William Edward Beers,aged 52 years died suddenly about 7:15 o'clock last night at his home six miles south and three miles east of El Dorado. He was ill about three hours. Heart failure is given as the cause of his death.
The sudden death of Mr. Beers came as a shock to his many friends, who hav favorably known him for a number of years. Mr. Beers was in El Dorado yesterday morning and went about his work on his farm as he had been doing for a number of years.
Mr. Beers was born at Lancaster, Mo., on March 23, 1871. He moved to Illinois when a young man and then came to Kansas. He first located in Greenwood County, where he lived for a few years. About twenty years ago he moved to Butler County and had lived in the country south of here since.
Mr. Beers is survived by six children. They are: Mrs. Clara Easley, of El Dorado; Fannie, William, Golda and Wesley, all of whom are at home; and Edna who lives with an aunt at Beaumont. Mrs. Beers died 18 months ago. Her body was buried in Little Walnut Cemetery.
No funeral arrangements had been made this morning for Mr. Beers. The body is in charge of the Byrd Brothers Funeral Home. (El Dorado Times, January 1, 1924)
Funeral services over the body of W. E. Beers, who lived nine miles south of El Dorado, were held at the Baptist Church at Leon, at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Burial was made in the Little Walnut Cemetery, south of Leon. The body was in charge of the Byrd Brothers Funeral Home.
Mr. Beers died suddenly at his home early Monday evening. He was ill about three hours. Heart failure is given as the cause of his death. Mr. Beers is survived by six children. Mrs. Beers died about eighteen months ago. (El Dorado Times, January 2, 1924)
Robert H. Biggs, 82, of El Dorado, died Wednesday, July 9,1986 at his home. Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow the services in Sunset Lawns Cemetery.
Mr. Biggs was born April 23, 1904 near Chelsea, the son of Frank and Mary Biggs. He has been a life-long resident of Butler County. On Dec. 27, 1931, he was married to Vera M. Kellogg in El Dorado. Mrs. Biggs preceded her husband in death on Sept. 16, 1982.
Mr. Biggs joined the El Dorado Fire Department in1926 and was employed there until his retirement in 1967. He worked as a fireman until 1941 when he became captain with the fire department. He was then named assistant chief in 1962 and in 1964 was again promoted to fire inspector. He then worked from July of 1965 until his retirement in 1967 as fire chief.
Memberships included the First Baptist Church the Patmos Masonic Lodge No. 97, A. F. & A. M. and the York Rite Bodies. He was a past member of the lodge.
Surviving family include a brother in law and his wife, Loren and Doris Kellogg of El Dorado, one nephew, Phil Kellogg of Lee's Summit, Mo., one niece, Sharon Chapman of Wichita and two great nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and one daughter.
Masonic services will be held immediately following the memorial services at the Kirby Morris Funeral Home. (El Dorado Times, July 10, 1986)
Memorial services for Robert H. Biggs, 82, of 600 N. Atchison, were held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 11, 1986 at Kirby Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Sunset Lawns Cemetery. He died Wednesday July 9, 1986.
Rev. Paul Olsen officiated. Organist was Mrs. A. J. Brazil and vocalist was Mrs. Shirley Suttle. Musical selections were "How Great Thou Art," and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."
Casket bearers were Jim Ross, Irvin McDowell, Guy Eutsler, Howard Long, Ernest Jones and Victor S. Marshall.
Masonic services were conducted by Patmos Masonic Lodge No. 97, A. F. & A. M., El Dorado. C. Verne Myers was orator. (El Dorado Times, July 15, 1986)
Mrs. Elizabeth Dixison, colored, aged 33 years, died about 9 o'clock yesterday morning at St. Luke's Hospital, following an operation for appendicitis, which she under went the latter part of last week. The body will be taken to Coffeyville this evening for burial. Short funeral services probably will be held here late this afternoon or this evening, it was announced this morning. The W. E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company has charge of the body.
