Early Bevier Obits

Early Bevier Obituaries
(also some Bevier marriage notes)
Submitted by Viola (Cress) Slightom

• Willie ANDREWS, who was badly injured in the mines some weeks ago, died January 4, 1900. He was about 24 years old and had worked faithfully at his father's side since he was a child. Interment in Bevier Cemetery.

• John BAXTER, age 50, was killed by a falling rock on July 5, 1888.

• Lewis T. BRADFORD died January 18, 1897 at his home in Bevier, from injuries received in the coal mine last July. Funeral at the Congregational Church.

• Judge W.A. CLYMANS, 68, a veteran of the Civil War, died August 10, 1905 at the home of his brother in Bevier. He had been in the general mercantile business in Bevier for 40 years. He was a member of the Masonic Order and Justice of the Peace in Bevier.

• Rev. Clement COMBS, 71, died in Bevier June 12, 1893. He was born in Connecticut on March 20, 1822; called to Bevier as pastor of the First Congregational Church on May 1, 1893.

• Al CONNER was killed in the mines at Ardmore November 13, 1897 by a falling rock. He leaves a wife and five children. Interment in College Mound cemetery.

• A.B. DAVIS, a colored coal miner employed by the K&T Coal Company at mine #46, met with a fatal accident May 4, 1898.

• Rev. Thomas H. DAVIS, 56, died at his home in Bevier May 31, 1898. He was an ordained minister of the gospel of the Baptist faith, however, the last few years has not officiated in that capacity. He was elected to the position of Justice of the Peace of the township, which he held at the time of his death. He leaves a wife and three sons. The remains were taken in charge of Eskridge Lodge No. 253 of Bevier for burial.

• Frank DERBY, an aged citizen of Bevier, was instantly killed by a freight train on the Burlington Railroad, March 2, 1899. A half-pint bottle about half full of whiskey was found in his pocket, and it is supposed he had been drinking and fell asleep. He was the father-in-law of James MONAHAN, pit boss for the Kansas and Texas Coal Company at Bevier, and was about seventy years of age.

• Antonio DONATI was instantly killed at Mine No. 46 of the K.T. Coal Company on September 16, 1898 by a fall of slate. He was unmarried and about 35 years old, and a native of Italy. At the time of the accident he had upon his person $1,000.00, which he saved by strict economy and hard work. He intended to go back to his native country in the near future. Interment in the Catholic Cemetery in Macon.

• Lewis DUNEVOUT died from injuries sustained at Mine No. 3 by falling of coal. He was 39 years old.

• Judge Thomas EDWARDS, a prominent merchant of Bevier, died at a hospital in Kansas City on June 10, 1916. He was president of the People's Bank of Bevier and for many years was a grocer and drug merchant in Bevier. He leaves a wife and one son, Waldo Edwards, who is an attorney in Bevier. The remains were brought back to Bevier for the funeral and burial.

• David J. EVANS, 65, died at his home northwest of Bevier, March 4, 1895. He was one of the pioneer citizens of Macon County, having resided in the community about 30 years. He was a member of the Welsh Baptist Church. He leaves several children.

• Idris EVANS, 18, died at his home in Bevier on March 27, 1899. He was the youngest son of the late Esq. T.D. Evans. He was a member of Washington Lodge No. 314 I.O.G.T. of Bevier. Interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Bevier.

• Robert EVANS of Bevier was killed instantly in coal mine #43 by a rock falling on him. He leaves a wife and several children, and a brother, Joe Evans of Lebanon township.

• John J. EVANS, 24, of Bevier was almost instantly killed at Black Diamond Mine on May 2, 1892 while loading coal. He and his father were forking together when a rock fell and caught his head between the rock and box. This was the second son of John M. Evans to be killed at the mines. John J. and Miss Eliza HOMER (HAMER?) were married only one week.

