Obituaries of People Buried at Fillmore (pre 1924)

Date of death: 1 May 1857

Subject: Ruth (Adkins) Holt

Source: Weekly Tribune, [Clay Co., MO], 22 May 1857 

In Fillmore, Andrew county, Mo., on the 1st inst., at 5 o’clock P.M., Mrs. Ruth C. Holt, wife of John W. Holt, in the 22d year of her age. 

Source: North West Democrat, Saturday, May 9, 1857, p. 3 

"Died-- In Fillmore, Andrew county, Mo., on the 1st inst., at 5 o'clock P.M., Mrs. Ruth C. Holt, wife of John W. Holt, in the 22nd year of her age, after a protracted illness, which she bore with exemplary Christian resignation.  Exemplifying in the dark world of tribulations, that the way to a future and happy home, lies thro' the dark valley and shadow of death, which may be passed in safety, by those who trust a faithful God.  Her bereaved husband, parents, relatives, and numerous friends and especially her infant, left motherless, have the assurance that their loss is her gain.  For her we may mourn-- but only mourn as those who have hope, while we are called to weep with those who weep, our grief may subside by the comfort, which hope imparts.  To meet her again, let us all be prepared.

A friend."

Date of death: 6 Mar 1866

Subject: Nancy (Francis) Griffith

Source: St. Louis Christian Advocate, 10 May 1866, p. 7 

At the residence of her daughter, Mrs. India A. Kenyan, on the 6th of March, 1866, Nancy Griffith, in the 87th year of her age.  Mother Griffith was the daughter of William and Sarah Francis.  She was born in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.  Early in life she emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1838, to Andrew county, Missouri.  She had been a devoted member of the Methodist Church and a most exemplary Christian for nearly sixty years.  Her piety was uniform and cheerful.  Her mental faculties remained unimpaired to the last.  She loved to talk of death as the gate to endless joy; she looked forward to it with fond anticipation.  Her death was as calm and peaceful as an infant's slumber, without pain or struggle; she fell asleep in Jesus. 

H. H. Hedgpeth

Date of death: [19] June 1903

Subject: Lucile Harris

Source: unknown, possibly 19 Jun 1903 

Elijah Harris' Daughter Dead

Lucile Harris, the little seven year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Harris, living eight miles west of Savannah, died Saturday. The remains were taken to the Fillmore Cemetery and interred after the funeral, which was conducted at the home Sunday.

Date of death: 13 Feb 1869

Subject: Rev. Henry H. Hedgpeth

Source: St. Louis Christian Advocate, 10 Mar 1869, p. 8 

Rev. Henry H. Hedgpeth was born June 5, 1832, and died Feb. 13, 1869. 

In his early youth he was converted to God, and united with the M. E. Church, South.  Before he had reached his majority he received a license to preach, and was admitted to the traveling connection in the Missouri Conference at its session in St. Joseph, in October, 1852.  During the first or second year of his itinerant ministry he was united in marriage to Miss Kenion, who for about ten years shared with him the toils and sacrifices, the privileges and pleasures of the itinerant life.  To them were born four children, three of whom had, with the mother, entered into rest before him.  One yet remains.  May the God of her father and of her mother be her God! 

Bro. Hedgpeth had served the church in the office of Presiding Elder for several years, and at the last session of the Missouri Conference was reappointed to the Savannah district.  He had nearly completed his first round of quarterly meetings when, on the 22nd of November, he was taken with symptoms of typhoid fever.  He made an effort to read the house of Sister Wilson, widow of the late Rev. Anthony Wilson, formerly a member of the Kansas Conference, and after an effort of two days, sick and weary, but with a heart overflowing with gratitude to God, he found himself in the midst of that kind family where during his long and painful illness he was so carefully and tenderly nursed.  His sickness was so protracted and his recovery so doubtful that there was great anxiety felt by the church throughout the entire Conference.  Sharing this anxiety, and being within about sixty-five miles of him, I determined to visit him, and did so.  I desired to know if he were comfortably situated, and was gratified to find that he wanted for nothing that Christian kindness could bestow.  Better than this, I found him exceedingly happy in God, full of faith and hope.  He desired to live that he might do good, and yet he was perfectly resigned to death if God willed it.  We who were present can never forget the morning devotions of the next day after I reached him.  He had been placed in an arm chair, and as I read the 23d chapter of Revelation he became unspeakably happy.  Tears of joy ran down his emaciated cheeks, and during the prayer and afterward, his responses were loud and fervent.  After the prayer we sang-- 

            Jesus, lover of my soul

            Let me to thy bosom fly, etc. 

His soul seemed to be in a transport of joy. 

A few days before this he seemed to have a vision of the spirit world.  He said it was no imagination, that it was real, that he was able to see heaven in all its splendid magnificence and glory, and that the happiness of those in heaven was real.  He was asked in regard to the suffering of the wicked.  He said he could not say much about them, that he saw them very far away, and that they seemed to be getting farther away continually. 