Mrs. Dixison lived at 802 North Gordy Street. She is survived by her husband, William Dixison, who is a porter at the Owens Barber Shop on North Main Street. (El Dorado Times, January 14, 1924)
KINSEY, JOSH - IVA MAY. - FLORENCE VIRGINIA
FIVE BURNED TO DEATH WHEN FLAMES SWEEP THEIR HOME
Mother and a Daughter Die in Oil Field
Lose Lives When Casing Head Gasoline Thrown on Smouldering Fire Explodes
Father Also Badly Burned
Four Other Children and Sister of Mrs. Kinsey Escape Without Burns
Two persons, a mother and her oldest daughter, were burned to death in a fire, which destroyed the home of Josh Kinsey, on the Clark lease, in the Fox-Bush Field, of South Butler County about 8 o'clock this morning.
The father was seriously burned and little hope was entertained early this afternoon at the Augusta Hospital for his recovery. Four other children of the Kinsey family and a sister of Mrs. Kinsey, who was visiting at the home at the time the fire started, escaped injury.
The dead:
Mrs. Iva May Kinsey, aged 27 years
Florence Virginia Kinsey, aged 10 years.
The injured:
John Kinsey, aged about 33 years.
Those who escaped being burned:
Miss Ella Moss, aged about 21 years.
Helen Kinsey, aged eight years.
Wanda Kinsey, aged four years.
Jessie Kinsey, aged two years.
Norman Kinsey, aged three week.
Flames swept the house, trapping Mrs. Kinsey and daughter in it, following an explosion of some casing head gasoline, which had been thrown on a smouldering fire by Mr. Kinsey. The house a 4-room structure, and its contents was completely destroyed.
News of the disaster was brought to El Dorado about noon by J. P. Winters field superintendent for the National Refining Company, which operates the Clark lease. He happened to be in the Fox-Bush Field this morning on business.
The ambulance of the J. F. Dunsford Funeral Home, at Augusta was called to the Clark lease about 8:30 o'clock to take Mr. Kinsey to the Augusta Hospital. Mr. Dunsford was not informed at that time that Mrs. Kinsey and daughter had lost their lives in the fire. It was necessary for him to make a second trip to the lease. He arrived in Augusta with the two bodies about 1 o'clock.
According to Mr. Dunsford the bodies are burned beyond recognition. Only the trunks remain. The bodies were not recovered from the fire until several minutes after it started.
Exit from the burning home was possible only by one door, according to Mr. Dunsford. The other outside door of the home had been nailed shut.
Immediately after the explosion, Mrs. Kinsey who was holding her 3 weeks old son, ran outdoors and placed the youngster on the ground. She then returned to the house in an attempt to save her other four children. It was while doing this that Mrs. Kinsey's clothing caught fire and she was burned to death before assistance could reach her.
Mr. Kinsey also sustained his burns when he attempted to rescue his children.
In the meantime, however, Miss Moss, sister of Mrs. Kinsey had broken out a window and pushed Helen, Wanda and Jessie Kinsey to safety. The woman than crawled through the window herself.
The three children and baby were taken to the home of J. A. Dix, who lives on the Clark lease where they are being cared for. Mrs. Dix is a sister of Mrs. Kinsey.
The bodies of Mrs. Kinsey and her daughter are being held at the Dunsford Funeral Home. No funeral arrangements have been made.
The Kinseys had lived on the Clark lease about a year. Mr. Kinsey was a pumper for the National Refining Company.
Mr. Kinsey's condition was so serious at 2 o'clock this afternoon that he could not be questioned about the fire.
The deaths of Mrs. Kinsey and daughter bring the total as the result of fire sin Butler County to six within the past 12 days. This is the largest number to be reported during a similar period in the history of the county.
Early the morning of December 24, Phillip Tutt, Sr. and his son, Phillip Tutt, Jr. were fatally burned when their home at Towanda was destroyed by fire. They died about 12 hours later at St. Luke's Hospital here. On the morning of December 31, Mrs. Melvin Oxford, was burned to death at her home on the North Wilson lease, six miles north of here and on New Year's Day morning, Paul Roth, a young farmer of Whitewater was burned to death while working with a gasoline engine.