• Mrs. Margaret FARR, 56, died at her home in Bevier August 9, 1916. She was the daughter of Reece and Mary Morgan and was born in Glanmorganshire Abardare, Wales, and came to this country with her parents when she was a child. She had lived in Bevier for over 40 years and has been in the millinery business for yearly 20 years. She was a member of the Congregational Church. She leaves three daughters and one son. Funeral in Bevier and interment in Oakwood Cemetery in Bevier. One daughter, Mrs. James R. Morgan from Portland, Oregon, is here for the funeral.

• Mrs. Elizabeth CRESS FOOS died March 6, 1919. She was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania April 17, 1845. At the age of seventeen she united in marriage to Casper Foos of Butler County, Pennsylvania. To this union were born fifteen children, twelve of them survive as follows: D.M. Foos of Davenport, Iowa; Mrs. Maggie Williamson of Moberly, Missouri; Mrs. Louisa Burch of Bloomington, Missouri; Mrs. Katie Burch of Bloomington, Missouri; George B. Foos of Bevier; Mrs. Tillie Evans of Bevier; Mrs. Cora Lee South of Macon, Missouri; Mrs. Zella (Heather?) of LaPlata, Missouri and Mrs. Lyda Williams of Bevier. She moved to Missouri about 40 years ago. She leaves one sister, Mrs. J.H. Jones of Bevier, and one brother, Milton Cress of Butler County, Pennsylvania. Interment in Bloomington Cemetery.

• W.B. GRANT of Bevier was accidentally killed on April 23, 1891 in a mine accident. He leaves a widow, stepdaughter and three small children.

• William H. HARDESTY, 87, died in Bevier December 10, 1913. He was born in Washington County, Kentucky in March, 1826. He came to Bevier township about 56 years ago, some years before coal was discovered and the site of Bevier was a farm. The timbers of the first mine sunk west of Bevier in 1860 were hewn by him, and the first car of coal was filled by him, and he took it in a wagon to town and unloaded it again into a railroad car to be sent to St. Joseph, Missouri as a sample of the coal. He leaves his wife and children. One daughter, Mrs. Daniel BROWETT, lives in Bevier.

• Joseph H. HART, 67, died January 1, 1916. He was born in England June 22, 1848. He came to America with his parents when he was ten years old, and they located at Kewanee, Illinois. He came to Missouri 45 years ago, where he met and married Miss Sarah BELSHER, daughter of the late Joseph Belsher, who resided in the Bloomington community. For a number of years the family lived on a farm south of Callao, where most of their children were born. Leaving that farm, Mr. Hart came to Bevier nearly 20 years ago to open a general mercantile store and engage in the livery business. He spent the remainder of his life in Bevier, where he was identified with business interests of the town. He is survived by three brothers and the following children: W.A. Hart, Mrs. Jennie Wright and James F. Hart of Bevier; Mrs. Alice Ball of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Joseph Edward Hart of Liveston, Montana; Mrs. Ethel Jones of Mystic, Iowa and Herbert S. Hart of San Antonio, Texas. Funeral held at the Christian church in Bevier and interment in Oakwood Cemetery.

• John R. HUGHES, Sr., 61, died at his residence in Bevier on June 3, 1899 from an attack of grippe. He was born at Tredegar, Wales, December 4, 1837. His parents came to the United States in 1849, and located at Pomeroy, Ohio. Daniel ROWLAND, their kinsman, accompanied them. Pomeroy was the family residence for 16 years during most of which time, Mr. Hughes was employed in the mines. On October 14, 1863 he married Miss Elizabeth REESE. They lived in LaSalle, Illinois, and then came to Bevier in 1867, their permanent home. After abandoning coal mining as a calling, he engaged in the mercantile business and for many years conducted one of the successful stores in Bevier. He had lived in Bevier for over 30 years and was an active member of the Welsh Congregational Church. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, which position he held at the time of his death. He leaves a widow and five children: D.R. Hughes of Macon; Ed R. Hughes of Windsor; John R. Hughes of Brookfield; Miss Lizzie Hughes and Miss Jennie Hughes of Bevier. Interment in Oakwood Cemetery, I.O.O.F fraternity in charge.

