Some Butler County Deaths

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From The Iowa Recorder, 23 January 1902

BRISTOW - Mrs. Lydia McGuffin died at the home of her mother, Mrs. Mary Titus, Friday, Jan. 24th at 5 a.m. of asythma. The funeral was held at the house Sunday at 2:30 p.m., services conducted by Rev. Lang.

In 1900 West Point Township, Butler County, Lydda McGuffin, born December 1849 in Ohio, married for seven years without children, was living with her widowed mother, Mary J. Titus, born December 1825 in Ohio.

From The Iowa Recorder, 4 February 1902

BRISTOW - The sad news was received here Tuesday morning from Iowa City of the death of Nellie B. Smith-Pruitt. The deceased was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Smith, born at Hampton [Franklin Co], November, 1882, from which place they came here at the death of her father, which occurred a few years later. She was married to Earl Pruitt on March 14th, 1901, and soon after left for her new home at Iowa City, where she lived until her death, which occurred Monday, Jan. 20th at midnight. The funeral was held from the Christian church Wednesday, Jan. 22, of which church she had been a faithful member for several years. Elder Davis conducted the services. The remains were taken to Hampton, where she was laid to rest beside her father. She leaves a mother, brother, husband and a little baby besides many other relatives and many friends to mourn her loss.

1900 West Point Township, Butler County: Nelle B. Smith, born November 1882 in Iowa, parents born Wisconsin, was living with her widowed grandfather William W. Boyer, born July 1829 in New York; his daughter (her mother) Hallie J. Smith, born November 1858 in Wisconsin, mother of two living children; and his grandson (her brother) William G. or J.?. Smith, born July 1884 [looks like1874, but his age is given as 15], also born in Wisconsin. I did not find an Earl Pruitt in Butler County, though there were other Pruitts listed.

Mrs. R. T. Leverich and daughter Rae of Worthington, Minn., attended the funeral of Mrs. Earl Pruitt held here Wednesday.

The death of Alex Wilkinson, living south of town, occurred Monday. The funeral services were held at the house Wednesday.

Thanks to a query from Jean Harnick and the help of Mona Knight and Dick Tague, Alex Wilkinson has been found in both the 1880 and 1900 Butler County censuses. In 1880 Alex, age 65, born in Scotland, was farming in West Point Township. Living with him were his wife Mary, age 56, also born in Scotland, and their son William, 16, born in Canada. Their neighbor was Malcolm McGeachy, age 38, born Scotland, his wife Mary E., age 29, born Ohio, and their two children Lucinda J., 5, and Edward D., 2, both born in Iowa.

In 1900 Alexander and Mary "Wilkson" were still living in West Point Township, but in the household of Mary's brother Francis McGeachy, age 69. Neil "Wilkson" (Alex's brother?) and his wife Catharina, age 76, identified as the sister of Mary and Francis, were also living in the household. All were born in Scotland. David "Wilkinson," age 21, the final member of the household, was the Iowa-born son of one of the Wilkinson couples. The Wilkinson couples came to the U.S. in 1861, while Francis McGeachy came about 1857. Malcolm McGeachy and his family were still in West Point as well.

If you are researching this family, Jean Harnick would be interested in hearing from you.

From The Iowa Recorder, 11 February 1902

VILMAR - Conrad Weigman went to Chicago with his wife last week, where she underwent an operation. We are sorry to report the news of her death received by wire Sunday.

The only people named Conrad Weigman in Butler County in 1900 appeared to be either single or children.

From The Iowa Recorder, 7 January 1903

CLARKSVILLE - The death of John Bolin occurred Monday morning, of heart disease. The funeral services were held Tuesday.

It is possible, but not certain, that this is John C. Bolin, born February 1864 in Illinois, who is living in Jackson, Butler County, in 1900 with his wife Mollie and their children, Mabel, Effie, Elmer, Flossie, Grace, and Clarence (aged 13-2). The only other Bolin family in Butler County in 1900 is George W. Bolin, born in October 1854, in Illinois; he is living in Clarksville with his wife Margaret and their eight children.

SHELL ROCK - Mrs. Jenks, an old and well known settler of this place, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Brownlee, last Friday morning. Her death was not unexpected for she has been quite feeble for some time, and has been rapidly failing the last few weeks. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Brownlee residence, conducted by Rev. Hudson.

Information from 1900 Shell Rock, Butler County census: Susanna Jenks, widow, was born September 1811, in Pennsylvania. Her father was born in Connecticut, her mother in Virginia. She is listed as living with her son-in-law David L. Brownlee, born in 1837 in Illinois, his wife Calina I., born in March 1852 in Illinois, and their daughter Blanche, born in January 1889 in Iowa. David and Calina have been married for 30 years, and she is the mother of five children, all living. Susanna was the mother of ten children, five of whom were living.

FREMONT TWP - The death of Mrs. Ed Kleinmeir occurred Friday, after a lingering illness. The funeral services were held Saturday at the German church in Fremont township.

In 1900 Edward Kleinmeyer, born in March 1873, is living in Fremont, Butler County with his wife Gesine, born August 1876, and their daughter Elna, born in November 1899. All three were born in Iowa. There do not appear to be other Kleinmeyers in Butler County.

From The Iowa Recorder, 28 January 1903

BRISTOW - The death of Mrs. Isaac Grove occurred Sunday evening about 6 o'clock at her home one and one-half miles east of town. The deceased had been a patient sufferer for several months. She leaves one daughter and a loving husband, besides several other relatives to mourn her untimely death. The funeral services were held at the Catholic church at Parkersburg and interment made in the cemetery at that place.

Mrs. I. Grove died at her home near Bristow Friday morning, of dropsy. The funeral was held Sunday.