The fire at the Tutt home was caused when the elder Tutt threw some kerosene on a smouldering stove fire. Mrs. Oxford threw some crude oil on a kitchen fire at her home and Roth was burned to death when a 2-gallon can of gasoline was ignited by a spark from the gas engine. (El Dorado Times, January 5, 1924)
A triple funeral service was held at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Bloomington Church, in South Butler County, over the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Josh Kinsey and their 10 year old daughter, Florence Virginia who died from burns they received early Saturday morning when their home on the Clark Lease in the Fox-Bush Field, caught fire.
Mrs. Kinsey and daughter were burned to death in the home. Their bodies were not recovered until the fire had burned several minutes. Mr. Kinsey was burned so seriously that he died at the Augusta Hospital about 4 o'clock yesterday morning. He was removed to that place immediately after the fire.
The funeral services at the Bloomington Church were conducted by the Rev. Mr. McNeal, pastor. The bodies were in charge of the J. F. Dunsford Funeral Home, at Augusta. The bodies of the mother and daughter were removed to the Dunsford morgue shortly after the fire.
Burial was made in the McCabe Cemetery, near Bloomington.
The death of Mr. Kinsey brings the total from fires in Butler County to seven within the past two weeks. This is a record for the county and it is not believed it has been surpassed in the state in recent years. All the fires were caused by excessive use of either gasoline, kerosene or crude oil.
The Kinsey family is reported to be in needy circumstances. Mr. Kinsey was employed as a pumper by the National Refining Company. He had about $90 due him when the fire occurred. This is said to be all the money the family has.
Four little children survive their parents and sister. They are: Helen Kinsey, aged eight years, Wanda Kinsey aged four years; Jessie Kinsey aged two years and Norman Kinsey aged three weeks. The children are being cared for at the home of relatives in the Fox-Bush Field. (El Dorado Times, January 7, 1924)
OSBORNE, HARVEY - GALEN - ALICE
Funeral services over the bodies of Harvey Osborne, aged 45 years, and his two children, Galen, aged 11 years and Alice aged 14 years, relatives of Charles F. Lewis of El Dorado were held at Alva, Oklahoma today.
The three Osbornes were fatally burned when their home near Alva, caught fire Friday morning, after Mr. Osborne had thrown kerosene into a stove. Mr. Lewis was informed of the deaths of the Osbornes Friday afternoon and went to that place at once. He will not return home until the middle of the week. Mr. Lewis is part owner of the K. C. Smoke House.
Mr. and Mrs. Osborne had just risen, and he was making a fire in the kitchen stove, when the explosion occurred, scattering flames all over the room, and converting the house into a mass of flames.
The farmer rushed out of the house, with his clothing blazing and rolling on the ground attempted to extinguish the fire. He failed. The burns he received were fatal.
In the meantime, Mrs. Osborne, with her youngest child had escaped from the house. The mother ran to the window of the room where two of the children had been sleeping. It was already a roaring furnace, and she had to give up her effort to save thme.
The mother than reached the other son in a neighboring room and succeeded in getting him to safety, badly, but not fatally burned.
The house burned completely to the ground. The charred bodies of two children were trapped in their bedroom, were found later. (El Dorado Times, January 7, 1924)
No funeral arrangements had been made this morning for Mrs. Buela Oxford, aged 23 years, who was burned to death at her home on the North Wilson lease, six miles north and a fourth of a mile west of El Dorado early yesterday morning. The body is being held by W. E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company. It is probable that funeral services will be held tomorrow at the home of Mrs. Oxford's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Squires of Latham.
Mrs. Oxford was burned to death after she is believed to have thrown a quantity of crude oil on a kitchen fire. An explosion resulted, which set fire to Mrs. Oxford's clothing and ignited the entire home. Mrs. Oxford is the third resident of the El Dorado Community to lose her life in this manner within the past week. (El Dorado Times, January 1, 1924)
Beulah Pearl Squier Oxford was born August 19, 1904, at Beaumont. She died December 31 at the age of 19 years, four months and 12 days, at her home near El Dorado.
