Mixed Obits for Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

Butler County, Kansas

BLANKENBAKER, MATTIE M.

Mrs. Mattie M. Blankenbaker, died at her home in Glencoe township near Keighley, Wednesday, August 1 of heart disease, aged 72 years. Burial will be in the Baptist cemetery in Glencoe-beside her husband. No announcement of the funeral has been made.

Mrs. Blankenbaker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 27, 1845. She was married to Simeon A. Blankenbaker in Indiana March 29, 1866. They came to Kansas and located on the farm near Keighley, 36 years ago. Mr. Blankenbaker died January 7, 1911. Surviving are these children: Mrs. Jennie Fillmore, Leon; Clinton Blankenbaker, Latham; Mrs. Bernice Butts, Clyde Blankenbaker, Keighley; Mrs. Beryl Evans, Kansas city, Kan. (Walnut Valley Times, August 2, 1917)

BOWMAN, MINNIE

Services were held Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Kirby Funeral Home chapel, for Mrs. Minnie Bowman, of Cassoday, who died January 8 at the Valley View nursing center. She had been a resident of the Cassoday area for the past 64 years.

Mrs. Bowman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Haas, was born August 22, 1876, in New Albany, Ind., and was married on February 14, 1893, in Wichita to Noah Bowman. He died in February of 1952. She was a member of the Cassoday Methodist church.

Survivors are a son, Loyal, Cassoday; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Mueller of Oak Park, Ill., and Mrs. Elizabeth Dillon of Nevada, Mo; two brothers, David Haas of Nevada and Clinton Haas of Lawrence.

The Rev. Donald D. McCracken, pastor of the First Baptist Church officiated. Mrs. H. W. Bullerdiek played an interlude of organ selections.

Casket bearers were Raymond Prewitt, Gerald Bowman, John Bowman and George Bowman. Interment was in Cassoday cemetery. (El Dorado Times, January 16, 1969)

BREIDENSTEIN, LILLIAN

Miss Lillian Breidenstein, a resident of the Rosalia, DeGraff and Cassoday areas since coming to Kansas with her parents in 1887, had lived in Cassoday for the past 64 yaers. She was born October 9, 1878, in Jacksonville, Ill., a daughter of August and Katherine (Fiddler) Breidenstein and died Thursday, Jan. 9 at Allen Memorial Hospital. She had been in failing health for ten years and a resident of Four Seasons Nursing Center for the past two years.

A homemaker, Miss Breidenstein was an avid lover of flowers and had a small greenhouse at her home for years. Her talent as an accomplished seamstress was also noteworthy. She was a member of the Cassoday Christian Church.

Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Ivah (Leo) Westerhaus of Marion; a niece, Mrs. Ed Harmon, El Dorado, and other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Mrs. Rosa Waltman, Mrs. Daisy Wright, Mrs. Glory Hoy and two brothers, Charles and Suel.

Services were held Sunday afternoon in the Dietz Pittman Colonial Chapel with the Rev. John T. Rhoads assistant minister of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Mrs. Earl Hodges played an interlude of organ selections using the "Old Rugged Cross," as the theme.

Casket bearers, nephews of Miss Breidenstein, were Leo Westerhaus Jr., Quenton Westerhaus, Kenneth Hoy, Marshall Hoy, Edward Harmon, Loy Underwood, Marion Reed and Jim Nebergall. Interment was in the Cassoday Cemetery. (El Dorado Times, January 16, 1969)

CAMPBELL, SARAH

Mrs. Sarah Campbell, a pioneer of Sycamore township, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jay Cory in Sedan, Tuesday morning. The body will arrive in El Dorado Tuesday night and be taken to Cassoday, where the funeral will be held Wednesday. Burial will be beside her husband in Sycamore Cemetery.

