SEDGWICK COUNTY, KANSAS
OBITS
SEGER, ALMA
DIED FROM A ANT BITE
The other day at Wichita, Kansas. Alma Seger, a pretty school teacher, was bitten by an ant on the face.
She went insane in a few hours and died of hydrophobia late the same afternoon.
Miss Seger was attempting to open the window when the ant ran out of a hole and bit her.
It was of the big red species.
The physicians said the ants bite caused her to go insane, and she died in spasms.—Ex.
Date: 1898-12-08; Paper: Weekly Phoenix Herald - submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer
A. M. Braley, one of the best known citizens of Sedan, died at 9:20 o'clock last Wednesday night, March 16, at the Masonic Home at Wichita. His remains were brought to Sedan Friday afternoon by J. A. Ferrell, who was sent to Wichita by the Masonic Lodge immediately upon receipt of the telegram announcing Mr. Braley's death. The members of Vesper Lodge No. 136, met the body at the train and escorted it to Greenwood cemetery where it was buried with Masonic honors. Rev. J. D. McBrian conducted the service and there was a large number of friends present in addition to the members of the lodge.
After paying a splendid tribute to the memory of Mr. Braley as a man and citizen, Rev. McBiran told of his relations to the Masonic fraternity as follows:
"A. M. Braley came to Sedan more than twenty years ago. He had no relatives in the world. He was a stranger in a strange land. But he found brethren in the Masonic fraternity who took him in and stood by him in all his trials. During the more than two years of his affliction, when there was no loving wife, nor children, nor brothers or sisters or other relatives to care for him his brother Masons gave him their personal attention, waiting upon him when he could not help himself; and when his necessities became so urgent, two brother Masons accompanied him to the Masonic home an institution that costs the Masons of Kansas $20,000 every year to take care of aged Masons, their wives and orphans, where this brother passed the last days of his life, under the care of brother Masons.
And when he passed away, a brother Mason went to the Masonic home and conveyed his remains back to Sedan under the direction of the Masonic Lodge and the lodge purchased a lot in the cemetery to receive his remains. A large number of his brother Masons met the body at the train and accompanied it to its last resting place in the city of the dead. He is now buried with all the ceremonies and honors of the order.
Such is Masonry. A man who is worthy to be accepted into this ancient and honorable fraternity will never be neglected in his misfortunes nor be buried in the potter's field.
Andrew Morton Braley was born Feb. 22, 1834, at Marion, Plymouth county, Mass. He came to Sedan in latter '80's from Kidder, Mo., and became interested in the Sedan Mill. He remained in that business several years and then retired and took up his old occupation of interior painting and decorating. He followed this until about two years ago when he became too ill to work anymore. He was married in young manhood and his wife died in an asylum. One daughter was born to them and she died at the age of 12, leaving Mr. Braley without a single living relative so far as he knew.
For the past two years Mr. Braley had been confined to his room most of the time but was always tenderly cared for by the Masonic Lodge of which he was a faithful and honored member. On November 11, 1909 he was removed from Sedan to the Masonic home at Wichita in the hope that he would recover under the better care that he would have receive there. His illness had gone too far, however, and for the past three months it has been evident that the end was near. He had no chronic ailment and was simply worn out. He slept most of the time. The writer of these lines visited him at Wichita on Monday, March 7, and found him asleep at 9 o'clock in the morning. He was awakened and after recognizing the friend from Sedan asked about many of his other friends here. He said he was ready and anxious to die because he believed he was no longer of any service to anyone. I'm simply in the way and of no account to anyone, he said. I'm ready to go. In a few moments he was again asleep. The superintendent of the Masonic home, James Snedden, was with Mr. Braley when death came. He had spent the evening with him believing that the end was near. At 9:20 Mr. Braley fell asleep in death.
Those who knew him well will always remember him as a truly good man in the fullest sense of the word. He was absolutely honest, upright and straightforward in every transaction. His was a soul of honor. He had seen better days before coming to Sedan, but no one ever heard him complain of his lonely lot in life and if he would have had it all different he never confided that wish to anyone. He was happy and cheerful and made others feel the influence of his personality. Humble, unassuming, quiet and peaceful, he trod his path in such a way as to hold fast the confidence and respect of his fellow men, while living and to leave behind him in death a memory rich in good deeds and kindly purposes. He had lived his time and felt it, and if he could have planned his own hour of death, probably he would not have wished for an end that was more calm and peaceful. For -
God's dews drop mutely on the hill. His could above it floateth still While on its slope men sow and reap. But more softly than the dew is shed or cloud is floated overhead. He giveth his beloved sleep. (Sedan Times Star, March 24, 1910, page 1)
Wichita, Kas., May 10 - J. L. Chandler, an old resident farmer of Ioland, Day county, O. T. was taken from his home last night, presumably by cattlemen and lynched. There being no telegraph in that section of Oklahoma the news of the lynching did not reach Woodward until tonight. For some time there has been trouble between the farmers and the cattlemen and during the last few weeks a great many cattle have died from poisoned water. Chandler was suspected and lynched as a warning to others. The identity of the lynchers is not known.(Omaha World Herald, May 11, 1901, page 3)
Madaline Conner died Tuesday at Wichita - Burial Here
Ella Madaline Conner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Conner, died at the family home at Wichita Tuesday. She was five years old and had been sick for some time.