Mrs. Oxford lived in and near Latham all of her life, being graduated from the Latham High School in 1922 and later attending the Wichita Business College. She was married to Melvin Oxford on May 15, 1923. She confessed her faith in Christ at the Christian Church in 1920.
Besides a host of friends, Mrs. Oxford leaves to mourn her loss her husband, Melvin S. Oxford her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Foster Squiers, of Latham, and a sister, Vera, also of Latham. Burial was made in the Leon Cemetery. (El Dorado Times, January 8, 1924)
Funeral Services over the body of Mrs. Melvin Oxford, who was burned to death at her home on the North Wilson lease, six miles north of El Dorado, early Monday morning, following an explosion of some crude oil, which was thrown on a kitchen fire, were held at 1 o'clock this afternoon at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Squires at Latham. Burial was made in the Leon Cemetery.
The W. E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company was in charge of the body. Mrs. Oxford is survived by her parents, one sister and her husband. She had spent most of her life in Butler County. (El Dorado Times, January 2, 1924)
ROBERTSON, DELLAND LETHA HERMAN
Letha Robertson, of Midian, who was sought in El Dorado yesterday because his 2 year old son, Delland Letha Herman Robertson had died, was located about 7 o'clock last evening through the publication of the story in the Times to the effect that he was wanted at home. Mr. Robertson arrived at his home about 7:30 o'clock.
Mr. Robertson had been in El Dorado for several days in search of work. He and his family are reported to be in needy circumstances.
The baby died about 2:30 o'clock yesterday morning. He had been ill only a few hours. The body is in charge of Byrd Brother's Funeral Home. No funeral arrangements had been made today, but it is probable the funeral will be held tomorrow and burial will be made in the Towanda Cemetery.
In addition to his parents, the baby is survived by three small brothers and sisters and his grandparents. (El Dorado Times, January 15, 1924)
Margaret Ann Rockhil, 65, of Eureka, mother of Julianne (Mrs. Fred) Doerflinger of El Dorado, died Saturday at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Eureka.
She was born Jan. 12, 1918 in Eureka, the daughter of Raymond and Hazel Marshall Smith. She was retired as a clerk of Eureka Auction Sales.
She was married to Herbert V. Rockhill in Eureka on June 6, 1941.
Other survivors include her husband, of the home, her mother, Hazel Smith of Eureka; a sister, Helen J. Mariani of Albuquerque, N.M.; and two grandchildren.
A memorial has been established in her name to the Christ Lutheran Church.
Campbell Funeral Home of Eureka is in charge of arrangements. (El Dorado Times, Page 3, Monday, February 21, 1983)
The fourth person to lose his life from fire in the El Dorado community within the past ten days was added to the list yesterday.
Paul Roth, aged 23 years, a young farmer who lived by himself three miles south of Whitewater, was burned to death when a can of gasoline exploded. His badly burned body was found about a half an hour after that accident by Charles Stewart, a neighbor, who had gone to the Roth place on business. According to Mr. Stewart, Mr. Roth lived about two minutes after he found him.
Coroner W. E. Turner was called. He was accompanied to the Roth home by Deputy Sheriff Eldon F. Jarnigan. The body was removed to the Smith Brothers Funeral Home at Whitewater where it was being held this morning.
It is believed the explosion and fire occurred about 10 o'clock in the morning. Mr. Stewart reached the Roth place about 10:30.
The accident occurred when Mr. Roth was trying to start a gasoline engine in a small hog house.
Paul Roth is second member of the John Roth family to lose his life in an accident.
About eight years ago, a 16 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Roth was fatally wounded when a shotgun was accidentally discharged. The boy was riding on a load of hay. He was pulling the guns towards him when it was discharged.
A can of gasoline was setting nearby. It is believed a spark from the exhaust of the engine ignited the gasoline, throwing burning fuel over Mr. Roth.
