in Holton cemetery. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, June 14, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
SPRONG, DAVID MRS.
Mrs. David Sprong died April 25, at her home in
Potter, Atchison county. She is the mother of D.H. Sprong, Jr., a resident of Holton several years ago. (The Holton
Signal, Thursday, May 3, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
MAXWELL,
JOHN MRS.
Mrs. Elmer Hobbs returned home the first of the
week from Chillicothe, Mo., where she was called by the serious illness of her mother, Mrs. John Maxwell. Mrs.
Maxwell died Thursday, April 19. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, April 26, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
BERRY, REX MRS.
Chas. Bateman received word of the death of his
aunt, Mrs. Rex Berry, in Colorado Springs, Monday. Mrs. Berry formerly lived in Topeka and has visited in Holton
a number of times. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, April 26, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
HOLLIS, WARD
Curshed To Death Under Tractor.
Ward Hollis, 36, a farmer living five miles northeast
of town was found dead in a field under his tractor by his two children, Ward Jr., and Gertrude, Thursday.
As nearly as could be determined, the accident
occurred when Mr. Hollis attempted to pull a truck out of a ditch where it had become stuck. When the power was
applied the tractor turned over catching Mr. Hollis beneath it crushing his head and chest and killing him instantly.
Mr. Hollis went into the field about 6:30 to plow.
About 9:30 o'clock his children went out to take him a drink of water and discovered their father lying under the
machine. After called to him a number of times and being unable to get any response they went back to the house
and told their mother that their father was lying under the tractor and would not talk to them.
The neighbors were immediately summoned and the
tractor lifted from the body. From the nature of the injuries it was apparent that death had resulted instantly.
Mr. Hollis is a son of James T. Hollis. His wife
is a daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Leonard Arnold of Holton. The family consists of four small children, three boys,
and one girl. Hollis had recently moved onto the farm and they were arranging to purchase it.
The family has many friends in the neighborhood
who sympathize with them in the tragic death of the husband and father.
Funeral services were held Sunday from the Methodist
church, conducted by Rev. L. F. Waring. The Masonic Order of which the deceased was a member had charge of the
services at the grave. Burial was made in the Holton cemetery.
Benj. Ward Hollis was born in Jackson county, Kansas, January 8th, 1887 and departed this life April 19, 1823.
He was the elder son of James T. and Eliza Hollis, his mother having preceded him in death nine years ago last
month.
After growing to manhood in this county, he went
to Manhattan, where he was graduated from the Veterinary course at Kansas State Agriculture college in 1910. From
there he went to Oregon Agricultural college at Corvallis, Ore., where he taught Veterinary Science while completing
a post graduate course. Dr. Hollis was united in marriage to Miss Besse Arnold of this city on November 26, 1914,
going immediately to Omaha, Nebr., where they made their home until 1917, when they moved to Atlantic, Iowa and
later to Des Moines, Iowa.
To this union were born four children, James Leonard,
7; Benj. Ward, Jr., 5; Gertrude Lucille, 4; and Harold Dean, 1 year.
The deceased was converted and united with the
M.E. church while yet in his teens. He was also a member of the Masonic order No.250 at Whiting, Kansas.
Ward will be missed by his friends and business
associates but most of all his home of which he was so fond and where he was a loving father and devoted husband,
a kind and generous father. His first toughts always of the welfare of his home and family.
He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and family,
his father who has made his home with them the past few months, and one brother, Charles R., who lives at Pasadena,
Calif., also a host of relatives and friends.
The funeral services were held at the M.E. church
Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Waring, officiating. Burial in the Holton cemetery. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, April
26, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
STANLEY, OLIVER
WARD
Oliver Ward Stanley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stanley,
was born December 28, 1895 in Ottawa County, Kansas, and departed this life, April 10, 1923, at the age of 27 years,
3 months and 13 days. He underwent an operation for appendicitis at the hospital at Topeka, cause of death embolism.
