Dickinson County Obituaries

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OBITUARIES

DICKINSON COUNTY, KANSAS

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
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COOK, SAMUEL M.

Samuel M. Cook, principal of the first county high school in the state of Kansas died last night of pneumonia at his home, 3115 Tracy avenue, after an illness of ten days. From 1880 until 1888, Mr. Cook was principal of the Dickinson County high school at Chapman. He came to Kansas City, in the same year he severed his connection with the Dickinson county schools. He was formerly engaged in the grain business here. A wife and daughter survive him. He was 47 years of age.

The funeral services will be held at 1:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon from the house. Burial will be at Mount Washington cemetery. (The Kansas City Star, February 25, 1904, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

DUNLAP, MARY

Abilene, Kas., July 24. - W. H. Elliott, a farmer of South Dickinson county, was brought home from El Reno overcome by the heat and hardship. Six deaths occurred in the county in the last twenty-four hours, three of them due to the heat. Thomas Murphy, a poor farm inmate, aged 106 years was one. Mrs. Mary Dunlap, a widow living alone near Talmage was found dead in her chair. Today's temperature passed the 100 degree mark at noon with no rain indications. Very little corn can possibly be recover. (The Kansas City Star, July 24, 1901, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

ELLIOTT, W. H.

Abilene, Kas., July 24. - W. H. Elliott, a farmer of South Dickinson county, was brought home from El Reno overcome by the heat and hardship. Six deaths occurred in the county in the last twenty-four hours, three of them due to the heat. Thomas Murphy, a poor farm inmate, aged 106 years was one. Mrs. Mary Dunlap, a widow living alone near Talmage was found dead in her chair. Today's temperature passed the 100 degree mark at noon with no rain indications. Very little corn can possibly be recover. (The Kansas City Star, July 24, 1901, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

Fritz, Harry O. {Obert}
From Abilene Reflector Chronicle, Abilene, Kansas (no proof of date: death date 2 Jan 1981)
HARRY O. FRITZ
Harry O. Fritz, 93, died Friday afternoon in the Abilene Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 23, 1887 in Abilene the son of Henry and Pheobe Hurr Fritz.
He attended the Abilene schools and continued his education in Chicago and New York were he studied piano and voice.
Most of his adult life was spent in the field of teaching music and participating in musical activities. For many years he made his home in Mountain Home, Ark. He also worked as a Realtor.
He returned to Abilene to make his home at the Sunflower Apartments in 1975. He was a veteran of W.W. I and was a 50 year member of the American Legion.
He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church at Mountain Home.
Survivors include a great nephew; Bill Jeffcoat, of Abilene and several nieces; among whom are Mrs. Florence Ann
Buenning, Marilyn Fritz, Thelma Foster, Pat Salem, and Mrs. Harlan Murphy.
Funeral services will be held at the Martin Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Monday with Rev. John Decker officiating.
Burial will be in the Abilene Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Abilene City Band and may be left at the Martin Funeral Home.

FRITZ, Henry Clay
Henry Fritz, Abraham Brown and H.W. Thompson Passed Away Wednesday within a period of only a few hours apart. Three of the county's and city's pioneers passed away.

Henry Clay Fritz, aged 73 years, died at 3:30 o'clock after a prolonged illness. He leaves a wife and five children.

From an Abilene newspaper (no proof of date) Died April 12, 1916

Fritz, Phoebe Hurr
From Abilene Weekly Reflector, Abilene, Kansas, February 3, 1927.
MRS. PHOEBE FRITZ
Phoebe Herr was born in Williamsport, Pa. July 4, 1847, and died January 19, 1927 at her home in Abilene, Kansas.
December 24, 1863 she was married to Henry C. Fritz, who was a recruit in the Civil war. Ten children were born to them, five having preceded them in death. Her husband died in 1916.
In 1871 she came with her family to Abilene, Kansas, where they took a claim on 160 acres of land twenty miles south of town. Ten years later they moved to Abilene.
She was a devoted member of the Abilene Grace Reformed Church. Her thoughtfulness of her many friends was lovingly shown by visiting them, especially those who were unable to get out.
She is survived by five children Mrs. Lucy Jeffcoat, Charles, Willard and Harry of Abilene, and Mrs. Ruth Van Horne of Salina; twelve grand children and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday Afternoon, January 23 in the Grace Reformed Church, the Rev. A.R. Von Gruenigen officiating.
Burial was in Abilene cemetery.
CARD OF THANKS
We extend our sincere thanks to the friends for their kindness and sympathy shown us during our bereavement and for the many beautiful flowers. - The Children