The remains were brought to Sedan Wednesday and after a funeral service at the Episcopal church, were buriedin Greenwood Cemetery. Rev. A. W. Slade conducted the services. A large number of friends of the family were in attendance.
The child was a bright little girl and her death is unusually sad from the fact that she is the second child in that family to die. Mr. and Mrs. Conner have the deepest sympathy of a great many friends. They moved to Wichita about a year ago. Before that they lived near Monett and many friends from their old neighborhood were here Wednesday to sympathize with them in their sorrow. (Star Sedan Times, September 29,1 910, page 1)
Infant child died in Wichita last Sunday - Burial Here
Died Sunday, Oct. 31, at Wichita Frederick Lee, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Darnall, aged three months. The baby was very sweet and winsome and was the idol of its fond parents one of whom, the mother, lies dangerously ill at her home with typhoid fever. It makes the bereavement seem doubly sad that she should be unable to attend the little ones funeral.
Mr. and Mrs. Darnall were former residents of Sedan and their friends here deeply sympathize with them in their time of sorrow. The body was brought here Monday and was interred in Greenwood cemetery the same day. Rev. Ira Glenn conducting the services at the grave. (Sedan Lance, November 4, 1909, page 1)
Died in Kansas
W. E. Diffendal Victim of an Accident at Wichita
Hagerstown, MD., May 16 - Samuel Diffendal, of Smithburg, Washington county received a telegram this afternoon from Wichita, Kansas announcing the death of his brother W. E. Diffendal, and stating the body would be forwarded to Hagerstown. Mr. Diffendal died in a Wichita hospital from injuries sustained in a driving accident on Wednesday.
When a telegram was received Thursday announcing the accident and stating Mr. Diffendal's condition was critical, his brother, Thomas Diffendal of Smithsburg, left for Wichita. Mr. Diffendal was about 45 years old and leaves a number of brothers and sisters. (Baltimore American, May 16, 1903, page 4)
Wichita, Kan., March 15, Last Wednesday at high noon, Arthur Dyer was married in Genesco to a young lady to whom he had been engaged for the past three years. Owing to the fact that the young landy had the consumption the wedding had been postponed for some time. After the wedding on Wednesday the young couple started for Springfield, Mo., intending to spend their honeymoon with a brother of the bride. They arrived in this city at 11 o'clock and Mrs. Dyer feeling fatigued they decided to remain over night with the family of Mr. Starks in the eastern part of this city. The young wife began to grow worse immediately and on the following day at the same hour, which she was married she died. The remains were taken back to Geneseo. (Topeka Weekly Capital, March 23, 1893, page 3)
Mrs. Mary Erperson formerly of Guthrie, Oklahoma died in Wichita last Friday at the home of her daughter Mrs. Sam Brazill, 24t and Fairview. Her body was taken to Guthrie Sunday for burial accompanied by her daughter Mesdames Sam Brazill of Wichita, J. J. Lewis of Kansas City, and Mattie Tucker of Okla. City and her son-in-law Sam Brazill.
Mrs. Mary Tryon was born in Nashville, Tenn. Dec.
12th 1830 and died Nov. 26 09 she was 78 yrs 11 mos 14 day old at time of her death. She was a member of the Order
of Twelve and also of the Baptist church and leaves four daughters and a host of friends to mourn after her.
We don't expect to do all the job printing - let us try some of yours for you. Isn't that fair? (Wichita Searchlight,
December 4, 1909, page 1)
Died from Heat
A colored man by the name of Joe Ersery died in the Wichita Hospital Monday from the effects of being overheated Sunday while at the ball game. It is believed he has relatives in Texas.
