Lyon County, Kansas
Obituaries
~ R ~
Lorene I. Rhodes of Madison, mother of Leonard
Rhodes of
Services are pending at the Wilson Funeral Home in
The funeral for longtime
The family suggests that, instead of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Central Christian Church or
Hand in Hand Hospice and sent in care of the funeral home,
She owned and operated the launderette in
The daughter of Philip and Annie Jager Sauder, she was born
She married Lester Rhodes on
Mrs. Rhodes was a member of the Central Christian Church in
She is survived by one son, Leonard Rhodes of
Charles Roy Rector died yesterday afternoon at his home in Emporia. He was born in Wellington, Kan., October 1885. He was married to Catherine VanGundy, September 7, 1910, and Mrs. Rector, with their 9-month-old son, survives; also his mother, Mrs. I. J. Rector, and eight sisters, Mrs. Irene Gamble, of Kansas City, Mo.; Miss Clara M. Rector, of Ucon, Idaho; Mrs. H. C. Chambers, Corwith, Iowa; Miss Eva G. Rector, Tempe, Ariz.; Mrs. M. E. Spittler, Emporia; Mrs. John Wermersen, Luverne, Iowa; Mrs. Lafe Theye, of Plymouth; Miss Edna Rector, Emporia; one brother, Earl Rector, of Emporia.
Mr. Rector was a member of the Grace Methodist Church of Emporia, and of the M. W. A. lodge.
No funeral arrangements have been made.
The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon
at 1 o'clock in the Grace Methodist Church, and the services will be conducted by the Rev. J. B. Mackenzie. Interment
will be in Maplewood.
(Emporia Gazette ~ December 24, 1914)
Mrs. Emily E. Robinson, widow of Alfred Robinson,
died from complicated diseases and old age at the home of her son, George Robinson, west of the College on Maplewood
road, and was buried Monday afternoon in the Maplewood cemetery. Rev. Madison conducted the services. Mrs. Robinson
leaves four grown children. Her three sons, George, Henry and Frank were here to the funeral. A daughter lives
in California. The sons, except Frank who is superintendent of schools in a western Kansas town, live in Emporia.
Henry at present is very low with quick consumption.
(Emporia Gazette ~ July 17, 1902)
Mrs. Nettie Randall, aged 17, died at her
home, 13 Elm street Monday. The body was taken to Arkansas City where the funeral services was held.
(Emporia Gazette ~ January 7, 1904)
DEATH OF JACOB ROSS
Jacob Ross died Wednesday afternoon at the home of his son, J. P. Ross, 1010 Neosho street. Mr. Ross was born in Somerset, Pa., October 11, 1809. He moved with his father's family to Ohio when a small boy, and in 1849 went to Illinois and settled on a farm near Princeton, where he reared his family. Later he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and lived with his son, G. W. Ross, until about four years ago, when he came to Emporia and has since resided with the son in whose home he died.
Mr. Ross was a member of the Methodist Protestant church for more than seventy years, and was always kind and considerate of those about him, temperate in his habits, always striving to exemplify the Golden Rule, which was his standard of living. His long life was a well-spent one in the service of God and his fellow men.
Mr. Ross's family now living are W. B. Ross
and J. P. Ross, of Emporia; Frank Ross, Palco, Kans.; Mrs. Mary A. Kurtz, Coffeyville, Kans.; and J. R. Ross, Walnut,
Ills. The body was taken to Illinois and interred in the family cemetery near the farm which was his home so long.
The funeral services were held Friday at 10 o'clock at 1010 Neosho.
(Emporia Gazette ~ February 25, 1904)
The news was received here Saturday that Robert Ruggles died that morning in Oklahoma at 4 o'clock, after a long illness. His mother and brother, Will, were with him when he died.
Rob Ruggles was born and brought up in Emporia. He was a newspaper man and in 1890 and '92 worked on the Gazette. He went to Topeka from Emporia and in 1896 started a Populist paper in Topeka. After that Mr. Ruggles was editor of a Leavenworth paper. For several years he has been in Oklahoma.