The deceased grew to manhood in Ottawa county and was married at Topeka, August 19, 1918, to Miss Erma Taylor of
Circleville. Two sons were born to this union, the older Donald, dying in infancy, July 10, 1919. In the fall of
1919 he moved to Circleville which has since been his home. Besides his wife and little, Robert Eugene, he leaves
his parents and five brothers in Ottawa county and one sister, Mrs. Grace Davis, of Ellis, Kansas. This was the
first break in the family circle. Besides his immediate family he leaves a host of relatives and friends to mourn
his untimely death. The funeral was held at Culver and burial in the Culver cemetery. We extend sympathy to the
bereaved relatives. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, April 19, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
OLDWEILER, MARY
BRENEMAN
Mrs. Mary Breneman Oldweiler, 80 years old, died
April 15 in Kansas City. Body brought to Birmingham were funeral services were held yesterday afternoon. Burial
in Birmingham cemetery. (the Holton Signal, Thursday, April 19, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
SPIKER, ANDREW
Andrew Spiker died yesterday at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. James Lytle. Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Waring in charge. Burial
in Holton cemetery. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, April 19, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
SCHIRMER,
H. F. WM.
H.F. Wm. Schirmer entered upon this life March
4, 1953 in Dillingen, Westphalia, Prussia. As a boyu of 11 years he came with his parents to America. They came
direct to Holton and established their home here. With the exception of six years lived in Idaho the deceased has
spent practically his entire life in this community.
April 9, 1873 he found a companion in the person
of Mary Fernkopf. After eleven years he was bereaved of her through death. This union was blessed with five children.
June 16, 1891 he entered the marriage relation with Alice Garner. Four children were born to them.
In the years of his youth he gave his heart to
Christ, united with the Evangelical church and lived an earnest, conscientious, christian life. In all his relationships
in life, he ever stood for those things which were clean and uplifting, for the things which meant the highest
good for home, church and community.
About a month ago he suffered an attack of influenza
which gave rise to complications that resulted in his death, Thursday afternoon, April 5th.
Durning his last day, his mind was much engaged with those things which are eternal, and frequently he gave expression
to the living hope that was in him.
He is survived by his widow, six children, and
19 grandchildren. The children are: Mrs. Ernest Boettcher, Mrs. Jacob Knapp and Mrs. Otto Boettcher of Holton;
Mrs. Carl Haag, of Osawatomie; Lawrence Schirmer and Mrs. Lloyd Bell, Boise, Idaho.
Also he leaves an only brother, Henry, who at this
time lies ill in a Topeka hosptial.
The service was held Monday afternoon from the
Evangelical church. A large audience gathered to indicatie their respect for the deceased and to express their
sympathy for the family.
The service was conducted by Rev. G.F. Barthel
assisted by Rev. Grant Hamm. A quartet composed of Messrs. Albert and Otto Jacobs, Ross Abbuehl and Richard Sacher
sang two selections effectively.
The remains were then born to the Holton cemetery
and there laid to rest. (The Holton Signal, Thursday, April 12, 1923, transcribed by Jim Laird)
STANLEY, HENRY REV.
Interesting Sketch of His Life By His Son
Loved The Ray People
Many Were Strengthened and Built up Through His
Great Influence
The following was sent to The Missourian by Rev.
E.J. Stanley, a son of the deceased; and it was dated at White Hall, Montana: I have just returned from the burial
of my father, Rev. Henry Stanley, who departed this life in peaceful triumph at his home at Circleville, Kansas,
January 11, 1917. He was the son of Page and Winnie Bosham Stanley, born in Campbell county, Tenn., Mar 12, 1826.
He moved with his parents to Putnam county, Indiana, when a boy of 12, and a few years later they emigrated to
Buffalo, Missouri, where he was married to Sally Ann Campbell and in 1849 moved to Ray County, Mo.