Mrs. Campbell was the widow of E. W. Campbell, one of the earliest settles in Sycamore township and for a quarter of a century merchant and postmaster. Surviving her are five children, Mrs. Jay Cory, of Sedan; Frank and Arthur Campbell, Wichita, Mrs. Kate Diller, Mrs. Edna Coffelt of Sycamore township. (Walnut Valley Times, January 9, 1917)

COFFELT, ROGER W.

Roger W. Coffelt, 56, of Culver City, Calif., a former resident of Cassoday, died Thursday at Beverly Glen Hospital in that city.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at the Kinglsey Gates mortuary in Culver City. Burial will be in Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood, Calif.

Born at Sycamore Springs, Mr. Coffelt lived at Cassoday until 1935. He moved to California and had lived there since. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Edna Thompson of Los Angeles, a former Cassoday resident; his wife, a daughter, a brother, Lawrence Coffelt of Emporia and four grandchildren. (El Dorado Times, 1969)

DILLER, LULU

Miss Lulu Diller, 80, of Cassoday, a lifelong resident of Sycamore Township, died Wednesday night at Allen Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cassoday United Methodist Church with the Rev. Leonard A. Dale, pastor of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Wichita, officiating. Burial will be in the Cassoday cemetery.

Miss Diller was born near Cassoday on July 26, 1888. She lived all her life on a farm near that town. The daughter of pioneer settlers in northeast Butler county, she was preceded in death by six sisters, and three brothers.

She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church of Wichita and of the Cole Creek Extension Homemakers Unit.

She is survived by 18 nieces and nephews.

The Kirby Funeral Home is in charge. (El Dorado Times, Dec. 19, 1968)

HARSH, ROBERT ROSS

Services for Robert Ross Harsh, Cassoday, route one, whose death occurred Friday, Feb. 28, were held Sunday in the Cassoday United Methodist Church. The Rev. Gary Harms officiated, Mrs. Earl Hodges was the accompanist for Mrs. Herman Miller, Jr., who sang "Beautiful Isle," and "Beyond the Sunset." The casket bearers were R. Neal Harsh, Wilbur Whitham, Warren Whitham, Tom McKown, Harold Biggs of Wichita and Ralph Prewitt. Honorary bearers were Earl Hodges, Merlyn C. Andrew, Frank Robinson, Paul Johnson, John Fritzsinger, Leonard Conner, Kenneth Pippin, Richard Goering, D. L. Barrier and Kenneth Hoy. Interment was in Cassoday Cemetery. The Kirby Funeral Home was in charge.

Mr. Harsh, a farmer and stockman, was born August 25, 1887, at Sycamore Springs, now Cassoday and was married to Velma Robison at Holton, August 25, 1921. He was the son of Leonard and Mary Martha (Bowman) Harsh. He had been a resident of Cassoday his entire life. Mr. Harsh was a member of the Cassoday United Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge and Wichita Consistory.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Mary Charlotte Willhite, Leon, one son, Robert L. Harsh, Cassoday and two sisters, Mrs. Marjorie Whitham, Cassoday and Mrs. Fern Wichers, El Dorado, and three grandchildren, Bobby and Terrie Harsh of Cassoday and Kenneth Willhite of Leon. One sister and two brothers preceded him in death. (El Dorado Times, March 6, 1969)

HINDE, STELLA H.

Mrs. Stella H. Hinde, 80, of Cassoday, died Tuesday night at Allen Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cassoday United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Cassoday cemetery.

Born in Ontario, Canada, on Sept. 4, 1889, Mrs. Hinde had lived at Cassoday since 1926, moving there from Kitchener, Ontario. She had resided in El Dorado for the past few years. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1937.

She was married to the late Robert Hinde at Chicago on April 2, 1926. He preceded her in death in January, 1958.

Mrs. Hinde was a member of the Cassoday United Methodist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Calvin Hinde of Cassoday and Marvin Hinde of Florence; a sister, Mrs. Salome Winger of Ontario and five grandchildren.

Three sisters and a brother preceded Mrs. Hinde in death.

