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Fulton County Indiana
Obits



Clarabelle Zent nee Hunter
Clarabelle Zent, 84, 1310 Jackson Blvd., Rochester, died at 9:56 p.m. Sunday at Life Care Center of Fort Wayne, where she resided since October. Born [May 2, 1916] in Rochester to Rinaldo and Elenor Latchaw Hunter, she married Orton P. Zent March 17, 1935 in Rochester. He died Nov. 5, 1973. Mrs. Zent was a homemaker. She lived most of her life in the Rochester community and was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include one daughter, Carol Lange and husband Jerry, Isle of Palms, S.C.; one son, Michael (Zent) and wife Rita, Fort Wayne; 13 grandchildren, Todd and Tim Walters, Andy and Brian Lange, Jeff and Scott Zent, Cory, Cody, Caleb, Stacy, Jordin, Megan and Carly Jean Zent; seven great-grandchildren. Preceding in death with her husband were her parents, one son, Ronnie Zent in 1987, one brother, Nelson Hunter, three sisters, Goldie Hindel, Edith Wagoner and Florence Boggess. Services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Foster & Good Funeral Home, Rochester, with Rev. Mark Spencer officiating. Burial is at Rochester IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to services. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Rochester.
(Submitters Name: Ida Maack Recu Obit:)

CATHERINE CRUZAN; died Akron, Fulton Co., Ind., on forty-first birthday; funeral, 30 Apr. 1876. The Restitution Newspaper (10 May 1876)

Kewanna, Ind., - Jan. 7 Fulton County
Rev. Jesse Sparks, since 1811. a preacher in the Methodist episcopal Church in Indiana, died Sunday and was buried to-day.   He was a pioneer preacher, and in his prime was a most eloquent speaker he has been stationed In Marion,
Wabash, Decatur and other  places in the North Indiana Conference, and at Fulton, Kewanna and other points in the Northwestern Indiana Conference. He leaves a widow and two surviving children, one of whom, Jerey Sparks, is at the
point of death.   The funeral was in charge of Rev. Horace O. Ogden.


Lima News (Lima, Ohio) March 31, 1987 Indiana man dies in crash
MOUNT VICTORY - An Indiana man was killed Monday in a one-car crash near Mount Victory, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. Ronald E. Zent, 45, of Rochester, Ind., was pronounced dead on arrival at Hardin Memorial Hospital following the accident. Hardin County Coroner Dr. Robert B. Elliott could not be reached for a cause of death. A dispatcher for the Findlay post of the highway patrol said Zent was driving south on Ohio Route 31 in Hale Township when his car went off the left side of the road and struck a guardrail. The vehicle then flipped over and hit the guardrail again, tearing open part of the roof of the car, the dispatcher said. The vehicle flipped over again and came to rest upright.
(submitted by Ida Maack Recu)

Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, May 6, 1997
Earl Zent July 23, 1907 - May 5, 1997
Earl Zent, 89, died at 1:24 p.m. Monday at Mason Health Care, Warsaw. Born in Fulton County to Lloyd and Blanche Ames Zent, he married Elma C. Bybee on Sept. 5, 1926. She died Oct. 28, 1996. A former Mentone resident and farmer, he was a member of the First Baptist Church. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Ron (Louise) Gillum, Mesa, Ariz., one son Kermit and wife Nellie Zent, Rochester, four grandchildren; nine great grand children; one sister in law, Clarabelle Zent, Rochester. He was preceded in death by one brother Orton Zent. (submitted by Ida Maack Recu)
 
Times-Union Court News, February 10, 1998
Robert Earl Zent died May 5, 1997, at the age of 89, leaving an estate valued at $358,549.70. Beneficiaries: Kermit Zent, son, East CR 600N, Rochester, and Louise E. Gillum, daughter, Mesa, Ariz.
(submitted by Ida Maack Recu)

Rochester. Ind. April 21. - Rev, Nathan L. Lord, aged eighty-two, and many years a pastor of the Presbyterian Church here and other points in northern Indiana, died at his home in this city to-day.
Indiana Journal April 28 1897