The young farmer ran out of the hog house, but succeeded in going only a few feet when he fell to the ground, where his body was found by Mr. Stewart. The hog house and its contents was completely destroyed.
Mr. Stewart did not discover Mr. Roth's body until he had been at the latter's place several minutes. The visitor first saw the hog house on fire and finding no one at the Roth farm home directed his attention to extinguishing the flames. It was after he had the fire out that he found Mr. Roth's body. All the clothing was burned off it.
Young Roth was well and most favorably known in the Whitewater community. He had lived there all his life. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Roth, who live about a mile south of Whitewater. He is also survived by several sisters and brothers, the names of which could not be learned at Whitewater this morning.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Swiss Mennonite Church, about a mile north of Whitewater. Burial was made in the cemetery of the church, which is nearby.
Three other deaths from fire have occurred in the El Dorado community the past ten days. Early the morning of December 24, Phillip Tutt, sr., and his son, Philip Tutt, jr. were fatally burned when their home at Towanda caught fire, following an explosion of some kerosene, which the elder Tutt had thrown on a stove fire. Both members of the family died at St. Luke's hospital about 12 hours after the accident occurred.
Monday morning, Mrs. Buela Oxford, aged 23 years was burned to death at her homeon the North Wilson lease six miles north of here, when some crude oil which she had thrown on a kitchen fire exploded. Funeral services for the woman were held this afternoon. (El Dorado Times, January 2, 1924)
Mrs. Sarah J. Seymour, aged about eighty-six years a pioneer resident of Butler County and former city treasurer, of El Dorado died at 10:30 o'clock Saturday evening at the Methodist Home at Topeka after an illness of a few days caused by a severe cold.
The body was brought to El Dorado late this afternoon by U. G. Brown, secretary of the home. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, but the exact hour and place had not been determined this morning. Burial however, will be made in West Cemetery by the side of her husband, who died a number of years ago.
Mrs. Seymour came to Butler county in the early seventies. She and Mr. Seymour conducted the old Snow Hotel, directly north of where Browne Meat Market now stands, for several years. They then purchased a farm in Rosalia Township and lived on it for several years. Later they went to Douglass, where they managed a hotel, and then returned to El Dorado.
About four years ago, Mrs. Seymour, who had been totally blind for several years and was living by herself in the home now occupied by Mrs. E. R. Oldfield, on West Central Avenue, was sent to the Mother Bickerdyke Home, at Ellsworth. She remained there until December 20, last, when she went to the Methodist Home, at Topeka.
Mrs. Seymour was well known in El Dorado. She was one of the few women who had served as city treasurer here. She also was a leading worker in the Methodist Church and a prominent W. C. T. U. leader.
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour had only one child, Herbert Seymour, who died at Denver, Colo., several years ago.
The W. E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company is in charge of the body. (El Dorado Times, January 7, 1924)
The body of Mrs. Seymour, who was a pioneer of Butler County arrived in El Dorado late yesterday afternoon. It was taken to the parlors of the El Dorado Undertaking Company by the Turner Company, because the latter concern is not allowed to use its new funeral home until a hearing is held on an action which has been started against it in the Butler County District Court by nearby property owners. (January 8, 1924)
Funeral services over the body of Mrs. Sarah J. Seymour, who died at the Methodist Home at Topeka, Saturday night, were held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Methodist Church. Rev. C. A. Kitch, pastor of the church; Rev. C. E. King of Wichita former pastor of the church; and Rev. U. G. Brown, of the Methodist Home, conducted the funeral services. Burial was made in the West Cemetery. The W. E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company was in charge of the body. (El Dorado Times, January 8, 1924)
Dr. R. M. Smiley, a well known resident of Augusta, who has been ill for several weeks, died this morning at the Augusta Hospital. No funeral arrangements had been made at an early hour this afternoon.
J. F. Densford, owner of the Dunsford Funeral Home, at Augusta, who was here looking after the business of the El Dorado Undertaking Company, during the absence of C. L. Seed, owner, went to Augusta at noon to take charge of Dr. Smiley's body.