The Kirby Funeral Home is in charge. (El Dorado Times, December 1969)

HOY, LENA H.

Mrs. Lena H. Hoy, 77, of Cassoday, a lifelong resident of Butler County, died early today at Allen Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the Cassoday Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Harms of Harper officiating. Burial will be in the Cassoday cemetery.

Mrs. Hoy was born near Chelsea on June 30, 1892, and had lived at Cassoday since 1917. She was married to Henry T. Hoy at El Dorado on Sept. 19, 1912. He preceded her in death in 1956.

Mrs. Hoy was a member of the Cassoday United Methodist church, president of the Woman's Society of Christian Service of that church; a member of the Mutual Helpers Club, Cassoday Extension Homemakers Unit, Butler County Farm Bureau, Grandmother's Club, and of the Golden Age Club. She also served terms on the boards of education for the Cassoday grade and high schools.

Surviving are three sons, John H. Hoy, A. J. Hoy, and Herbert C. Hoy, all of Cassoday, a sister, Mrs. Ivy Neukirch of Towanda; and a brother, Herbert Pippig, 1345 West Olive. There are 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Two sisters and a brother preceded Mrs. Hoy in death.

A memorial in Mrs. Hoy's name has been established with the Cassoday United Methodist Church.

The Kirby Funeral Home is in charge. (El Dorado Times, Dec. 17, 1969)

MILLSAP, MOSES

Moses Wesley Millsap, 84, died at his home in Keighley Wednesday morning after a two weeks illness. The funeral will be held from the Baptist church in Glencoe Township at 10 o'clock Friday. Burial will be in the Baptist Cemetery.

Mr. Millsap was born March 7, 1832, in Indiana. November 18, 1866, in Iowa, he married Miss Sarah Ann Yates, who survives him. Two sons, Charles W. Millsap and Francis M. Millsap, both of Keighley, also survive. He was a member of the Baptist Church and a Civil War veteran. (Walnut Valley Times, January 4, 1917)

POFFINBARGER, CHARLES

Charles Poffinbarger, 49, died at his home 10 miles north of El Dorado on West Branch at 12:30 Tuesday, August 21, 1917 after weeks of illness. The funeral will be held from the home at 10 o'clock Thursday. Burial will be in McGill cemetery south of Potwin. (Walnut Valley Times, August 22, 1917)

PREWITT, GROVER CLEVELAND

Grover Cleveland Prewitt who died August 27 in Arkansas City Memorial Hospital had been a resident of the Cassoday area since 1910. He was a retired farmer and stockman.

Born August 25, 1885 in Valley Center, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Isam Albert Prewitt (Mary Heaton), he was married to Bertha Diffendal November 24, 1920, in El Dorado. He was a member of Joppa Lodge No. 223, AF & AM, Wichita Consistory, elks Lodge and Cassoday Lions Club.

Surviving are Mrs. Prewitt; a daughter, Mrs. Charles Eggen (Ethel Marie) of Arkansas City; two sons, Ralph E. and Raymond N. Prewitt, Cassoday, one sister, Mrs. Estella Hume, Denver, Colo., and eight grandchildren.

The Rev. C. M. Nutter, staff member of the El Dorado First United Methodist Church will officiate at services at 2 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon in the Cassoday United Methodist Church. Mrs. Herman Miller Jr., will sing "Beautiful Isle" and "In the Garden," with Mrs. Earl Hodges as organist. The casket bearers will be Theodore Diffendal, Charles Diffendal, Glen Bell, Delbert Barker, Guy Prewitt and Glen Prewitt. Honorary bearers will be Kenneth Pippin of Augusta, Frank Young, Kenneth Hoy, J. A. Young, Earl Hodges and Charles Dombaugh. Interment will be in Cassoday Cemetery with Masonic rites conducted by members of Joppa Lodge No. 223, AF & AM, Arley M. Kistler, orator. The Kirby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (El Dorado Times, August 29, 1968)

SEWARD, CORA A.

