Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County, Colorado |
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Fred A. Thompson, who was the first homesteader in Aurora (Kansas) township, died in his home in Concordia, Kansas, where he has been living since 1912, died June 20, 1924 at the age of 87 years and 6 months. His wife passed away 6 years ago. His children all survive him. they are Henry R., Jennie, Alfred E., Edward W., Charley P., Fred, and Emery J. and Mrs. Blanche Vignery, an adopted daughter. Mr.Thompson was born in Wexford County, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents moved to Belfast, Ireland when he was 8 years of age. At the age of 6 he attended a private school, later a graded school. His ambition led him to attend Queens College. He attended the University of Edinburgh in 1853-54, during the Crimean War and received a diploma at this institution. He served as a bookkeeper for a large wholesale house in Liverpool. Afterwards took an analytical chemistry course at Belfast, where he thoroughly learned the art of bleaching. He perfected his art during 5 years at Richardson's Linens at Belfast. From that point on the traveled extensively throughout Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia. At some point he took a "government job" managing a bleaching plant for the Russian government at a salary of $110 in gold per month. The plant was located at Tammerfors, Finland, 180 miles northwest of St. Petersburg. After two years, his health became so impaired, a nobleman friend sent him directly to St. Petersburg, to consult the eminent Dr. Jacobi, the Czar's physician, where he received a rapid, thorough examination and a laconic, "Young man, if you want to live, you had better get out of this climate." He then visited his mother and recruited his health in Ireland. He then spent time traveling extensively in the British Isles and Scandinavia, much of the traveling on foot. After a return to see his sister in Liverpool, he returned to Ireland. He understood a smattering of the following languages and could converse in them: English, French, Danish, Swedish, Gaelic, German, Russian, and Chinese. He walked 3 miles to take music lessons. He played piccolo, lute, and violin. He was a member of the St. Petersburg Band at one time. His brother, Harry Thompson, a large wholesale dealer in New York City advised him to come to the U.S. He embarked at Liverpool, September 1867 and sailed for American in the steamer, City of Paris. After 16 days, he landed in New York City, which was a great, overgrown, commerce center and the greatest business center he was ever in. Here he traveled for a wholesale house as far as Buffalo NY and Richmond, VA. Dr. Parker of New York, a specialist who gave President Garfield an examination at the time he was shot, advised him to come to Kansas for his health. He settled on the green slopes of the valley, near Aurora in 1869 and was married the twentieth of March 1870. He became a citizen of the United States in 1870 Mr. Thompson was a pioneer and homesteader in Cloud County He was personally acquainted with pioneer public men of the state with which he had much to do. He had a retentive memory and his mind was a storehouse of human interest stories of early Kansas days as well as of places and events of world wide renown. At the age of 87, he had good sense, sound wisdom, and a cheerful outlook on life. He lived an Concordia at the time of his death. He retained all his faculties of memory up until a few days of his death, the approach of which he fully realized. The funeral was held from the house. Rev. Lambert conducted the services. The brothers of the Concordia Masonic Lodge, of which Mr. Thompson was a cherished member attended in a body and rendered their beautiful and impressive services at the grave. |
Wanda J. Drinkwater, 82, formerly of Boonville, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 27th, 2013 at Valley View Nursing Home in Moberly. Funeral services for Wanda will be held at Bible Baptist Church in New Franklin, MO at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday Nov. 30, 2013 with Brother Rodney Haggatt officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church and burial will be at Walnut Grove cemetery. Wanda Drinkwater was born June 9, 1931 in Boonville, MO the daughter of Urban Dumolt and Alverta Doyle Dumolt. She married Harry Drinkwater in Boonville Sept 12, 1947 and they are the parents of seven children. Wanda was a member of Bible Baptist Church in New Franklin. She had her LPN degree and had worked at Valley Hope in Boonville for several years until her retirement. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; children, Sharon Wilkins and Sharon's husband, Gaylord Wilkins, Harry Drinkwater and her brother, Raymond Dumolt. She is survived by her children; Thomas Drinkwater, of Marsahll, MO, Ronald Drinkwater of New Franklin, Donald Drinkwater of Sherman, IL, Robert Drinkwater of Champaign, IL and Kevin Drinkwater of West Virginia. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Sheryl Wilkins, Amy Sego and Brenda Armstrong, all of Moberly, Barbra Charles (Travis) and Tanya Cooley (Tim) of Springfield, IL, Nick (Teresa) Drinkwater of Bellflower, IL, Aly Drinkwater of Tinley Park, IL and Dustin Drinkwater of Fulton, MO. Her eleven great-grandchildren also survive. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be directed to Bible Baptist Church. |
Mary Susanna DeGarmo, daughter of Henry and Sarah Medlock, was born Jan. 17, 1868 at Salem, Indiana and passed away at Wray, Colo., on March 31, 194 at the age of 75 years, 2 months and 14 days. She was united in marriage with John Reynolds on August 29, 1885, and in Oct. 1885 they went to Shelton, Nebr. In November 1886 they took a homestead near Wauneta, Nebr. To this union two children were born, Walter A. and Mary Reynolds. John Reynolds died in November 1887 at Wauneta. Walter A. Reynolds passed away on Oct. 4, 1905 at the age of 19. In 1894 the deceased was converted in the Mennonite faith in the Eden church near Stratton, Nebr., and two years later joined the Church of God, with which faith she was affiliated until her death. On August 7, 1890, Mary Reynolds was united in marriage with Samuel M. DeGarmo at Imperial, Nebr. To this union 11 children were born. The family made their home northwest of Stratton for 21 years, moving to Pharr, Texas in 1911 and four years later coming to Haigler, Nebr. In 1924 they moved to Wray, Colo. Samuel M. DeGarmo passed away January 24, 1937. Mrs. DeGarmo was preceded in death also by one infant daughter Martha DeGarmo and two step-daughters Minnie DeGarmo and Anna DeGarmo. Left to mourn her passing are the following children: Mrs. Mary Horn of Livonia, Mo.; Paul of Max, Nebr.; Glenn of Haigler, Nebr.; Guy of Denver; Mrs. Josephine Lindner of Hermiston, Ore.; Samuel of Hermiston, Ore.; Mrs. Phebe Bowland of Otis; Jesse of Denver; Ray of Denver; Corp. Charles M. of Camp Roberts, Calif.; and Jacob of Denver. Two step-children, Mrs. Lulu Ruby of Pharr, Texas and Perry DeGarmo of Benkelman, Nebr.; one sister, Mrs. Anise E. Cooper of Lebanon, Ore.; two brothers, Elmer Medlock of Wauneta Nebr.; and Bert Medlock of Haigler, Nebr.; one half-brother William Bressie of Oakland, Iowa. She also leaves 48 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, beside a host of less near relatives and friends. Mrs. DeGarmo was a faithful member of her church, a kind and loving mother and a christian woman. The Rattler [newspaper] extends sincere sympathy to the bereaved family. Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the Nazarene church with Rev. David Metsker officiating. Interment was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, ten miles north of Stratton, Nebr., ten miles north of Stratton, Nebr. |
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