• Reverend S. JAMES, organizer and first pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bevier died March 28, 1874, age 67 years.

• Tony JICANO, an Italian coal miner, was run over and instantly killed by the railroad cars in Bevier on March 25, 1898.

• David W. JONES, 76, died November 12, 1893. He was an old citizen in Bevier, who, during his younger days, made quite a record as a musician. He leaves a family of grown children.

• Mrs. Jane JONES, 70, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. F.J. Jones, in Bevier on August 23, 1898. She was well known in Bevier, having resided in the township for 30 years, and raised her family here. Interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Bevier.

• Mrs. Sarah JONES, 26, wife of Ed T. Jones, died September 10, 1894 of typhoid fever at her home in Bevier. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas MORGAN of Brush Creek. She leaves a husband and two small children besides her parents.

• Charles A. KAVANAUGH, 37, died suddenly near his home in Bevier. He was superintendent and mine foreman of the Black Diamond Coal Company mines in Bevier. He leaves a wife, two sons and a sister, Miss Johannah Kavanaugh. Funeral services at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. He was the first to be laid to rest beneath its sacred soil.

• Mrs. Ernest Denea LEHRIG, 66, wife of Julius Lehrig, died at her home northeast of Bevier, September 10, 1916. She was born in Germany and came to Missouri in 1848. She united in marriage to Julius Lehrig November 16, 1873. To this union one son was born, Paul Lehrig, who, with her husband, survives. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Interment in the Bevier Cemetery.

• Mr. Ashley LOOMIS, 76, died at his home June 1, 1897. He had been a resident of Bevier for 15 years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He leaves a wife and two grown children.

• Jesse MALONE was killed at Mine No. 1 on August 21, 1886. A rock between two and three feet thick fell on him and he died instantly.

• James MITCHELL, colored, was killed February 7, 1887 at Mine #4 by falling rock.

• Lon OVERBY, 24, was killed at Watson's Coal Mine September 29, 1897. He leaves a wife and one child. Burial in the Teter Cemetery near College Mound.

• Herman PEUKERT, Jr., 29, of Bevier, died 1911, from injuries he received in the coal mines in 1905, since that time he had been crippled. He was a prominent member of the Herman Peukert Band, to which much of the success of the Bevier band was due to him and his father.

• Thomas POORE, 27, a mule driver in Watson's Mine, was killed (date?) from a large rock falling on him. He leaves a widow, one small child, father, mother, brothers and sisters.

• John RAFTER, Sr., 75, died at his home in Bevier on April 11, 1899. He was born in the old country, and his work after coming to America was a contractor and mine constructor in the coal region of Pennsylvania. He was been a resident of Bevier for more than a score of years and raised a large family of children. Funeral services were held in the Catholic Church at Bevier, and interment in the Catholic Cemetery in Macon.

• Alexander RECTOR, 67, died May 23, 1906 at the home of his son, James Rector, north of Chariton Station.

• William J. REES, 40, died in Bevier September 7, 1914. He was born in Catasaqua, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1874, the son of Thomas. He came to Bevier with his parents when a mere boy. For 26 years he has been a pharmacist in the drug store owned by Dr. T.S. WATSON. He leaves a father, mother, one sister, Mrs. Kate Watson and one brother, Archie Rees, both of Kansas City. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.

• John E. RICHARDS, 71, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas HEPPLE/HEAPLE (date?). He raised a large family of exceptionally bright children, two of whom, John B. and W.B., are ministers. Robert is state mine inspector, and George, district president of the miner's union for several years. There are also the daughters, Mrs. Thomas Heaple and Mrs. Thomas Thirlway. Funeral at Saints Chapel. All his children live in Bevier with the exception of Rev. John B. Richards of Jamesport, Mo.

• Johnnie ROBINSON, 24, was killed in a coal mine at Bevier on February 5, 1892. His father, James F. Robinson, was badly hurt in the same accident. The funeral service was held at the Christian Church in Bevier.