I did not find the Isaac Grove family in the 1900 census.

SHELL ROCK - Mrs. E. S. Best died early Sunday Morning. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. McKinley at the house Tuesday afternoon.

In 1900 Emily L. Best, born May 1828 in New York, a widow, is living in Shell Rock with her son Fay, born March 1862 in Illinois, and her daughter Clara C., born November 1863, also in Illinois. Mrs. Best was the mother of five children, all of whom were living. There are other Best families in Shell Rock, who may be related to her.

SHELL ROCK - Pierre Bandy, who has been suffering since last October from an injury to the spine caused by falling from a tree, died at the hospital in Waterloo, Saturday morning, Jan. 24. His funeral services were conducted by Rev. Piper in the M.E. church at this place Monday afternoon. Interment was made in Riverside cemetery.

I did not find Pierre Bandy in the 1900 census.

From The Iowa Recorder 7 December 1904

CLARKSVILLE: - The death of Mrs. James Buell occurred Sunday morning at one o'clock after a severe attack of pneumonia.

From The Iowa Recorder, 12 January 1910

The Recorder is called upon to chronicle the death of Creighton Shafer, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Shafer, living north of Clarksville, in this county, a bright and interesting young man who is cut down in his youth by a malady from which he could get no relief. His condition grew so serious that it became necessary for him to be taken to the insane hospital at Independence about a year ago, but not until every effort had been resorted to to restore his health.Creighton Shafer was born at Clarksville, April 27, 1877 and died Saturday, Jan. 8, 1910, aged 33 years and nine months.The funeral was held in Clarksville on Monday at 11:30 o'clock, at the M. E. church and the interment made in Lynwood cemetery. He leaves a father, mother, three brothers and four sisters to mourn his death.Deceased was also a nephew of T. T. Shafer of this place.The Recorder joins the many in extending sympathy to the sorrowing ones.

[Elsewhere on same page, same paper: Will and Paul Shafer attended the funeral of their cousin, Creighton Shafer at Clarksville, Monday.]

In the 1880 and 1900 Dayton Township Butler County censuses I find Wilbur R. Shafer, born Jan 1846, in PA, his wife Lydia J., born 1848, in WI; and the following children, all of whom were born in Iowa: Lena, 14, Retta, 12, Tommy 10, Bella 7, and George, 3 (in the 1880 census) and George C. born Apr 1877, Fred L., born Oct. 1880, Victor R., born Dec 1886, and Alice L., age 10, born Jun 1889. George C. would appear to be Creighton Shafer.

In 1880 in Butler Township and in 1900 in Coldwater, I found Thomas T. [or F.] Shafer, born May 1857, OH, and his wife Jennie, born June 1854, with their dhildren, all born in Iowa: Wilbur H, born about 1872, Burnace L, born Mar 1876, Maud Eva, born Jul 1877, Lulu B., born Jan 188?, Joyce, born Nov 1887, and Paul E., born Jul 1894.

In 1880 a George P. Shafer, age 29, born PA, is living in Clarksdale with his wife and two children. It is possible that he is another brother of Wilbur and Thomas..

Mrs. J. Courley departed from this life on Thursday of last week after being sick for some time. The funeral was held Saturday at the home, services by Rev. Fisher of Greene and interment made at Union Ridge cemetery.

Butler County Cemetery Listing for Harlan (aka Union Ridge) Cemetery

Gourley, Rev. John Feb 12, 1832- Jul 3, 1921 papa, at rest B50
Jane, wife of Rev John d May 24, 1896
Margaret wife of Rev. John d Jan 6. 1910 B50

Reverend Gourley was a Presbyterian Minister who lived in Hansell ca 1880 - 1920, and may have been the pastor of the church in Aredale during that time. -- Thanks to Don Woodley

BRISTOW: Mrs. Elizabeth McCormick died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Overturf Saturday morning, January 8, 1910, at a little past six o'clock after a lingering illness of many months duration with emterostemofis. During the earlier part of her illness she went to the hospital at Iowa City and remained over two months, hoping to be benefitted, but no hope was held out for her recovery so she was brought home and was able to be up a part of the time and on Thanksgiving day was taken from the Mrs. DeMoss home to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Overurf to spend the day. She became so much worse that it seemed the only thing to do was for her to remain there and be cared for by a trained nurse which was done up to the time of of her demise after the weary weeks of patient endurance and suffering, though some of the time she did not seem conscious of much that was going on. The deepest sympathy of the entire community is extended to the aged mother, Mrs. Clarissa Logan, who has been very will and was unable to attend the funeral or be at the bedside of her dughter and to her only son and child Ben McCormick who lives with and cares for his grandmother on the old home farm west of town and who is now almost alone in the world as it would seem. Mrs. McCormick had lived in and around Bristow for many years in the earlier years of her life having been a teacher and a few years ago going with her son to Thief River Falls, Minn., where they took and proved up on claims and where it was that overexertion and exposure had much to dowith bringing on the fatal illness. She was born in Buchanan county, Iowa, in the year 1854, thus being 56 years old, at the time of her death. 14 years ago united with the Christian church of this place and the funeral was held from thre at two o'clock Sunday, the church being well filled with friends. Rev. Wm. Baier of Hampton preached from the text, "The Master is come and calleth you," and it was a sermon which will not soon be forgotten by those who heard it, being filled with admonition and counsel for the living and delivered very impressively as is his wont. The choir of the church sang. The pall bearers were chosen from the I.O.O.F. lodge. After the sermon the ladies of the Rebecca lodge, of which deceased was the head last year, took it in their charge and their service was also very impressive. Undertaker Martin of Dumont had charge of the funeral and the body was carried to its long resting place in Oak Hill cemetery.