Rob Ruggles was the youngest son of Judge Ruggles one of the pioneers of Emporia and who built where the Whitley hotel how stands, one of the first residences here. Robert graduated at the Normal and for several years he and his brother were in the jewelry business in Emporia.
The body was brought to Emporia from Oklahoma Saturday and taken to the home of Dr. J. J. Wright, 929 West street. Mrs. Ruggles and Mr. and Mrs. Will Ruggles accompanied the body. He was buried in the Ruggles lot in Maplewood. Robert Ruggles was about 32 years old and leaves a mother and one brother, Will. Mrs. Will Ruggles is a sister of Mrs. J. J. Wright.
His mother and brother have the sympathy of
every one. Robert was a bright young man, and life seemed to hold much in promise for him.
(Emporia Weekly Gazette ~ March 31, 1904)
Amanda Reed, the 4-year-old child of Mrs.
Palmetta Reed of 126 Sylvan street, died Thursday morning at 11:20 o'clock.
(Emporia Weekly Gazette ~ April 21, 1904)
The funeral of Joseph Rickbaugh was held Thursday
at 2 o'clock p.m., at the First Methodist church. The funeral was in charge of Preston Plumb post, of which Mr.
Rickbaugh was a member. The services were conducted by Rev. John Price. The pallbearers were John Trouth, John
Knox, Henry Giger, Jacob Shock, L. E. Pixley, and D. B. Shuey. Interment was made in Maplewood.
(Emporia Weekly Gazette ~ August 4, 1904)
Llewellyn Rees died at 6 o'clock p.m. Sunday of heart failure at his home four and one-half miles southwest of town. Mr. Rees was fifty-four years ld, and had been sick most of the time for the past few years. He leaves a wife and seven children, five boys and two girls, and there are four brothers and a sister living in the vicinity of Emporia, and a brother in Oregon. The funeral was held Tuesday at the Upper Dry Creek church. Interment was made in the Upper Dry Creek cemetery. Rev. Todd Jones conducted the services, assisted by Rev. R. J. Mathews.
Mr. Rees had lived near Emporia for the past
thirty years. He made two trips to the old country, at one time remaining there several years. He was well-known
here.
(Emporia Weekly Gazette ~ January 4, 1906)
The ten-month-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Bert
Rich died Wednesday and was buried Thursday in Maplewood.
(Emporia Weekly Gazette ~ January 25, 1906)
THE DEATH OF CLYDE ROLES
The body of Clyde Roles, who died in Pueblo, Colo., last Friday, will be brought to Emporia tomorrow afternoon on Santa Fe train No. 6. No funeral arrangements have been made, and the plans for the disposal of the body will not be known until tomorrow, when the members of the family arrive.
Roles was severely scalded about the head and shoulders by a boiler explosion which occurred two weeks ago in the electric light plant, where he was employed as fireman. His friends here were worried over his condition but on Thursday word was received that he was improving. On Friday, David Jones, treasurer of the A.O.U.W. lodge, of which Roles was a member, received a telegram saying that he was dead. No information has been received as to the causes which hastened his death.
Clyde Roles was 22 years old, and was the oldest of a family of seven children. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Roles, is a widow and he contributed chiefly to her support. He was employed here for several years as a hostler at the roundhouse. About a year ago the family moved to Pueblo, where Roles worked in the light plant until his death. He leaves his mother, four sisters, and two brothers. His oldest sister is married.
The explosion which caused the death of Roles
is the seventh which has occurred in this plant with fatal results.
(Emporia Gazette ~ February 8, 1909)
ROLES FUNERAL TOMORROW
The funeral of Clyde Roles will be held tomorrow
at 10 o'clock. The body will arrive this afternoon on Santa Fe No. 6. Mr. Roles met his death in a boiler explosion
last Friday in Pueblo, Colo. In the Gazette's article concerning Mr. Roles last night, the statement was made that
Clyde was the eldest member of the Roles family. There are two brother living older than Clyde. Four sisters and
four brothers survive him.