Dr. Smiley became ill during the fall. He had been at the Augusta Hospital several weeks. Little hope had been held out for his recovery for several days. Last week he underwent a blood transfusion and he appeared to be improving. Yesterday it was found necessary however, to operate on him. His death followed this morning. (El Dorado Times, January 8, 1924)
A telephone call from Augusta this afternoon was to the effect that the funeral services over the body of Dr. Smiley will be held at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Several El Doradoans are planning to attend.
Funeral services had not been completed at noon today over the body of Dr. R. M. Smiley, well known Augusta dentist, who died at the Augusta Hospital about 11 o'clock yesterday morning after an illness of a number of weeks. It is probable the services, however, will not be held until tomorrow afternoon. The Masonic Lodge will have charge of the burial.
The funeral services will be held at the Smiley home. Rev. J. C. Fisher, pastor of the Augusta Methodist Church, will officiate. The body will be placed in the mausoleum at Elmwood Cemetery, near Augusta.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Rhea M. Smiley, he is survived by his aged mother, Mrs. N. E. Smiley, Sover, Mo.; four sisters, Mrs. John Wahler and Mrs. Jake Morris, Stover, Mo., Mrs. George Berkstresser and Mrs. Orva Sandford, Versailles, Mo.; three brothers, Hugh Smiley, Versailles, Mo.; B. O. Smiley, Houston, Tex.; John Smiley, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. Smiley was 46 years old. He was well and most favorably known by a large number of El Doradoans. (El Dorado Times, January 9, 1924)
Two months after his son Oral White aged about thirty two years, was buried in a small Wyoming town, John White, a pioneer resident of the Douglass Community, has been informed of his death. News of the accidental death of Young White was received by the father last night according to a telephone communication from Douglass to Sheriff Newt Purcell about 2 o'clock this afternoon.
The parson at Douglass who called Sheriff Purcell said that C. S. Selmon who is believed to live at 411 North Topeka Street here helped care for the body of Young White. Selmon is a truck driver and is said to have been in Wyoming when Young White was killed. Sheriff Purcell initiated a search at once for Selmon.
The cause of Young White's death is not known. It is said however, that every effort was made at the time to locate relatives of the dead man. It wasn't until the latter part of this week however, that it became known in the Wyoming town that White formerly lived at Douglass. (El Dorado Times, January 14, 1924)
The death of Oral White aged about thirty two years most of his life a resident of the Douglass community, which occurred at Lavoy, Wyo., about two months ago, was caused by an accidental shooting, according to C. S. Selmon, El Dorado Truck Driver.
News of the death of Young White was received by his father, John White, at Douglass, Sunday evening. Sheriff Newt Purcell was informed of it yesterday afternoon and was told Mr. Selman could tell of the details. A deputy sheriff immediately found Mr. Selmon and he gave the officers all the information he had on it. Mr. Salmon was near Levoy at the time of the shooting.
The body of Young White was buried after the officers at Lavoy spent several days attempting to locate some of his relatives. No trace of them was found until Sunday. Before going to Wyoming to work, Young White lived at Mulvane.
According to Mr. Selmon, a man is being held in jail at Lavoy on a charge of shooting Young White. He will be tried for murder at the next term of court at that place. Lavoy is a small town in the oil fields near Casper, Wo. (El Dorado Times, January 15, 1924)
PIONEER OF SOUTH BUTLER IS DEAD
BULLETIN: Funeral services over the body of Mrs. Rigg will be held at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Leon Methodist Church. Rev. S. C. Foster, pastor, officiating.
Mrs. Miranda Rigg, aged 73 years, a resident of Little Walnut Township for the past fifty years, died at her home at Leon at 7 o'clock Saturday evening, after an illness of four weeks caused by heart trouble.