He was unconscious when found and never regained consciousness. (Wichita Searchlight, July 22, 1905, page 1)
Sarah, widow of the late L. R. Fowler, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Byron Brothers, in Wichita, Kan., on Wednesday. Mrs. Fowler had been residing with Mrs. Brothers some time and on March 19 suffered a stroke of paralysis, then gradually lost strength. A son of her first marriage, James Lantz of Chicago, started for Wichita on Tuesday, but she died before he reached her bedside. The interment was at Wichita, Mrs. Fowler will be well remembered here, where she was an active member of Trinity M. E. Church. (Elkhart Weekly Review, April 3, 1907, page 5)
Died in A Railway Train
Wichita, Kan., Jan. 28 - The dead body of Simon Kantrovitch was found in a passenger car on the Santa Fe train at Desmond this morning. Papers in his pockets showed that he had been a furniture dealer in New-Haven, Conn. He had transportation from Denver to New York City. The body has been held at Sterling by an undertaker awaiting instructions from his friends. (New York Herald Tribune, January 29, 1897, page 7)
Wichita, Kan., Jan. 1 - Thomas Payne King dropped dead this morning in the Rock Island depot here. Apoplexy was the cause King went through the Camean war as a British officer and was in the famous charge of the light brigade at Balaklavn. Shortly before the war he came over to America and joined the union forces and served all through the war. He has been drawing good pensions from both the American and British governments but he was never known to buy anything, so he is supposed to have amassed considerable money. He owns property here and at Chicago, Fort Scott and Kansas City, but as no one knows where he dwelt no papers have yet been discovered. He was the honest miser, went about in rags with his feet swathed in cloths, and he fed from the scrap barrels of the restaurants hence he was known here as Swall barrel charley. His wealth has been estimated from $50,000 to $100,000. (Topeka Weekly Capital, January 4, 1894, page 5)
Richard Love, Jr., the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Love, 1017 N. Wichita, died at the home of his parents Tuesday morning. (Wichita Searchlight, January 2, 1909, page 2)
Louis J. Monroe, who died at Wichita, Kans., of Lockjaw
The body of Louis J. Monroe, a member of the Paul Gilmore Dramatic Company who died at St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, Kansas, January 20, of lockjaw, the result of having been accidentally shot in the hand was brought to this city today.
Within the past three weeks three members of the company have been shot accidentally, among them, Paul ?, ?, but one case proving fatal, that of Monroe.
The deceased was well known in this city being employed at different times at A. T. Demarest, New Haven Carriage Co., and Brockett & Tuttle's and for the past two seasons with the Paul Gilmore Dramatic Co.
The deceased was the husband of Elizabeth A. Burdick also of this city who has the sincere sympathy of their great many friends.
The funeral will take place from Mrs. Monroe's sister's residence, 476 Chapel street, Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. thence to St. Patrick's church. Interment in the wife's family plot in St. Bernard's Cemetery. (New Haven Register, January 29, 1900, page 1)
Died in A Well
Wichita, Kan., Oct. 25, - Frank Moon, aged 50 years and Mrs. D. Wells, were found dead at the bottom of a 30 foot well on Moon's farm near Derby having been asphyxiated. Moon had been overcome while working and the woman fearful at his not returning home went to the well late at night to investigate and fell in. (Picayune Times, October 26, 1897, page 4)
Topeka, Kan., July 26 - Father James O'Reilly, bishop of the Wichita diocese, died at the parsonage in this city at 6:30 this evening. He had been ill for about ten days but no fears were entertained that he would not recover until Sunday night, when he was taken suddenly worse. Monday his physician Dr. Jones called in Drs. O'Brien and McGuire for consultation and it was agreed that his condition was alarming and his recovery doubtful. It was pronounced that his ailment was typho-maiarial fever. His constitution had been weakened by overwork, and a few weeks ago he was prostrated with the heat and this was probably the primary cause of his death.
James O'Reilly was born in Ireland in 1849 and was 41 years of age at the time of his death. He received his early education in his native land and came to America in about the year 1859. He went to Leavenworth and was soon sent to Topeka where he studied for some time or until the school of instruction was abandoned. He then went to the Milwaukee where he completed his studies and was ordained a priest.
The young priest joined the Leavenworth diocese and was assigned to the charge at Fort Leavenworth. The beautiful little chapel there is a monument to his memory and speaks of his success. Owing to ill health he was compelled to abandon this charge and take a trip to Europe being absent almost a year and visiting most of the places of interest in the old world. Some time in 1881 after his return from Europe, he received his appointment to Topeka and had labored faithfully and well since that time.
About ten days ago a cablegram was received here to the effect that the Rev. Father O'Reilly had been appointed bishop for the Wichita diocese. The report was confirmed but the official papers have not arrived, although they are daily expected.
