Mixed Obits for Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

Butler County, Kansas

GRAHAM, F. W.

F. W. Graham, 421 West Locust Avenue, a resident of El Dorado for the past 30 years, died here yesterday afternoon after an illness of two years. Mr. Graham was unmarried and lived alone. He was 86 years old.

Previous to his coming to El Dorado he had resided near Baltimore before the Civil War and from there went to Canada where he remained until 1879. From there he went to Iowa where he engaged in farming for 15 years and then removed to Oklahoma where he was connected with the coal business. Following a brief residence in Arkansas City he moved to El Dorado and has resided here since.

Mr. Graham was also employed at the Presbyterian Church here for a period of 15 years. He had become a familiar figure to El Doradoans during his long residence here and his death will be mourned by a large number of acquaintances.

Only two sisters are known to survive and their names and addresses are unknown.

Funeral services will be held at the Byrd Funeral Home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Rev. Fred W. Condit, pastor of the Christian Church, officiating. Interment will be made in West Cemetery. (El Dorado Times, December 31, 1932)

Funeral services for F. W. Graham, aged El Doradoan, who died here Friday were held at the Byrd Funeral Home yesterday afternoon with Rev. Fred W. Condit, pastor of the Christian Church.

Mrs. Roy Morris and Mrs. Harry Campbell, sang "Rock of Ages," "Something We'll Understand" and "There is a Home Eternal." Mrs. Campbell played. Pallbearers were: G. M. Hawley, Fred Clark, Creed Hamilton, Albert Peffley, F. M. Smith and Will Powers. Interment was made in West Cemetery. (El Dorado Times, January 4, 1933)

HUDSON, EDGAR (ED)

Edgar (Ed) Hudson, 90, of 209 South Gordy, an El Dorado resident since 1917, died March 7 in Allen Memorial Hospital. He had been in failing health the past year.

He was born September 8, 1879 in Harrison, Ark., and was married to Jeanette Metcalf February 9, 1908 at Crane, Mo. She died in January 1965. Prior to retirement in 1947, Mr. Hudson owned and operated the El Dorado Transfer and Storage Company.

A short time before his 90th birthday anniversary last September Mr. Hudson was honored at an open house in the Fellowship hall of the First Christian church.

He is survived by one son and three daughters, Fred Hudson, Manteno, Ill.; Mrs. George Grosch (Georgia Lee), 811 North Taylor, Mrs. Frank M. Sutton (Maeabelle), New Orleans, La., and Mrs. E. J. Landers (Marietta), Olympia, Wash. There are 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons who died in infancy; a daughter Bernice who died January 14, 1933, and ten brothers and sisters.

The Rev. W. Frank Aten pastor of the First Christian Church officiated at services Wednesday in the Dietz-Pittman Colonial Chapel. Mrs. H. W. Bullerdiek played organ selections. Casket bearers were Edward Grosch, Richard Grosch, Larry Grosch, Ted Cory, Duane Fisk and Clyde Erdwien. Interment was in Sunset Lawns. (El Dorado Times Nov. 12, 1970)

Funeral services for Ed Hudson, as previously reported, will be held Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 at the Dietz Pittman Colonial Chapel. Mr. Hudson, who was in his 91st year and who had been a resident of El Dorado for 53 years, died Saturday, March 7 at Allen Memorial Hospital. He ranked among the most respected citizens of the community. On August 24 of last year, he was honored by a reception at the First Christian church to celebrate his 90th birthday, which came on September 8, 1969. Memorials have been established in his name at the First Christian Church and the Four Seasons Nursing center. (El Dorado Times, March 10, 1970)

Ed Hudson, whose 90th birthday last year was the occasion for one of El Dorado's finest observances, came to the end of his journey Saturday. His robust health that had carried him through the storm and stress of so many years, failed him at last. He had been a resident of El Dorado and a marked figure in its progress ever since the early days of oil development. He came here in 1917 and was busily engaged thereafter in the hauling and transfer business.

Mr. Hudson's birth date was September 8, but the big community party in his honor was held on Sunday, August 24, 1969, at the Christian Church. There his children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and all the neighbors and friends he had won by the force of his strong and admirable character joined in the happy celebration. Members of his family had chosen this date so all relatives, including children could be present - and it proved to be one of the gayest occasions ever. Fortunately, Mr. Hudson was in good health at the time and joined heartily in all the festivity.

At that time, the outstanding events of his long life were reviewed, and much praise was voiced and written for the sterling record which Mr. Hudson had achieved and for the sturdy manhood which he personified. It must be a solid comfort now for his family to know that he heard - and deeply appreciated - all the golden opinions which were then expressed for his long and useful life. This was an apt case of scattering flowers during an honored one's lifetime.

So Ed Hudson went to his eternal sleep knowing that he was held in high regard for the achievements he had wrought during his stay on earth. (El Dorado Times, March 11, 1970)

HUDSON, JEANNETTE

Mrs. Jeannette Hudson, 77, Los Angeles, Calif., a former El Doradoan died there Saturday.

