Cass County

This morning at 2:30 the book of life of Mrs. S. E. McElwain was closed, the end coming after several days when hope had gradually faded of her recovery as her advanced age of near eighty-six made her recovery from her infirmities and las sickness almost impossible. As the aged mother has gradually been sinking she has been ministered to by the members of her family circle who have done all possible to make the last days pleasant for their loved one as she neared the journey's end. Mrs. McElwain was one of the oldest residents of this city as she came her in 1860 and has since been a resident of this community known by hundreds of close friends and loved by all who had the priviledge of knowing her. Mrs. McElwain was born in Carthage, Illinois, December 12, 1841, and her long lifetime has been filled with many acts of kindness and helpfullness to her fellow man as she lived out her life in a quiet unassuming christian way. After coming to this city Mrs. McElwain was interested in the pioneer school work in this locality and during the dark days of the civil war she was one of the heroic band of Plattsmouth women that labored at home to aid the soldiers in blue at the front that represented this community's part of the war. When the dark clouds rolled away in 1865 and peace again came to our land there returned from the service Marshall McElwain, a young veteran of Co. C, 2nd Nebraska cavalry and on March 15, 1866 in this city the wedding ceremony of the young people was celebrated by the Rev. D. R. Dungan, then pastor of the First Christian church. The deceased lady was a charter member of the Christian church here and a lifelong member of tthis faith, which she retained until her death. Mrs. McElwain was deprived years ago of the husband and father who was called to the last long sleep and since that time she has made her home here with her son, B. A. McElwain, who has devoutly cared for the aged mother. Mrs. McElwain was a member of the Women's Relief Corps and also of Home Chapter No. 189 of the Order of Eastern Star. There is left of the family of Mrs. McElwain four children, B. A. McElwain of this city, M. A. McElwain of Kansas City, R. D. McElwain, Santa Monica, California, Mrs. J. W. Dutton, Kansas City, and four grandsons, Glen Dutton, Los Angeles, Myron B. Dutton, Lowell M. Dutton, and John Dale Dutton all of Kansas City. The funeral of Mrs. McElwain will be held on Friday afternoon at 2:30 from the First Christian church and interment will be at the Oak Hill cemetery.

Yesterday afternoon a very large number of the lifetime friends of Bert A. McElwain gathered at the First Christian church, where for many years Mr. McElwain had worshipped and given of his service in many ways to upbuild and carry on the work of the church. The services were in charge of Rev. Ernest Baker, pastor of the First Christian church at Greenwood, in which city for the past months Mr. McElwain had been a resident and from his acquaintance with the departed Rev. Baker spoke very comforting of the service that Mr. McElwain had given unselfishly in the past in Plattsmouth his lifetime home. He also touched on the need for more christian living in this day and age when the worldliness is much from the church. During the services two duets, "Jesus Lover Of My Soul" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" were given by Mrs. Hal Garnett and Frank A Cloidt, with Mrs. O. C. Hudson at the piano. Mr. Cloidt also gave a very beautiful solo number, "Face To Face". At the close of the service the body was borne to the last rest at Oak Hill cemetery by the pall bearers, old friends and neighbors, H. F. Goos, J. W. Crabill, James G. Mauzy, R. A. Bates, E. J. Weyrich and A. L. Tidd. The funeral party was accompanied here from Greenwood by Fred W. Etheridge, a cousin of Mr. McElwain and with who he had made his home for the past year and where he passed away.

This morning Frank Buttery and brother, M. E. Buttery departed for Lincoln where they were called by a telephone message annoucing the critical condition of their brother, John J. Buttery, who has been quite sick for several weeks past. The message stated that the brother was sinking very fast and hopes of his recovery had been practically abandoned, but before reaching his side death took the brother away. John Buttery is well known in this city where he spent his early days and he is one of the veteran engineers of the Burlington in the state as he has been engaged in this line of work for a long period of years. For the past thirty years he has resided at Lincoln and up to a few months ago was in fairly good health but some six weeks ago he suffered a serious breakdown and which resulted in his being made practically blind and made necessary his going to the hospital for treatment and where he has since remained. Mr. Buttery was sixty-two years of age and leaves to mourn his death the wife, three sons, Joseph, Harold and John Buttery of Lincoln and one daughter, Miss Helen Buttery, who is teaching at Creighton, Nebraska, as well as the brothers in this city. The friends here will join in extending to the family their deepest sympathy at the loss that has come to them. The brothers were enroute to Lincoln when the message was received here by William holly, brother-in-law of Mr. Buttery announcing his death at 8:30 this morning.