Lima News Apr 1, 1942
News was received bv Mrs. J. D. Agerter of 837 W. High-st of the death of her sister, Mrs. J. A. Dixon, who died Tuesday at 2 a.m. at  Elkhart, Ind. Mrs. Dixon formerly lived in Lima. Surviving in addition to Mrs. Agertcr are another sister, Mrs. H. O. Dorsey of 676 W. Market-st;  five sons, Charles, Thomas and John, all of Elkhart, Joseph of Grovedale. Fla., and Henry Dixon of Rochester, Ind., and one daughter. Mrs. Josephine Swihart of Elkhart. Funeral services will be held
Friday in Elkhart and burial will be made at Rochester.
Submitted by Linda Dietz

Claude L. Davis
Claude L. DAVIS, 67, R.R. 1, Mentone, died  May 11, 1966 at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Clarence  COTEY, at 2 a.m. Wednesday.  A World War I Marine Corps veteran, he had been ill several years.
 The son of Leon and Pearl RENDER DAVIS, he was born June 20, 1898 near Hebron,  Nev.  He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Veva COTEY and Mrs. Frank (Vera) SINK of Macy.
 Funeral services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the King-Reed Memorial home in Mentone  with the Rev. Glenn R. CAMPTON officiating.  Burial will be at the Mentone cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.
FULTON COUNTY INDIANA OBITUARIES 1966
Contributed by Leon Cotey
Note from Contributor Claude L Davis was the brother of my mother Veva Mae (Davis) Cotey and her twin sister Vera Fae (Davis) Fink.  Her last name was spelled as SINK but should have been FINK.  Claude was born in Hebron NE
on 20 Jun 1898.  The state Nev was incorrect.

Mrs L L Davis Died Today
   Mrs L L Davis died February 24,1944 at 11:05 this morning at her home on Riverside.  She had been bedfast nearly two months.  The body was taken to the Burgess Funeral Home where it will remain.  The funeral will be held sometime Saturday, but definite arrangements are not made.  Burial will be at Fairview.  The family came to this locality from Chicago a few years ago.  Besides the husband, two daughters live in Chicago.
This information did not appear in the obituary, but provides additional information

Mrs Pearl Mae (RENDER) DAVIS, 63 years old, wife of Leon Leslie Davis died at 11:05 am, February 24, 1944, at her home on Riverside in North Manchester, Indiana.  She had been bedfast nearly two months and suffered from Apoplexy, Pneumonia and Hypertension.  Her body was taken to the Lesis Burgas Funeral Home where remained until her burial on February 26th. The funeral was held the following Saturday.  The DAVIS family came to North Manchester from Chicago a few years ago.  Her twin daughters, Mrs Veva Mae (DAVIS) COTEY and Mrs Vera Fae (DAVIS) FINK who live in Chicago were in attendance.  Pearl was also survived by a son, Claude L Davis who was not available.  Burial was at Fairview Chester Township.
The health and burial information was provided on Pearl's Certificate of Death Registration, Wabash County Health Department.
Transcribed from the NEWS JOURNAL, North Manchester, Indiana February 24, 1944.
Contributed by Leon Cotey

Clarence George Cotey, age 89 of Pinellas Park, FL died Thursday, September 24, 1992, at home.  He was born in Escanaba, MI and came to FL in 1972 from Mentone, IN.  Clarence was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.  Survivors include a son, Leon A Cotey of Bremerton, WA and a daughter, Rosemary Baker of Tippecanoe, IN, a sister Leona (Cotey) Lambert of Santa Maria, CA, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  His wife of nearly fifty years was Veva Mae (Davis) Cotey passed away in Mentone, IN in 1971.  He was also married to Leona (Walters) Cotey who passed away in Pinellas Park, FL on December 1991.  Mr. Cotey was cremated at the National Cremation Society, St Petersburg FL.