Father O'Reilly was not only beloved by his own people but was popular with all classes in the city where he has labored for many years as pastor of the Church of the Assumption. Mass will be said from 6 to 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Kansas City Times, July 27, 1887, page 1)
Wichita, Kan., March 16 - Wesley Siddall was shot and fatally wounded tonight by Policeman Irish. Irish caught Siddal and another man stealing coal from a car in the Santa Fe yards and captured one of the men. Siddall bolted and Irish put a bullet through his body. He cannot live through the night. Another coal thief was shot by a policeman last night. (Topeka Weekly Capital, March 23, 1893, page 3)
The remains of John Simmons, a member of Wichita, Tribe No. 13 of Wichita, Kansas, who died in this city yesterday morning will be shipped to his home over the Santa Fe at 9:30 tonight. All members of Cheyenne tribe No. 44 I. O. R. M. are requested to meet at 118 South Tejon street at 8:30 p.m. sharp to escort the body to the station. (Gazette-Telegraph, June 25, 1897, page 8)
Jerry Simpson who Died at Wichita Kan., was a Prominent Figure in Washington
Wichita, Kan., Oct. 24, Ex Congressman Jerry Simpson died at 6:05 a.m. of aneurism of aorta. Mr. Simpson had been in ill health for nearly a year. Six months ago he consulted a specialist at Chicago, who pronounced his case hopeless.
Ex-Congressman Simpson was born in New Brunswick on March 31, 1842. At fourteen he began life as a sailor and during his twenty-three years following that pursuit commanded many large vessels on the Great Lakes. In the Civil War he served in the twelfth Illinois Infantry. He came to Kansas in 1878. Originally he was a Republican but later became a Greenbacker and Populist. He was a member of Congress from 1891 to 1895 and from 1897 to 1899 being nominated the last time by both the Democrats and Populists. After he left congress he moved to Roswell, N. M., where he engaged up to the time of his death in stock farming. He returned to Kansas a month ago and entered a local hospital for treatment. His condition became hopeless ten days ago and since then the patient kept alive principally by sheer force of will. His wife and son were at the bedside at the end.
Jerry Simpson Occupied Center of Stage in Congress
Washington, Oct. 21 - The sage of Medicine Lodge, as Jerry Simpson was called, was in many respects one of the most unique characters which adorns the history of congress. He was swept into the Fifty-second congress by a wave of Kansas Populism, charged with the task of reforming the whole government and living down the only advance information his colleagues had of his personality that he wore no socks. The latter task he succeeded in accomplishing in fact, although he never quite lost the title Sockless Jerry. His legislative accomplishment consisted in turning popular Eastern sentiment regarding Populism from scorning ridicule to respectful consideration during his service of six years in the Fifty-second, Fifty-third and Fifty-fifth congresses. There was not a question of congressional action during that time on which Jerry Simpson did not think and on which his conclusions were not strikingly and entirely different from those of any one else. His language and manner of speech were quaint in the highest degree. Jerry Simpson always tried to make his adversaries look ridiculous, always threw new light on every subject made a personal friend of every member of the house and his political opponents declared never changed a vote on any question of legislation. As an entertainer and as a personality the house came to have the warmest regard for him. (Aberdeen Daily News, October 24, 1905, page 1)
Lawton, Ok., Oct. 23 - Jack Stammer a pioneer prospector and miner of the Wichita Mountains, diedin the Wichitas from the effect of any injury received by falling into a shaft. (Dallas Morning News, October 24, 1905)
A Kansas Maniac Died in Jail
Wichita, Kan., July 26 - Miss Jewell Stapleton, 19 years old, died suddenly at the county jail Friday morning, where she was awaiting a hearing before an insanity commission. Miss Stapleton was released on parole from Osawatomie July 2, but became unmanageable and was put in the detention room for safety. (Wichita Searchlight, August 1, 1908, page 3)
Col. H. G. Toler aged 60 known all over the country as a breeder of trotting stock died at Wichita, Kas. He bred John R. Gentry. (St. Louis Palladium, February 17, 1906, page 8)
Thursday afternoon March 31st, Jas. W. Turner, died at his late residence 817 N. Wichita. James or Jim as he was better known by his hundreds of friends and acquaintances had lived in Wichita for more than 30 years and was well and favorably known. He had friends by the scores. Jas. W. Turner was born in Lawrence, Kas., Dec. 21, 1870, and died in Wichita March 31, 1904. He was therefore 38 years, 3 months and 10 days old at the time of his death. He leaves a mother, a sister and a host of friends behind. Funeral services were held at the A. M. E. Church Saturday, April 2nd at 2:30 interment in Elmwood Cemetery. (Wichita Searchlight, April 9, 1904, page 2)
Wichita, Kan., Oct. 25, - Frank Moon, aged 50 years
and Mrs. D. Wells, were found dead at the bottom of a 30 foot well on Moon's farm near Derby having been asphyxiated.
Moon had been overcome while working and the woman fearful at his not returning home went to the well late at night
to investigate and fell in. (Picayune Times, October 26, 1897, page 4)
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