(Emporia Gazette ~ February 9, 1909)
The funeral services of Mrs. Carl Ricker were
held yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the First Christian church. All announcements had been made for the
funeral to be held from the home, but the storm compelled a change in the plans. A great many friends came through
the storm to pay a last tribute of friendship to the memory of Mrs. Ricker. Rev. W. A. Parker and Rev. R. H. Mize
conducted the services. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. The Christian church choir, composed of
Mrs. Meckel, Miss Achsah Harris, T. M. Iden and David Wooster, furnished the music, and sang several special selections.
The pall-bearers were Dr. G. M. Gafford, W. H. Brooks, E. W. Morris, F. M. Webb, Walter Stowe and H. E. Peach.
(Emporia Gazette ~ February 15, 1909)
S. B. RIGGS DEAD
Stephen Baldridge Riggs died this morning at 10:30 o'clock, at the family home. His death followed a week's sickness with the grip, and this, complicated with heart trouble, brought about his death. For a year he had not been as well as usual, and the first of the year, with Mrs. Riggs, he went to San Antonio, where he remained till two weeks ago. While there his daughters visited him and his stay was a most enjoyable one, but he wanted to be at home and returned in time for some of the trying weather of the early spring. For several days his death has seemed imminent, but it was without suffering, the peaceful passing of a man who had reached the fullness of years, surrounded by his children and relatives, in the town where for two score years he had builded and wrought and loved.
Mr. Riggs was born in West Union, Adams county, Ohio, August 17, 1832. He was the son of Joseph and Rebecca Baldridge Riggs, and one of a family of twelve children, six boys and six girls. The family moved to Hanging Rock, and subsequently to Portsmouth, which place remained the family home during the lifetime of the parents. It was here Mr. Riggs was educated and began his active business life, and it was here in 1853 he was married to Evadna Withers. He chose as his profession that of expert accountant, and was employed first in a large manufacturing establishment, and then as chief clerk on an Ohio river steamboat.
In July, 1869, Mr. Riggs came with his family to Emporia, where he has lived ever since. Howard Dunlap, his nephew, came with him, and the two established the banking firm of Riggs & Dunlap. Mr. Riggs remained in the banking business till 1874, when he acquired a milling property in Peabody. He did not remove his residence from here, but for three years conducted the mill and then engaged in the real estate, loan and abstracting business, in which he remained active till a short time ago.
Mr. Riggs has left the impress of his life on Emporia, for no man of the early settlers, whose ranks are so rapidly thinning, did more to determine the character of the town than he. Reared in the culture and refinement of a Christian home, he brought to the embryo town of those early years the high ideals that, coupled with business ability and industry of the highest type, proved so great a factor in making Emporia a town of schools and churches. He did more, perhaps, than any other man in building the First Presbyterian church here. Giving amply of his means, he secured donations of money and furniture from friends in Portsmouth that made the church a possibility. And to the faith of his youth he remained staunch. Even when discussions arose he stood by the church, and for years the presence of Stephen Riggs in his pew has been as certain almost as the coming of the Sabbath. By the tenets of his creed his life was ordered. As an elder, superintendent of the Sunday school and an active member, he was always prominent in the councils of the church.
And as he was active in the religous life of the town, so was he in the educational realm. When the Kansas synod proposed establishing a college no one did more toward causing that college to be located here. He served as secretary of the first board of trustees of the College, and as a member of the building committee, helped plan the main building of the school. For several terms he was a member of the Normal board of regents, and was one of the building committee that erected the brick building destroyed subsequently by fire.