While there he worked mostly at the carpenter’s
trade. He erected the first church known as Todd’s Chapel; built the first Methodist church in Knoxville; built
what was known as Ballard’s Mill; worked at Dale’s Mill and helped in various buildings at Camden and other places
where he lived.
He had a drum made by his own hands which he used
to play with fine effect for the amusement of the boys and on muster days, which were common at that time. Four
infant children of the family were buried during the residence here, whose remains rest side by side in the beautiful
cemetery just north of Todd’s Chapel.
In 1859, he moved with his family to Kansas which
was then quite a new country, bearing his share of the difficulties of frontier life. Both of his grandfathers
were in the Revolutionary War, and one of them fell at the battle at King’s Mountain. His father was the Jackson
at New Orleans, and he was drum major in a regiment of reserves, but which was not called into service, during
the Mexican War.
While serving in the Kansas State Militia, his
clothes were riddled with bullets and he was taken prisoner in a battle on Blue River near Kansas City in the fall
of 1864. For days and even weeks we thought he was dead, when to our great joy, he returned though almost overcome
with the
terrible hardships endured.
However, trying his lot, he was ready to do his
part, and it was interesting to listen to accounts of his experiences in journeys made with ox teams across the
bleak prairies covered with deep snow, through biting cold and blinding blizzards, hauling supplies of food and
clothing which had been donated by good people of the east, from Atchison, which was the nearest point on the Missouri
river, to the needy settlers of his neighborhood.
It was common, also to make occasional trips out
to the great plains for a supply of wild buffalo meat sufficient to last them through the winter.
While never very successful in acquiring any considerable
amount of this world's goods, yet he was careful to lay up a good foundation against the time to come. He looked
for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. He was converted at a meeting held by T.D.
Clanton in the Methodist church at Knoxville, Mo., which a was built partly by his own hands,(for I was a little
boy and can remember playing with the blocks while the carpenters worked) about the year 1854 or '55.
Although but a boy, I well remember the day. I
was hoeing in the garden and mother called me to the house. I wondered what she wanted - but was not long in finding
out. Her face, always beautiful, shone like an angel's. As soon as I entered the room father grabbed me in his
arms and
hugging me to his bosom, walked back and forth across the floor giving expressions to his pent up feelings in joyful
exclamations; his countenance beaming with holy joy and delight. The event meant much to the future of the inmates
of that home. He at once began the practice of reading the scriptures and praying in the family, which custom he
kept up, barring short intervals as long as he could see to read and was able to get upon his knees. He knew and
was a great admirer of Jesse Green, Daniel Leeper, Thomas Wallace, William M. Rush, Joseph Devlin, R.H. Jordon,
Willis Dockery, H.H. Hedgepeth, D.C.O. Howell, Joseph King, and a host of others who preceded him to the better
land.
While his knowledge of books was limited and he
laid no claims to high pulpit ability, yet he knew in whom he believed, had a well defined Christian experience,
was always ready to give a reason for the hope that was in him, and not a few people were converted and a great
many were strengthened and built up in the faith of the gospel and furthered on the journey through his influence.
He thought much of the people of Ray county. I used to send him copies of the Richmond Missourian which he always
enjoyed so much. After my visit to Richmond last spring, he plied me with numerous questions about the old town,
though about all of his old friends had preceded him the other shore. He was a devout, joyous happy Christian and
frequently remarked to me that religion was the chief joy and companion of his bf and when we would part it was
common for him to say, quoting the words of Dr. J.B. McFerrin to his son, 'MY boy, if I'm not here when you come
again, you'll know where to find me." It was a satisfaction to see the great throng of people gathered from
far and near on that cold winter day to do him honor, and also to hear
the many words testifying to his honesty and integrity from those whohad known him intimately for more than fifty
years and in times that tried men’s souls. It was surely worth the while to have lived such a life, and the outcome
is wonderful inducement to us all to fight the good fight and lay hold on eternal life. (Richmond Missourian: Thursday,
8 Feb 1917, submitted by Lisa Smalley)