No funeral services have been arranged, but it was stated this morning they probably will be held tomorrow. Burial will be made in the Quito Cemetery, near Leon. The body of Mrs. Riggs is being held at the parlors of the El Dorado Undertaking Company pending the completion of funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Rigg was one of the well known pioneers of the south part of the county. She and her husband, T. T. Rigg, took a homestead in Little Walnut Township fifty years ago, coming here from Indiana. Mr. Rigg died in 1914.
Mrs. Rigg was born at Princeton, Ind., on July 2, 1852, and had she lived until Wednesday, would have been 73 years old.
Mrs. Rigg is survived by foursons, P. D. Rigg, both of Leon; F. C. Rigg, of Hillsdale, Mich.; one daughter, Mrs. D. I. Powell, of Alberta, Can.; and 16 grandchildren.
Mrs. Rigg was a member of the Methodist Church.
(El Dorado Times ~ 30 June 1924)
PIONEER RESIDENT OF SPRING IS DEAD
John B. Smock, Retired Farmer and Oil Man, Succumbed Yesterday
James B. Smock, aged 84 years, a resident of Butler County for the past fifty years, and on whose farm, seven miles south of El Dorado, the well known Smock Oil Pool was opened several years ago, died at 1:40 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, after an illness of four months. The body is being held at the Byrd Brothers Funeral Home, 200 South Star Street. It will be taken to the Smock home tomorrow morning.
Funeral services will be held at the Smock home at 2 o'cock tomorrow afternoon. They will be ini charge of Rev. Neal Overman, pastor of the Methodist Church at Leon. The body will be placed in the Augusta Mausoleum.
Mr. Smock was one of the well known pioneers of the community south of El Dorado. He and his family came to Butler County in 1874, locating on the Cave Spring farm, and later moving from there to the present home, where it has resided since.
Mr. Smock was the last of the pioneer settlers of Spring Township and was closely associated with the early life of the ocunty. It was through him and his son's efforts that oil production was developed south of El Dorado.
Mr. Smock was highly respected and loved by all who knew him, and his friends are legion. His death, though not unexpected, was a shock to his relatives and friends as he was not seriously ill until an hour before his death. The deceased was born on December 15, 1839, at Meadville, Pa. He grew to manhood in that community. He was married on February 11, 1865 to Miss Rosepha McIntyre, at Beloit, Wisc. To this union, one son, Charles Asa, was born. In addition to his widow and son, Mr. Smock is survived by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Charles Asa Smock, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Pallbearers for Mr. Smock tomorrow follow: Ed Marshall, J. P. Leedy, T. A. Rutherford, U. G. Kennedy, Charles
Iricks and Elmer Covert.
(El Dorado Times ~ 12 May 1924)
BRICKLEY, MRS. CHARLES W. ~ (Mary B. Morris Brickley)
DIES AFTER TAKING OVERDOSE MEDICINE
Mrs. Charles W. Brickley Succumbed at Home Here Yesterday
Mrs. Charles W. Brickley, aged 32 years, died at her home, 416 West Seventh Avenue, about 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, from the effects of accidentally taking an overdose of medicine early in the morning. She became violently
ill shortly before 10 o'clock, when she was found unconscious and in a convulsion on he bed. Between that hour
and the time of her death she suffered 14 convulsions, it was stated this morning.
When a physician was called to the home of Mrs. Brickley immediately after she was found unconcious, she was recovering
from the first convulsion. It was believed she would improve, but shortly she became seriously ill a second time.
Two physicians worked over the woman for more than three hours, but efforts to save her life were in vain.
Mrs. Brickley had lived in Greenwood and Butler Counties all her life. She was born on September 27, 1891, in Green
County. Mr. Brickley is section foreman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company on the McPherson Branch.
The body is in charge of the W.E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Brickley is survived by her mother, Mrs. Nancy Morris; three sisters, Mrs. Fannie
Call, Mrs. Anna Lawhon and Miss Ellen Morris, all of El Dorado; and two brothers, John W. Morris and W.R. Morris,
both of Wichita.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Brickley home. Burial will be made in the
West Cemetery.
(El Dorado Times ~ Saturday, 17 May 1924)
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