Jeffcoat, Alice Van Horne
VENTURA, CA - Alice V. Jeffcoat, 88, died Saturday at the Ventura hospital after a long illness.
She was born on July 8, 1893 in Lindsborg. She went to Ventura County 48
years ago after living in Abilene.
She was a saleswoman for 35 years, having last worked for Althea's Shop in Ventura. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ventura and Eastern Star Chapter 11 of Abilene.
Surviving are a son Jack Jeffcoat, Hawthorne; one daughter, Jane Foote, Ventura; and four grandchildren.
The graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in ivy Lawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Charles Simmons officiating. Burial will follow.
The Charles Carroll Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Alice Van Horne Jeffcoat married Frank Leslie Jeffcoat who was born 1 Feb 1879, Cheever Twp., Dickinson County, KS.

Abilene Reflector-Chronicle: October 23, 1981

Jeffcoat, Averil Althea

Averil Althea Jeffcoat
The Abilene Daily Reflector, Monday October 7, 1940
Averil Althea Jeffcoat, daughter of L.E. and Lucy B. Jeffcoat was born in Abilene, Kansas, July 25, 1904. She attended school here and was graduated from high school and the Kansas Teachers college at Pittsburg, Kansas. She taught in the public school at Hill City, Kansas, and was instructor in English and dramatic art in Junior high of Arkansas City. Later she returned to Abilene and taught in the high school and for the past ten years she has taught in Lincoln school. She took additional work at the University of Kansas and at Northwestern University. Her work was her life and she loved her pupils and her work with them.
She was united with the Presbyterian church when a young girl, and was always interested and helpful in her church.
Averil departed this life, following a brief illness, October 2nd, and leaves to mourn her loss, her mother, Mrs. L.B. Jeffcoat, two brothers, Melvin and Paul and one sister, Mrs. W.D. Burcham, and many friends.
Funeral services were held at the Eicholtz chapel Friday afternoon, with Dr. David Townley in charge. Soft music was played on the piano before and after the service by Roberta Townley.
The pallbearers were W.C. Robinson, Tom Hageman, Grant Page, Kenneth Rock, J. Earl Endacott and Lowell Leatherman.
Interment was in the Abilene cemetery.

Jeffcoat, Lucy Bell Fritz

Lucy Bell Fritz Jeffcoat
The Abilene Daily Reflector, 24 April 1950
Lucy B. Fritz Jeffcoat, daughter of Henry and Phoebe Fritz, was born at Williamsport, Pa., June 9, 1871. Her family came to Kansas in 1871. Mrs. Jeffcoat was very young and came with her mother on the train, passing through Chicago at the time of the big fire. Her father had proceeded his family the year before. They went immediately to a farm near Hope, where they lived about ten years, moving to Abilene, where she had since resided.
Her early education was received in the district school and later in Abilene. On December 28, 1893, she was united in marriage to Lawson E. Jeffcoat, and into their home came five children, Melvin, Paul, Pauline, Elliott and Averil. The last two having preceded her in death. Also, her husband, who died May 17, 1930.
Mrs. Jeffcoat got a great deal of joy out of life. Her family came first and she was interested in the community and its
advancement. Her family being one of the early settlers, they were interested in all community life and seeing its progress.
At the time of her death, she was a member of the Presbyterian church, Order of the Eastern Star and the Twentieth Century club. All of these she attended until illness came to her.
She leaves to mourn her loss, her children, Mr. & Mrs. M.E. Jeffcoat, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Jeffcoat, Mrs. Pauline Burcham, three grandchildren, Paul W. Jeffocat, Richard E. Jeffcoat, and Carlyn Ann Burcham, one sister, Mrs. Fred Van Horne of Salina and one brother, Harry O. Fritz, of Melbourne, Arkansas, along with many other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Jeffcoat slipped quietly away after quite a long illness, Wednesday afternoon, April 19, about five o clock.
Funeral services were held from the Tufts Danner Funeral home, Saturday afternoon, April 22, at 2:30 with Dr. David
Townley, pastor of the Presbyterian church in charge. Mrs. Russell Worman was at the organ and played several of the old favorite hymns, including Going Home.
The pallbearers were: W.K. Phillips, Howard Sidener, Charles Ingersoll, Herbert Howard, Harold Royer and Ira Coppock.
Interment was in the Abilene cemetery.

GIBSON, JAMES A. CAPTAIN

Chapman, Kan., Nov. 26 - Captain James A. Gibson, died at his hom ein this at 12 o'clock last night.