 June May (Cotey) Miller, wife of Melvin Miller died 7:14 May 9, 1986, in the emergency room at Holly Cross Parkview Hospital, Plymouth (Marshall County) IN.
She was the daughter of Clarence G Cotey formerly of Mentone.  Her mother Veva Mae (Davis) Cotey passed away on December 21, 1971.  She is survived by her husband Melvin, sister Rosemary (Cotey) Baker of Tippecanoe and brother Leon Cotey of Bremerton WA.  Funeral arrangements were conducted at King Memorial Home in Mentone.  She was put to rest at the local Mentone cemetery.
The following partial information was provided from genealogy information by Fulton County Public Library, Rochester IN and some of which which was published in the Rochester Sentinel, Rochester IN on April 7, 1972.  Additional family information was edited and supplied by Leon Cotey, Bremerton WA.
   
Mrs Vera Fae (Davis) Fink, 66, died at 9:20 pm, Thursday, April 6, 1972, in Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester IN.  She had been ill since August.  Vera was the twin sister of Veva Mae (Davis) Cotey and was born December 7, 1905, in Smith Center KS.  She was the daughter of Leon Leslie and Pearl Mae (Render) Davis.  Her marriage was January 3, 1930, in Chicago to Frank Henry Fink, who survives.  She had resided in Macy 11 years, having moved from Chicago.  She was a former employee of Kiefer Novelty Company in Chicago.  Also surviving are nieces and nephews including June Mae Cotey, Mentone, Mrs Rosemary (Cotey) Baker of Tippecanoe, Leon Cotey, a career Navy man stationed in Seattle WA and a brother-in-law, Clarence Cotey of Mentone.  Her twin sister, Veva preceded in death.  Funeral rites were held 2 pm, Sunday, April 9 in the Zimmerman Brothers funeral home.  The Reverend James O'Dell officiated.  Burial was in the Mentone cemetery.
The following is the obituary information on my father, Clarence George Cotey.  I extracted most of the information from his obituary as it appeared in a newspaper near Pinellas, FL.  I have edited and added "missing" information.
This obituary information is an extract from data provided to me via e-mail from the Fulton County Public Library, Rochester, IN.  Additional family information was supplied by Leon Cotey, Bremerton WA.
Contributed by  Leon Cotey

Mrs. Julia GIBBONS and Edward MOONSHOWER, two well known Rochester residents, are dead. Mrs. Gibbons died at the Woodlawn hospital Wednesday afternoon and Mr. Moonshower died at his home on Elm street this morning at nine o'clock. Mrs. Gibbons had been ill for the past three months and was taken to the hospital about six weeks ago. She was past 73 years of age. Edward Moonshower has been sick for over six months and death came as a relief to his suffering. He was nearly 68 years of age. Several weeks ago he underwent an operation at the hospital for gall stones. Julia A. CALHOUN, was born at Muncie. Indiana. October 4th. 1840. Her father died when she was very young and after that she made her home with her grandfather. John THORNBURG. In 1861 she was married to James B. GIBBONS and thereafter resided near Richland Center until the death of her husband. 11 years ago. She was the mother of eight
children, five of whom are living. Two children died in infancy and Mary Lida [GIBBONS] died five years ago. The children living are. W. S. GIBBONS. Mrs. R M. OSBORN. J. M. GIBBONS. Mrs. Harvey OVERMEYER. and C. M. GIBBONS of Madison. Wis. There are 10 I"? - (difficult to read) living grandchildren. Mrs. Gibbons was a member of the Methodist church. She was sacrificial in all her acts and the extreme fortitude to all her trials of life and especially in her last sickness showed a devotion to a sublime faith. Her example in the community was felt.
The funeral will be held at Richland Center Friday. The procession will leave the home  here at 12 noon.
Rochester Sentinel Thursday. January 1, 1914 Fulton County Public Library