Born Jan. 1, 1888, at Crane, Mo., she came to El Dorado with her family in May of 1917. She lived here and in Wichita before moving to California several years ago.

She was a member of the El Dorado First Christian Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. George Grosch, El Dorado, Mrs. F. M. Sutton, New Orleans, La., and Mrs. E. J. Landers, Monrovia, Calif., a son, Fred, Markham, Ill.; two sisters, Mrs. Cliff Williams, Crane and Mrs. Earl Blackwell, Boulder, Colo., 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Bernice Hudson.

Funeral services and burial will be held Wednesday at Los Angeles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church here. (El Dorado Times, January 26, 1965)

KLONTZ, ARTHUR C.

Arthur C. Klontz, 52, shot and fatally wounded himself at his home at 714 South Star shortly before noon today.

An inquest called at the scene by Dr. B. E. White, county coroner, ruled Klontz's death suicide.

The shooting took place in the kitchen of the Klontz home after he had purchased a single shot rifle in an El Dorado department store this morning and returned home.

Deputy Sheriff Forrest Richards said shortly after Klontz returned home, carrying the .22 caliber rifle and a box of shells, a daughter ran to the home of Sterling Oaks, 712 South Star and told him her father was threatening to shoot himself.

Oaks ran to the Klontz house Richards related, heard a shot from the inside and then returned to his own home and called for an ambulance and police officers. Oaks went back to the Klontz residence, stepped to the door, and saw Klontz lying on the floor of the kitchen.

Richards said the slug from the rifle struck Klontz in the forehead.

Mrs. Klontz and her children had gone to the Oaks home when her husband threatened to take his life, Richards said. Klontz was the only occupant of the house at the time.

Klontz reportedly had threatened at least once previously to take his own life.

Police, sheriff's officers and highway patrolmen and an ambulance answered the call.

Klontz was employed as a carpenter by the Fredrick Construction Company. The body was removed to the Kirby Funeral Home. (El Dorado Times, August 3, 1959)

MELLOTT, ROBERT

Eight month old Robert Mellott lost his fight for life yesterday afternoon at St. Luke's Hospital. For more than three weeks he had struggled against the slow poisons, resulting from the burns he received when he upset a teakettle of scalding water on himself. When he was brought to the hospital, three weeks ago today, the doctors who cared for him had little hope of saving his life. Tenaciously clinging to the slender thread of existence, the baby began to show signs of improvement as the burns began to heal.

Yesterday morning little Robert's doctor thought the child had a fair chance to win the battle against the ever increasing poison in the blood stream. The effort was too great and the baby wearied by three weeks of suffering died at 4:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Mellott, live on the Ramsey Lease, north of town. The accidental scalding of the baby occurred when the mother set a teakettle of water on the floor and left the room for a few moments. The baby upset the water on himself while the mother's back was turned for a second.

The funeral arrangements have not been completed by Smith Brothers, funeral directors, of Whitewater who have charge of the body. (El Dorado Times, March 8, 1928)

MORGAN, OLGA

Mrs. Alfred (Olga) Morgan, 82, 516 North Ohio, died this morning at her home. She had been ill for the past 17 months.

The funeral has been set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Dietz Carlson Colonial Chapel. Burial will be in Sunset Lawns cemetery.

Mrs. Morgan was born April 17, 1892, in Nebraska and came here from DeWitt, Neb.

On June 21, 1918, she was married to Alfred Morgan in El Dorado. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Lois Circle.

Survivors are her husband, one daughter, Mrs. Margaret Witherspoon, Atwater, Calif., two sisters, Mrs. Vena Ammerman, Scotia, Neb., and Mrs. Elfrieda Shaffer, Battle Creek, Mich., and three grandsons.

She was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. (El Dorado Times, Friday, December 27, 1974 page 3)

WILLIS, LYLE J.

Lyle J. Willis, 70, of Rote 2, died Saturday afternoon at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Dietz-Carlson Colonial Chapel with burial in Resthaven Cemetery at Wichita.

Mr. Willis was born May 11, 1908 at Valley Center, Iowa, the son of Joseph B. and Nora Mae Needham Willis. He was married to Enid Maynard Oct. 29, 1940 at Nebraska City, S.D. They came to El Dorado from Iowa in 1952 and he was employed at the Skelly Refinery until his retirement in 1960. He was a member of the Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Donald Willis of Atlanta, Ga., a daughter, Mrs. Wendell (Betty) Capener of Spencer, Iowa; two half-brothers, Robert and Joseph Willis of Dubuque, Iowa, and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Danny Leroy and a brother.

A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society. Contributions may be left at the funeral home or sent to Mrs. Kenneth Fisher, 611 West Ash. (El Dorado Times, September 25, 1978)