The death of one of the long time and prominent residents of this city occurred early Sunday morning when Horatio N. Dovey passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Goehner at that place, following an illness of several months from the effects of cancer of the throat. The news of the death came as a very sad blow to the many friends in this community who have known Mr. Dovey all of the long years of his lifetimein this city where his parents were among the early settlers and pioneer merchants. Mr. Dovey had been at the hospital at Omaha about a month ago and accompanied his daughter to her home at Seward for a short visit but he suffered a sudden very serious phase of his illness and his condition became such that he was unable to return home to this city and has been gradually failing until death came to his relief. Horation Nelson Dovey was born at Plattsmouth, June 6, 1863, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Dovey, having arrived here from the south a short time before and located in this city where Mr. Dovey engaged in the mercantile business for many years and which business was continued after the death of the father in 1881, as the firm of E. G. Dovey & Son. H. N. Dovey received his education in the schools of this city and on reaching manhood he was engaged in clerical work in the business house of his family until later when he entered the First National bank of this city and successfully served in the position of bookkeeper, cashier and president of the institution. In his long lifetime here Mr. Dovey married April 26, 1885, Miss Eva Knapp, who with four children, Mrs. Ione Dovey Betts of Omaha; Mrs. Helen Goehner of Seward, Dr. E. G. Dovey of Washington, D. C., and George O. Dovey of this city survive his passing. Two children have preceded Mr. Dovey in death. Two brothers, George F. Dovey and Oliver C. Dovey, of this city, also survive his passing. Politicallly Mr. Dovey was very active in the affairs of the republican party, being at one time a candidate for mayor of the city altho defeated, also serving some nine years on the board of education in this city. In 1896 Mr. Dovey was selected as a delegate to the republican national convention that nominated William McKinley and was a member of the committee that notified Garret A. Hobson of his nomination for vice-president. The passing of this old time resident removes another of the figures of the leaders of the community in the past years and whose going is a distinct loss to the city and its people.

The Minco Minstrel of Minco, Oklahoma, has the following account of the death and funeral of Mrs. William C. Noxon, for many years a resident of this city and near Cedar Creek, and the news of her passing bring a great deal of regret to the old friends in this locality. Here is the account:
"The sad news of Mrs. W. C. Noxon's sudden death at 11:30 Monday night, cast a shadow over the whole community. She had not been feeling well for several days, with an attack of the flu, and grew worse Monday, passing away that evening. She leaves her husband and two sons, William (Jack) of Oklahoma City, and Victor of this city, who were all with her when she was called away. Funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon, January 21st, by the pastor, Rev. C. H. Armstrong, and the body was laid to rest in the Minco cemetery. Sarah Elizabeth (Vanatta) Noxon was born March 19, 1856, at Logan, Ohio, and died January 19, 1925, age 68 years and 10 months. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Vanatta. With her parents she went to Nebraska at the age of six years. At the age of 31 she was married to W. C. Noxon, and resided in the same locality until 1909, when they came to Oklahoma. To this union four children were born, two sons and two daughters, namely; William (Jack) Ross, Hazel, Veda V. and Victor Alvin. Only the two sons are now living. Besides her husband and two sons she leaves one sister, Mrs. B. F. Laird; a nephew, William Laird, and a niece, Mrs. Heinlein, all of Eskridge, Kansas, who were present at the funeral. One niece, Mrs. People, who also resides at Eskridge, was unable to attend. The deceased was a member of the Methodist church, having united at the age of 13 years at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. She lived a consecrated christian life. The journey of her life is a path marked with deeds of kindness and cheer. Truth was the inspiration of her life and by kindness she exemplified its great worth. She is still the mother of the dear sons, upon whom she devoted with such clinging fondness, and the companion still of him who mourns earth's greatest loss. Only the memory of her is left, yet how sweet, how uplifiting its influence. For, after all, death is but the slipping off of the outer body."