Friday. January 2. 1914
Mrs. Matilda JONES, a well known resident of this city and the mother of 13 children, dropped dead at her home on Em street Thursday evening as she was preparing to retire for the night. Death was caused by heart trouble. Mrs. Jones was past 39 years of age and was the widow of Isaac JOKES, a civil war veteran who died 12 years ago. For several years she has been living at 1411 Elm street with two of her children and niece. About 11 o'clock Thursday evening she retired to her room and was preparing to go to bed when her niece heard her fall. Before reaching her side. Mrs. Jones had passed away.
Mrs. Jones was the mother of 13 children. 10 of whom are living. They are, Mrs. Sam YODER. of Logansport. Mrs. Charles DEMONT. of Michigan City, Mrs. Hugh JOKES, of LaPorte. Mrs. William HARTMAN. of Rochester. Mrs. John MYERS, of Rochester, and John JONES. Charley JONES. Fred JONES. Edward JONES and Perry JONES of Rochester. Mrs. William FLAGG. a daughter, died five years ago.
Rochester Sentinel Thursday. January 2, 1914 Fulton County Public Library

The funeral services of Edward MOONSHOWER will be held at the house Sunday afternoon at two o'clock.
Rochester Sentinel Thursday. January 3, 1914 Fulton County Public Library

Ignatious "Notsie" MEYER, well known seal card manufacturer of this city, was instantly killed near Logansport, Saturday night when the automobile which he was driving, skidded into a deep ditch and upset, pinning him underneath. His neck was broken. R. K. GILLILAND, E. A. SMITH and Stephen PARCEL, who were also in the car, escaped injuries.
The accident happened in a blinding snow storm about 11 o'clock when they were driving along the Michigan pike, four miles north of Logansport. Although Mr. Meyer, who was driving, could barely see the road, the accident was probably due to the snow which caused the car to skid in a narrow place. After leaving the road the machine climbed the opposite embankment and then fell over on its side. Evidently the driver fell out of the car
when it stated to turn over, as he was found on his back with the     part of the machine
resting on his body. The other three men were very lucky, as they escaped and with the exception of Steve Parcel, who received several scratches on the face, were unhurt.
According to the account given by the surviving members of the party they left Rochester Saturday afternoon at two o'clock for Logansport. Mr. Meyer and Steve Parcel had business in that city, and E. A. Smith, agent for Advance Harvester Company and Reub Gilliland, local business man, were invited as guests. They arrived in Logansport about four o'clock and started on the return trip at 10:30 in the evening.
The fatal accident happened in front of Hugh UELRICK'S farm, north of Loganspont. When the car turned over, Smith, Gilliland and Parcel were thrown out, free of the heavy vehicle. They at once tried to lift the machine off of Mr. Meyer, but were unable to move it. Running to the Uelrick farm, Mr. Parcel obtained help and within 15 minutes nine men living in the neighborhood were on the scene and succeeded in dragging the body from underneath the car. They were horror-stricken to find that Mr. Meyer was dead and up to that moment were laboring under the idea that life was not extinct.
Taking the body to the farm home of Mr. Uelrick, they telephoned to the coroner at Logansport who sent an ambulance and an undertaker to them. Mr. Gilliland also telephoned to Rochester and notified John HOOVER of the accident. Mr. Hoover broke the news to the Meyer family and then in a big Mitchell car made a quick trip to the Uelrick farm. In the meanwhile, the undertaker from Logansport had arrived and taken the body of Mr. Meyer and the Rochester men to Logansport, where the Cass county coroner held an inquest at once.
In a few minutes he examined the three witnesses and returned a verdict of accidental death due to a broken neck. The body was kept in the morgue until Sunday morning, when it was brought to Rochester by Mr. Hoover. Mr. Parcel accompanied Mr. Hoover, but Mr. Gilliland and Mr. Smith came home on the morning train from the south.
The accidental death of Mr. Meyer, who was known to all Rochester citizens, comes as a deep shock to the community. He was well liked by everyone. He took a deep interest in all public affairs and during the celebration of Peru Day last summer, was very active. For five or six years he has been located in Rochester where he conducted a seal card factory, giving
employment during the winter months to 20 girls. Prior to this time he traveled in the West, but always made Rochester his home.
Mrs. MEYER was in Chicago when the accident took place. She was called home by her son, Julian, over the telephone. The sudden death of her husband has prostrated Mrs. Meyer.
Mr. Meyer was born in 1867. In 1892 he was married to Miss Mina DUMBAULD. To this union one child, Julian MEYER, was born. There also survive his mother, Mrs. Nancy MEYER, his wife and one son and five brothers and sisters, Mrs. J. A. BEULL of Alaska, John MEYER of Mason City, Iowa, and Misses Rosa MEYER and Caroline MEYER and Henry MEYER of this city. Mr. Meyer was a member of the K. of P. lodge.
A private funeral will be held at the house Tuesday afternoon at one o'clock. All those wishing to call may come between ten and eleven Tuesday morning.
Contrary to rumor, the three men who were with Mr. Meyer when he was killed, made the statement today that when the accident happened, the car was going about 10 miles an hour. Mr. Parcel said that they left Logansport at 10:30 o'clock, they were only four miles from the city. Mr. Meyer was well known as a very careful driver and the fatal accident Saturday night was the first that he ever experienced. The ditch beside the road into which the car skidded is about six feet deep.
Francis LOUDERBACK accompanied by his son, Harry LOUDERBACK, drove after the Meyer automobile this morning. R. K. Gilliland said this afternoon that three minutes before the accident Mr. Meyer turned to them and said, "boys, I am going to drive very slow, as the roads are in bad condition." Those were his last words.
Rochester Sentinel Monday, January 5, 1914 Fulton County Public Library