Captain Gibson was a native of Ohio and came to this county at an early day and settled on a farm on Chapman Creek, one mile from town, where he has lived until a few years ago, when he moved to the city, and has lived there since. He was Captain in the Forty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry and brother of General Gibson who died a few years ago at Tiffin, Ohio. He was a member of Chapman Post G. A. R., No. 363. The interment will take place tomorrow at Indian Hill cemetery. The services will be conducted by the post.

Mr. Gibson leaves a wife and one son.(The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, November 29, 1898, page 8, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

HEMENWAY, M. C.

Hope, Kas., Aug. 3 - M. C. Hemenway, editor of the Hope Dispatch for thirty years, died this afternoon from apoplexy. He was stricken while on the street and was taken to his home, where he died shortly afterwards. He was a pioneer of southern Dickinson County and a well known editor of Central Kansas and a member of the Kansas Editorial Association. (The Kansas City Star, August 4, 1920, page 6, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

HOPKINS, J. A.

Abilene, Kas., Jan. 8 - J. A. Hopkins, one of Dickinson County's early settlers and father of Z. G. Hopkins, superintendent of the state employment bureau died this morning. (The Kansas City Star, January 8, 1914, page 4, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

MURPHY, THOMAS

Abilene, Kas., July 24. - W. H. Elliott, a farmer of South Dickinson county, was brought home from El Reno overcome by the heat and hardship. Six deaths occurred in the county in the last twenty-four hours, three of them due to the heat. Thomas Murphy, a poor farm inmate, aged 106 years was one. Mrs. Mary Dunlap, a widow living alone near Talmage was found dead in her chair. Today's temperature passed the 100 degree mark at noon with no rain indications. Very little corn can possibly be recover. (The Kansas City Star, July 24, 1901, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

PHERSON, JOHN

Abilene, Kan., November 18 - John Pherson, a leading farmer of Dickinson county, was kicked by a horse while leading it to water yesterday, and died last night in great pain. He leaves a wife and four children. (Kansas Weekly Capital and Farm Journal, November 23, 1893, page 8, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

PECK, HOWARD J.

Hope, Kas., July 31, - Harold J. Peck, one of the leading teachers of South Dickinson county, died suddenly this morning of appendicitis. He attended the institute two weeks ago and was one of those who secured certificate. (The Kansas City Star, August 1, 1897, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

SELLARDS, J. T.

Abilene, Kas., Dec. 7 - J. T. Sellards, representative from Dickinson County, died this morning following an operation. He served his first term in the legislature last session and was a large landowner at Solomon and vice-president of the State Bank at that place. He leaves a widow and family. (Kansas City Star, December 7, 1917, page 3, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

Van Horne, Ruth Ellen Fritz

Ruth Ellen Fritz Van Horne
From The Salina Journal, Salina, Kansas. (No proof of date)
MRS. FRED J. VAN HORNE
Mrs. Ruth Ellen Van Horne, 74, 121 S. Oakdale, died at 6:10 am Monday in St. John's Hospital.
Mrs. Van Horne was born Jan. 2, 1885, at Abilene and had lived in this vicinity all her life.
Surviving are the widower, Fred J.; two sons, Verlyn, 600 N. Ohio, and Vaughn F., Battle Creek, Mich; a brother, Harry O. Fritz, Mountain Home, Ark.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 2pm at the Guy R. Ryan Sons Mortuary, the Very Rev. Frederic W. Litchman officiating.
Burial will be in Gypsum Hill cemetery.
Friends may call at the mortuary.

WHITEHAIR, JOHN

Abilene, Kas., Nov. 24 - John Whitehair, the richest farmer in Dickinson County, died last night of apoplexy. He owned more than a thousand acres in the Smoky Hill Valley. (The Weekly Kansas City Star, November 24, 1919, page 3, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

WICK, J. N.

Abilene, Kas., Feb. 16 - J. N. Wick, 77 years old, a pioneer of Dickinson County, died here yesterday. He was a native of Pennsylvania and a Civil War veteran. He settled in Kansas in 1875. (Kansas City Star, February 16, 1917, page 13, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

YORHAM, SAMUEL

Abilene, Kans., Dec. 30 - The oldest citizen in Dickinson county died this week near Hope. Samuel Yorham, aged 108 years, four months.

Mr. Yorham was born in Yorkshire, England, August 20th, 1783, and served several years in the English Army. He then went to Canada, thence to Illinois and from there he came to Kansas. He has been well up to a short time before his death. He has voted the republican ticket regularly ever since his residence here, which is doubt unaccounted for his extreme longevity. (Kansas Weekly Capital and Farm Journal, January 4, 1894, page 2, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

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Updated: March 1, 2008