The funeral services of the late Mrs. Elsie McClanahan were held Monday afternoon at the Christian church at Murray, there being a large number of the old friends present to pay their last tributes of love and respect to this estimable lady, a pioneer resident of Cass county. The service was in charge of Rev. Simmons of Eagle and Rev. Stewart of Murray, who gave words of comfort to the sorrowing family and the bereaved friends. The mixed quartet of the church gave several of the old hymns during the services. At the conclusion of the services the body was borne to the cemetery near the old Crabtree home, the childhood residence of the departed lady, where it was consigned to the last long rest. The pall bearers were elected from among the old friends and neighbors, they being O. A. Davis, Dr. J. F. Brendel, E. H. Spangler, Lee Nickles, W. L. Seybolt and W. M. Minford. Elsie Crabtree, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abel Crabtree, was born near where the present town of Murray is located, in the year 1858, spending her childhood days there and in 1880 she was married at Murray to Oscar Wiley McClanahan, who had come west from his home at Roanoke, Virginia. The family made their home in that locality for some time and later after the death of the husband Mrs. McClanahan was engaged for several years in the conduct of the hotel at Murray, and where she was very successful. In later years Mrs. McClanahan resided at Eagle where she conducted a restaraunt until her failing health made necessary her retirement. She has been making her home for the past few years at Lincoln, coming back two weeks ago on a visit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Snoke and while there was stricken down and gradually grew worse until her death on Sunday. The deceased lady is survived by one son, R. A. McClanahan of Plattsmouth and two brothers, Allen Crabtree of Eagle and Neal Crabtree of Mynard, Nebraska. The passing of this good woman has brought a great deal of sorrow to the old friends and in their bereavement the family have the full sympathy of the many friends.

The funeral services of Isaac Cecil, long time resident of the city, were held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the home in the west part of the city where for som many years the deceased had made his home and where happy years of life had been measured in the associations of the loved ones. The services were simple and very impressive. Rev. Clifford Cecil of Corydon, Iowa, a son, giving the scripture lesson with the prayer by Rev. Potter of Moorehead, Iowa. The short sermon and tribute to the departed was given by Rev. H. G. McClusky, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of this city. During the service the male quartet composed of L. D. Hiatt, Frank A. Cloidt, R. W. Knorr and H. G. McClusky gave two of the loved songs of the departed, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "The Home of the Soul". Following the services the body was laid to the last long rest in the Oak Hill cemetery. Isaac Cecil was born September 17, 1857 at Peru, Illinois, the youngest son of Isaac and Amanda Cecil. His early life was spent in Hennepin, Illinois, from which place he cam to Nebraska in 1877. He stopped first at Nebraska City, coming on to Plattsmouth the following year and where he has since lived. On October 15, 1896 at Plattsmouth he was married to Margaret Josephine Creamer. To them were born three children, two sons, Clifford Isaac of Corydon, Iowa, and Harley Francis of Denver, Colorado, and one daughter, Florence Mae Rutherford of Cedar Creek, Nebraska. The wife and children survive. Two brothers, Jasper of Hennepin, Ill., and Stephen D. of Plattsmouth, and one sister, Mrs. V. M. Mullis also of Plattsmouth have preceded him in death. His death occurred suddenly on August 5, 1930, in Plattsmouth, Nebraska at the age of 72 years, 10 months and 18 days.

Mrs. Virgil Mullis, brother of the deceased, received a telephone message yesterday apprising him of the death of his sister, Mrs. Clay Conner, in Elmwood Saturday evening at 8 o'clock. The deceased had been ailing from a complication of diseases for several months, and three weeks ago submitted to an operation in one of the Lincoln hospitals from which she never thoroughly recovered. Mrs. Conner's demise was therefore not a great surprise to her many friends in this city and also at Elmwood. For several years Mr. and Mrs. Conner resided in Plattsmouth, previous to going to Elmwood eight or nine years ago. Previous to coming to Plattsmouth the family resided in Pacific Junction, where the deceased lady has numerous friends. In this city Mrs. Conner was highly respected by all who knew her, and who regret her demise. No definite arrangements had been made for the funeral when the Journal received the sad news of her death. The many friends of the bereaved husband and family extend sincere sympathy.