A lifetime resident of Butler County, 95 year old Mrs. Cora A. Seward, 418 West Locust, died January 25. A memorial in her name has been established at First United Methodist Church.

Born March 10, 1876, in Glencoe Township, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Parker (Martha Sinclair). She was married on Feb. 1, 1900, to Freeman W. Seward. Following his death in 1948, she moved from rural Leon to El Dorado in 1949.

She was a lifetime member of the Little Walnut chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Leon. In El Dorado, she was a member of the Mary and Martha Sunday School class and Circle Two of the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Ivan C. and Wayne H. Seward, both of rural Leon, and Freeman M. Seward, Eureka, one daughter, Mrs. Calvin Brown (Ruby), Cheney, 13 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Mrs. Seward was preceded in death by one sister and three brothers.

Rev. C. M. Nutter, a staff member of the First United Methodist church, conducted the services Friday afternoon at Dietz Colonial Chapel. Mrs. George Coulter was organist. Vocalists were Mr. and Mrs. William Anshutz.

Bearers were grandsons of Mrs. Seward; William F. Brown, Robert C. Brown, Marion Paul Seward, Darrell I. Seward, Robert L. Seward, Ernie F. Seward, Freeman G. Seward, and Merlin R. Hodgell.

Interment was in the Little Walnut Cemetery near Leon. (El Dorado times, February 3, 1972)

DOWNED ELECTRIC WIRE KILLS HORSE

Death stalked in the public highway when at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning, Ella May Thompson and her little brothers, Ernest and George, who live three miles south of town, drove their pony into a pool of water in which lay a broken electric wire.

The horse was instantly killed.

The children thought the pony stumbled when he fell on his side and lay on the end of the broken wire until the carcass began to smoke from the heavily charged wire. They then realized the trouble and jumped clear of the buggy to high ground, walked out between the broken wires and escaped injury.

Their escape certainly was miraculous.

The accident happened near the plant of the Midland Refining Co in front of the house on the old Roys farm.

At an early hour Wednesday morning the wire of the Kansas Gas & Electric Co. near the Midland Plant parted and fell. The engineer at the plant saw the break and at once notified the company, but at 8 o'clock no repair had been made.

It was raining hard and it seems one end of the broken cable lay in a pool of water in the roadway and charged it with full load carried by the wire, 23,000 volts. The children were driving to school and when their pony stepped into the water it was killed instantly.

After the children escaped, the body lay on the wire burning as no one dared no near. (Walnut Valley Times, September 26, 1917)

BUSHNELL, TROY CHAD

EL DORADO - Bushnell, Troy Chad, 31, Lafarge diesel mechanic, died Thursday , July 6, 2006. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2006, Carlson Funeral Home. Survivors include, wife, Angela, of the home; son, Jason Hodge, of the home; daughters, Angel and Haley Hodge, both of the home; parents, Robert and Nellie Bushnell of Andover; brothers, Todd and Shawn Bushnell, both of Andover; sister, Sharon Smith and husband Terry of Wichita; nephews, Brent (Crystal) Smith, Joshua Smith; niece, Jennifer Smith; great-niece, Savannah Smith; and several aunts and uncles. Troy loved motorcycles, the outdoors, and most of all, he loved his family and many friends, who will greatly miss him. A memorial has been established to help the family with funeral expenses in care of Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 7/10/2006.

BROWN, EVERETT

EVERETT BROWN, 88, of 120 W. 8th, Andover, retired farmer and Butler County assessor, died Friday. Service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Downing & Lahey Mortuary.

Survivor: son, Ronald E. of Wichita; daughters, Mildred Smith, Lola Custer Schrahl, Nellie Bushnell, Laura Coss, all of Andover; brothers, Arthur, Leonard, both of Wichita, Lloyd of Poway, Calif.; sisters, Irene and Elva Brown, both of Wichita; 13 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren. Downing & Lahey Mortuary.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 1 Dec 1985)