Matilda HERRELL, born Aug. 30, 1841, at Culver, Ind., died Jan. 1, 1914, at Rochester, Ind., aged 69 years, 5 months and one day. She was united in marriage with Wm. I. JONES Sept. 26, 1868. To this union were born 13 children, three of whom, with the husband and father, have passed away. The date of the husband's death was Jan. 7, 1901. The children living are: Mrs. Samuel YODER, Logansport, Ind.; Mrs. Chas. DEMONT, Michigan City; Mrs. Hugh V. JONES, Gary; John S. JONES, Ed JONES, Fred JONES, O. P. JONES, Mrs. Wm. HARTMAN, and Mrs. John G. MYERS, all of Rochester. Brothers and sisters living are: Jefferson HERRELL, Miami; Cassius HERRELL, Wabash; Noah HERRELL, Denison, Texas; Mrs. Amanda ELLERS, Miami, Ind.; and Mrs. A. M. SMITH, Green Oak, Ind. Mrs. Jones united with the Christian church early in life. Funeral Monday, January 5, 1914, at two o'clock p.m. at the Christian church, Rev. McNEELEY, of Tiosa, officiating. Burial in the Citizens' cemetery.
Rochester Sentinel Monday, January 5, 1914 Fulton County Public Library

The funeral of George MYERS, 72, who died Saturday evening after a paralytical illness of several years, on his farm near Leiters Ford, was held at Leiters this Monday afternoon. Mr. Myers was a brother of Attorney Enoch MYERS, who attended the funeral. Besides Mrs. Myers, there survive several children, three brothers and two sisters. The deceased was well known throughout the county.
Rochester Sentinel Monday, January 5, 1914 Fulton County Public Library

The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. KERN of Athens passed away Tuesday night. It was but three days old.
Rochester Sentinel Wednesday, January 7, 1914

The funeral of Mrs. Julia GIBBONS, who died at her home in Rochester, was preached by Rev. Warriner, pastor of Rochester M.E. church, at this church Friday afternoon and interment was made in the Citizens' cemetery at this place.
Mrs. Anthony McGREW, who died in South Bend, was buried in the Citizens' cemetery at this place last Saturday afternoon. lHer funeral was preached at Argos.
George MYERS of Leiters Ford passed away Saturday night. 
Rochester Sentinel Wednesday, January 8, 1914

The four your old son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur KALEY was buried Tuesday. The funeral services were held at the Reform church here. Friends of the bereaved parents extend their sympathy.
Rochester Sentinel Wednesday, January 8, 1914
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