Capt. Henton, a well known Mills county pioneer and citizen, died last Thursday at his home near Henton Station, after a two days illness with pneumonia. He had resided in these parts for nearly forty years. Henton Station was named after him. the funeral was held Sunday afternoon at Martin's chapel and was largely attended. The sermon was preached by Rev. J. H. Skiles of the Glenwood Congregational church, and he was assisted in the services by Rev. A. L. Curtis, past at Martin's chapel. Mrs. Henton is reported quite sick at this writing. Francis Marion Henton was born April 25, 1832, in Logansport, Ind. Died Feb. 25, 1904 of pnuemonia. On Sept. 6, 1861, he enlisted in Co. E, 9th Regiment, Illinois, Cavalry Volunteers. Was wounded in the head in the battle of Village Creek, Ark., June 27, 1862. March 3, 1864, he was commissioned Captain in the 128th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He was married Nov. 26, 1866, to Mrs. C. C. Martin, who survives him. Schuyler C. Henton, his sone by a former marriage, is in Alaska. George Henton of York, Neb., and Mrs. E. O. Mullis of Plattsmouth, brother and sister of the deceased, are still living.

Clay Conner, who for many years was a business man of this city, died a few days ago at his home near Elmwood and was buried yesterday at that place. Mr. Conner's wife died less than a year ago. He leaves several children, some of them grown, to mourn his death. Mr. Conner was a native of Mills county, Iowa, and was reared in Iowa, coming across the river he engaged in business in this city and resided here until about eight or nine years ago, when he removed to Elmwood, where he engaged in business for a time, and later removed to a farm.

George Henton, one of the early residents of the state of Nebraska, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. G. Harris, at Auburn on January 8th, at the ripe old age of 79 years, 4 months and 8 days. The deceased was an uncle of Mrs. W. F. Gillespie and Mrs. J. H. Adams of this city. In speaking of the death of this pioneer citizen and old veteran, the Nemaha County Herald has the following account of his life:
"George Henton was born at Logansport, Indiana, August 30, 1844. He was the youngest of seven children. He was reared on a farm and attended th public schools until he was sixteen years of age. He then began learning the carpenter's trade, which he was employed in until President Lincoln called for volunteers in April, 1861. On the 17th of June, George Henton, not yet seventeen years of age, enlisted in Q. Fifteenth Volunteer Infantry for three years or during the war. The regiment was organized at Indianapolis and three weeks later they went to Virginia and participated in the battle of Green Brier, and Elk Water, after which they went to Camp Wykliff, Ky. In the spring of 1862 they were among the first troops to arrive at Nashville, Tenn., and soon after proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, where they arrived after that memorable fight ended. He followed Beaureguard's retreating army to Corinth and then was sent back to Louisville in pursuit of Gen. Bragg. When that General turned back across Kentucky, the engagement at Berryville took place in which Mr. Henton participated. He then went to Nashville where he was encamped for some time, his next scene of active fighting being at Stone River. Being on detached service, Mr. Henton was with the tenth Indiana Battery during the first day's fighting but was with his own regiment the second day. After this battle they went into camp at Murfreesboro, and shortly after were ordered to Chattanoga, where he took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge. Of the three hundred and thirty-four men in his regiment who went into this battle two hunderd were killed or wounded. Of his own company only seven returned to tell the tale. Shortly after this battle an attack of pnuemonia made it necessary for Mr. Henton to be sent to the hospital at Nashville and on his recovery he remained at the barracks at Nashville until the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was mustered out at Indianapolis, Ind., June 25, 1864. He returned home and attended school until the spring of 1865, when he again enlisted, this time in the 155th Indiana Infantry. He remained in camp at Indianapolis until the latter part of April and was then ordered to Washington, and from there to Alexandria, Va., for guard duty. Two weeks later he was sent to Dover, Del., where he was discharged August 4, 1865. Although he saw so much active service and participated in some of the fiercest battles of the war, he was never wounded or captured, although at Missionary Ridge he was knocked down by an expleded shell and come out of the fight with several bullet holes in his clothes. After the war, he returned home in 1866, moving overland with his parents to Plattsmouth, Nebr. He worked at the carpenter trade until 1872, when he started to Franklin county with the intention of taking a homestead. Stopping at York, he learned that a claim in this county had been vacated by a Civil war soldier and could be had. For fear that the former claimant might wish to returen, Mr. Henton had about decided not to file on it, when he learned another party was about to lay claim to the land. Hasteneing to Lincoln, he filed on the northwest quarter of Section 34, Baker township, York, Nebr., and returning to Plattsmouth, shiped his household goods to Fairmont and hired a team to haul a load of lumber to the place he had selected for a home. The land was wholly unimproved, and he erected a dwelling fourteen foot square an in this the family made their home for six years. At this time a new and more commodious home was erected, by Mr. Henton which is still doing service on the farm. For forty-nine years Mr. and Mrs. Henton lived in this homestead, the on account of failing health they removed Sept. 21, to Auburn to make their home with their daughter, Mrs. Herbert G. Harris. Nine months later Mrs. Henton was called to her reward and Mr. Henton survived her one year and seven months. Mr. Henton was married Oct. 6, 1868, to Miss Lydia Eikenbarry of Plattsmouth, Neb. To this union were born four children, three of whom are living, Frank E. of Barton, New York; Ethel, wife of Herbert G. Harris, dentist, of Auburn, and George Earle, a physician in Portland, Ore. Madge Lydia passed away at the age of two and one-half years. Mr. Henton died at Auburn, Neb., January 8, 1924, at 6:20 a.m. after an illness of three months. He leaves to mourn his loss an aged sister Ovanda Mullis of Minatare, Neb., three children, twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. "