• Daniel ROWLAND, 63, died April 8, 1893 at his home in Bevier. He came to Missouri years ago, being one of the oldest citizens of Bevier. He was a member of the Welsh Congregational Church. He leaves three sons.

• Ephraim ROWLAND, 71, died in Bevier September 16, 1895. He was one of the oldest citizens in Bevier, having resided there over 30 years. He was a member of the R.L.D.S. Church. Surviving include wife Margaret, one daughter, Miss Mary A. Rowland, and four sons, Edward Rowland, John D. Rowland, William K. Rowland and Thomas A. Rowland. Edward Rowland is now on his way home from Carbon, Wyoming.

• Justice Thomas A. ROWLAND, 48, died suddenly at the home of his sister in Bevier on September 22, 1916. He was the son of Ephraim and Margaret Rowland, the former a native of Wales and the latter having been born in England. Ephraim and family came to America in 1855 and located in Utah, where they remained until 1867 when they came to Missouri. They were the parents of seven children. Justice Rowland was reared in Bevier and attended the public school here. His first employment was with the Burlington Railroad, where he studied telegraphy and in due time gained a position of operator at the Bevier station. In 1901 he was elected Mayor of Bevier and he held that office for two years. In 1903 he was elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held at the time of his death. As a correspondent for the daily newspaper, Justice Rowland kept Bevier on the map. He was an ardent Republican. He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

• Miss Bertie ROWLAND, 20, died August 30, 1896 at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Rowland of Bevier. She was a graduate of the New London schools and a member of the Christian Church. Burial in Bevier.

• James SHATTS died January 10, 1884. He was crushed by rock and buried in Bevier.

• Charles Albert SLIGHTOM, 40, died 5 March 1919. Married 1907 Miss Vallie Skinner, daughter of Blandy Skinner of Bloomington. Leaves wife, children Tabitha Bell and Zella May; parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Slightom; two sisters, Mrs. Aretta Tucker of Seattle, Washington and Mrs. Bessie Smith of Bevier; three brothers, Arthur Slightom of Bevier, James William Slightom of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Levi Slightom of Urbana, Illinois. He was a member of Enon Baptist Church, where interment was made.

• George Franklin SLIGHTOM died December 24, 1919. He was born October 10, 1849 in Macon County, where he spent most of his life. In 1874 he married Sarah Elizabeth Gross and to this union six children were born, four boys and two girls. They are Charles A. Slightom, deceased, J.W. of Idaho, Levi, Bessie, Auretta and Arthur F. of Bevier; a sister, Mrs. Margaret Crowder of Bevier. He was a member of Enon Baptist church where the funeral was held and interment in the church yard.

• Mrs. Kate SLIGHTOM, wife of James O. Slightom, died at her home near Bloomington May 1, 1902, She was a daughter of Blandymon Smith, one of the earliest settlers of Huntsville. She was born in Randolph County January 31, 1923 and had been married three times. Interment in the Slightom graveyard.

• Mrs. George F. SMITH died in Macon April 17, 1919. She was born January 31, 1871 and was married to George F. Smith on August 8, 1889. She leaves four sons, Earl Smith in France with the expeditionary forces, and Pearle Smith, Leroy Smith and John Wesley Smith, all of the home. Her husband died in August, 1916. Funeral at Mt. Olive Church.

• Willie SNIPES, 18, of Bevier community, died May 3, 1892, the result of an injury to the head he received while driving a mule in the coal mine. He leaves an aged mother who depended on him for support, besides a brother and sister. Interment at Antioch Church.

• Thomas STRUTH was killed March 16, 1888 at Watson's Mine. A flue in one of the boilers exploded, which wrecked the engine room.

• Robert VESTAL, 38, a workman in Heller and Sterrell's coal mine west of town, was crushed beneath a big mass of rock which fell from the roof of the mine and killed him March 11, 1889. He lived near Bevier and leaves a family.