Six years ago Mr. and Mrs. Riggs celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding, and Mrs. Riggs survives her husband. Mr. Riggs is the first of the brothers and sisters who reached their majority to die, and the exception of a brother who was killed in a railroad wreck. The surviving sisters and brothers are Mrs. Rebecca Kendall of Oakland, Calif.; Mrs. Martha R. Robinson, of Daytona, Fla.; Judge Samuel A. Riggs and Joseph E. Riggs, of Lawrence, both of whom are lawyers well known in Kansas; Charles H. Riggs, of Pittsburg, Pa., connected with the Union Freight lines, and Dr. Alex B. Riggs, a professor in the Cincinnati Theological Seminary. His children are Mrs. Alma Finley, Miss Frances Riggs and Charles N. Riggs, of Emporia, and Mrs. W. A. Gardner, of Chicago, and they, with his brothers, Samuel and Joseph, and Mrs. Riggs, had been with him during the past few days. Mr. Gardner and daughters, Miss Fritz and Miss Olive, arrived this afternoon in their car from Chicago.
The funeral arrangements have been suspended
pending word from the brothers who are not here.
(Emporia Gazette ~ March 18, 1909)
FUNERAL OF S. B. RIGGS
The funeral services of S. B. Riggs will be
held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, in the First Presbyterian church. Rev. S. Grigsby, of that church, will have
charge of the services, and will be assisted by Rev. J. H. J. Rice of the First Congregational church. Dr. Alex
B. Riggs, of Cincinnati, Ohio, will arrive tomorrow noon. Interment will be made in Mpalewood cemetery.
(Emporia Gazette ~ March 19, 1909)
MISS HANNAH ROBERTS DEAD
Miss Hannh O. Roberts died at her home on Mulberry street this morning at 9 o'clock of dropsy. She had been seriously sick but a week, although her general health had not been good for months. The funeral will be held Wednesday, but the hour has not been decided on. Interment will be made in Maplewood cemetery.
Miss Roberts was born in New York state thirty
years ago on May 9. She came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Roberts, to Emporia fifteen years ago, and
has since lived here. She is the fifth child death has taken from Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. The other four died in
New York prior to the family's removal to Kansas. Miss Roberts had no relatives here with the exception of her
father and mother. She was an examplary young woman and a member of the Methodist church. Her death leaves her
father and mother, who are somewhat advanced in age, to live alone. The sympathy of the town is with them in their
affliction.
(Emporia Gazette ~ April 26, 1909)
Plans for the funeral of Miss Hannah O. Roberts
were changed last night and the body was taken this morning to Prospect, N. Y., for interment.
(Emporia Gazette ~ April 27, 1909)
MRS. DELIA F. RICKER DEAD
Mrs. Delia F. Ricker died at her home, 1025 Merchant street, this morning at 1:20 of heart failure. She had been sick for several days. Funeral arrangements have not been made, pending word from a daughter, Mrs. Grace Hayman, who lives in San Francisco, Calif.
Mrs. Ricker, whose maiden name was Miss Delia F. Jennings, was born in North Wayne, Maine, January 11, 1840. She married S. F. Ricker in Charleston, Mass., in 1868, and the couple lived for several years in the New England states. Mrs. Ricker taught school for a few years prior to her marriage. They later moved to Hennepin, Ill., and afterwards to Tama City, Iowa, in which place the three older children, Carl Ricker, Mrs. Grace Hayman, of San Francisco, Calif., and Mrs. W. C. Ashcraft, of Newton, were born. From Iowa, the family moved to Arkansas, where they lived for a short time and where Jesse Ricker, the second son, was born. They moved to Kansas in 1881, settling in Emporia, where Miss Emma Ricker, who is employed in the Rorabaught store, was born. Mr. Ricker died August 18, 1887, and the five children survive the mother.
Mrs. Ricker was a member of the Episcopal
church, of the Women's Relief Corps, of the Eastern Star and of the Pythian Sisters. She had spent much of her
later life in traveling, and was in San Francisco at the time of the earthquake at that place three years ago.
She was a kind neighbor and friend and her sudden death is a shock to her many friends in and around Emporia.
The family has the sympathy of the town in their bereavement.
(Emporia Gazette ~ May 4, 1909)