Mrs. J. R. Jones, aged sixty-six years, while on her way but a short distance to the home of her daughter, is stricken with paralysis, or the rupture of an artery in her brain, falls at the coner of the house of her daughter Mrs. Dora Denson, and never regains consciousness after the stroke. Mrs. Jones had receieved some meat, a portion for them and a portion to go to her daugther, and the mother as an act of kindness, for which she was noted, went to tak the portion to her daughter, at about ten o'clock, and had arrived at the corner of the house of the daughter when the stroke came. She was not noticed until about eleven o'clock when the daughter chanced to glance out of the window saw the form of her mother lying in a heap where she had fallen some time before. She was taken into the house, but never regained consciousness, and answered the call of the death angle (sic) at about five o'clock last evening. Mrs. Jones, who is known by most everyone in this city for her kindly acts, has lived in this city since 1879, was born in Indiana and came to Iowa when a young lady, uniting in marriage with H. R. Jones of this city, while living in Iowa, and coming to Plattsmouth where she has lived for nearly forty years. Her name was Hannah Louise Row. There were twelve children born to call their mother blessed, for the acts of love and sacrifice., which she has done to their care. Three of the twelve have answered the call and are Nelson Jones, Jesse Jones and Clarence Jones, three sons. There remains the following J. E. Jones of this city, Mrs. Jesse Baldwin of Osceola, Iowa, Mrs. Alice Altrep of Alpine, Texas, Doran Denson and Edna Denson of this city, Clyde Jones who is now in France, Mrs. Agatha Taylor of Lincoln, Mrs. Minnie Deavendorf of Omaha, and Sergeant J. Robert Jones of Camp Hancock, Ga. Arrangements for the funeral and burial are awaiting word from Mrs. Ahltrep of Alpine, Texas and Sergeant Jones of Hancock, Ga.

Yesterday afternoon there was laid to the last long rest, one of the few of the remaining old civil war veterans, Thomas Wiles, who was called to his reward on Saturday morning. The funeral services wer held at the First Christian church and was one of the largest funerals held in that church, the auditorium being filled to its capacity by the old friends and neighbors who gathered to pay their tributes of respect and esteem to this splendid old gentleman that would come no more in the community life but had joined the vast caravan of his comrades in the dreamless sleep of death. Mr. Wiles has been one of the pioneer residents and very active in the life of the community for many years and it was a very fine tribute to his memory that the last services called persons from all stations and walks of life to pay honor to him. The services were also held from a place that was hallowed to Mr. Wiles as he had spent a lifetime of service in the Christian church as elder an in a part of his long services had carried on the ministry of the church and assisted in preserving the church in this community. Rev. Charles Finch of Kansas City, a son-in-law of Mr. Wiles served as the minister and gave the last rites of the church to his loved one and paid a very fine tribute to his life and service, to this country, his community, his church and his family circle who were called upon to mourn the passing of the father and grandfather. During the services the mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Hal Garnett, soprano, Mrs. Minnie Pickard, alto, Frank A. Cloidt, tenor and R. W. Knorr, bass, gave two of the loved hymns, "Jesus Lover Of My Soul" and "Going Down The Valley". At the close of the service the cortage wended its way to the Oak Hill cemetery where the boday was consigned to the last long rest. There was present at the church and the cemetery a large number of the W. R. C. while advanced years and poor health prevented the few remaining old comrades attending the service.