• William WALLACE was killed by falling rock in the coal mine of John J. BROCK east of Ardmore, Missouri on March 3, 1892. He leaves a wife and nine children in almost destitute circumstances.

• Charles WARDELL, brother of the late Thomas Wardell and Mrs. W.S. Watson died November 1912. He was born in England in 1829 and came to America in 1851. He was married to Isabelle (?). Mr. Wardell was a coal miner and a stockholder in some of the Macon banks. Children are John W. Wardell, Dr. Thomas Wardell, Edward Wardell, Mrs. William Divers and Mrs. William Harp. (NOTE: Charles Wardell was the first man to be buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Bevier)

• Thomas E. WARDELL, Sr. was murdered in Bevier October 12, 1888. He came down to Bevier in his carriage, leaving it in charge of the driver some 100 feet north of the depot. He went into the telegraph office and in a few minutes came out and was passing through the crowd on the way back to his carriage when something was said concerning the strike. Mr. Wardell told them that he would, "beat them in the strike if he had to ship in every Scandinavian in the country." After he got some 70 or 100 feet away, some reckless persons threw several missiles at Mr. Wardell, one striking him in the back. He then went to his carriage, took out his revolver and told the crowd that they had hit him in the back. He fired his revolver. George Roberts says the bullet went through his coat. Immediately after this, three or four shots were fired at Mr. Wardell, one taking effect in the back part of his head, and he fell forward, lifeless. The town was in mourning, as Mr. Wardell had many good traits that the people of Bevier will never forget.

• Sherman WATSON of College Mound, Mo., was killed at Mine No. 27 in Ardmore on May 15, 1890 from loose rock falling on him. He leaves a wife and two children.

• John T. WILLIAMS, 66, died May 3, 1908 at his home in Bevier from hemorrhage of the lungs. He was born in Tidville Glanmorganshire, South Wales, August 10, 1841 and came to America in 1860. He settled with his father and sister at Daville and Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He moved to Bevier with his family in 1878. He was presiding elder of the Bevier branch of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. He was known to the Saints all over the world on the account of his musical abilities as a composer of church and Sunday school hymns. He left a wife and five children, namely: David M. Williams, police judge; John L. Williams; Thomas H. Williams; Mrs. L.O. Mason and Miss Harriet ("Hattie") Williams; also one sister, Mrs. Lydia Roberts of Rome, New York. Funeral at Saints Chapel.

• Mrs. John T. WILLIAMS, 63, died October 24, 1909 from typhoid fever. Survivors include the following children: David M. Williams, police judge; John L. Williams; Thomas H. Williams; Mrs. O.L. Mason and Miss Harriet ("Hattie") Williams; also one sister, Mrs. Thomas E. Thomas of New Philadelphia, Ohio. Funeral at Reorgqanized Latter Day Saints Church, to which she had been a member.

  MARRIAGES IN BEVIER

• William Henderson Burch married Louisa Foos in March, 1887.

• Daniel T. Edwards married Ann J. Evans on March 12, 1886.

• Willard Eskridge, a former Maconite, married Maggie Barclay of Moberly, Missouri on December 8, 1887. They plan to go to St. Louis and make their future home there.

• John J. Griffith married Mary J. Thomas on February 17, 1885.

• Goronway Price married Maggie Reese in February, 1886.

• John Reese, Jr. married Maggie Morris on May 25, 1887.

• David Roberts married Jennie F. Reese on April 1, 1884.

• William Rogers married Belle Price on December 23, 1887.

• Dr. D.D. Rowland and Miss Lizzie Evans, both of Bevier, were married June 1, 1896 by D.S. Jones at the home of the bride's parents.

• Jesse Simons married Celia Powell on May 3, 1884. T.D. Evans performed the ceremony.

• C. Thomas married Elizabeth Griffiths in December, 1886.

• Dr. Thomas Watson and Miss Nellie Rafter married at Macon on May 10, 1884.