In him patience had a perfect work; no word of complaint fell from his lips during all his sickness.  His heart was full of love and gratitude to his brother and the kind family that nursed him, and to his brethren and friends that visited him. 

When I left him on Saturday morning I had some hope of his recovery; the indications were more favorable than they had been.  On Sabbath and on Monday he seemed still to be improving, and on Monday evening his physician expressed himself very hopefully in regard to his recovery. 

It was only a few hours after this, while troubled with a cough, that hemorrhage of the lungs occurred, and in a few minutes he fell asleep in Jesus. 

His remains were taken to Fillmore, in Andrew county, Missouri, and were buried beside the wife of his youth.  The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. C. L. Vanderventer and the writer. 

Henry H. Hedgpeth was no ordinary man.  Sound in judgment, vigorous in intellect, with an exceedingly clear perception of the truth of God as revealed in the holy Scriptures, and a very large store of general knowledge, he was to the intelligent and attentive listener an exceedingly interesting preacher.  Few men in the church were superior to him as an expounded of the word of God. 

In theology and ecclesiastical polity, Bro. Hedgpeth was emphatically a Methodist.  No one ever heard him, either publicly or privately, inveigh against the doctrine or discipline of that church of which he was an ordained minister.  Bro. Hedgpeth was no idler, no croaker.  Many difficult and laborious fields were assigned him; but with the cheerfulness of a man whose faith is in God, he occupied those fields, and during the sixteen years of his itinerant life no word of complaint ever fell from his lips. 

The workmen cease from their labors, but the work goes on. 

His father and three brothers reside in California; one brother, the one who nursed him in his sickness, resides in Missouri, and one sister resides in Kansas.  His mother was in heaven ready to welcome him. 

W. M. Rush

Date of death: 18 Feb 1918

Subject: John Florence Hunt

Source: Savannah Reporter, 1 Mar 1918 

Passing of Rosendale's Oldest Inhabitant

John Florence Hunt was born in Highland County Ohio, January 29, 1932. His parents, John and Ada Florence Hunt were born in the same county. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Ireland. John Hunt senior, died when the subject of this sketch was a small boy and he being the eldest of a large family was under the necessity of taking the lead in the home.

Date of death: 8 Feb 1923

Subject: Laura (Killin) Wardlow

Source: Savannah Reporter, 15 Feb 1923 

Laura, daughter of Charles and Thursa Killin, was born August 18, 1854 at St. Joseph, and died at her home north of Fillmore, February 9, at the age of 68 years, 5 months and 20 days.  When twelve years of age she moved to a place one-half mile from where she resided at the time of her death. 

On November 9, 1871, she was united in marriage to Milton Wardlow.  To this union were born fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters.  She leaves to mourn her death seven sons and one daughter: David A. Wardlow, Savannah; Ira Wardlow, Rea; Walter C. Wardlow and Charles W. Wardlow, both of Kansas City, Kansas; Wesley E. Wardlow, Trenton; Loren M. Wardlow, McCook, Nebraska; Mrs. Ethel Holt and Fred M. Wardlow, both of Fillmore; thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; one sister Mrs. William Simerly, Fillmore and many other relatives and friends. 

On June 4, 1914 she was baptized and later united with the M. E. church under Rev. Wiley.  She lived faithful until her death. 

The funeral services were held at the M. E. church Friday afternoon at 2:30 by Rev. L. T. Focht.  Burial was in the Fillmore cemetery.

Date of death: 3 Mar 1905

Subject: Walter H. Mooney

Source: Fillmore Lever, Mar 1905 

Walter H. Mooney was born October 11, 1887 at Savannah, and died March 3, 1905. He was a son of Jasper H. Mooney, who resides near Helwig, in Holt county. Funeral services were conducted in the M. E. Church in Fillmore, Sunday, March 5, by G. W. Praiswater, and the body laid to rest in the Fillmore cemetery.

Date of death: 24 Nov 1910

Subject: Robert Leslie Patterson

Source: unknown, Nov 1910 

Robert Leslie Patterson, born Nov. 11, 1846, Savannah, died at daughter's home (Mrs. May Ruhl), Rosendale on Nov. 24, 1910 at age 64. Burial at Fillmore Cemetery.

Date of death: 22 Jan 1907

Subject: Rev. George W. Praiswater

Source: unknown, Jan 1907 

Rev. George W. Praisewater [sic, throughout] was born in Boone County, Indiana, on March 28, 1853, died at his home six miles northwest of Fillmore, Mo., Jan. 22, 1907, aged 53 years, 9 months and 24 days. In the year 1856 his father, Samuel Praisewater, moved his family to Missouri, and from that time they resided in the immediate vicinity of the home of the deceased.

Brother Praisewater was married March 18, 1877, to Miss Emma Duey of  Andrew County, Mo. To this union were born seven children - six daughters and one son. Their names are Susie, now Mrs. J. J. Hall; Dasie, now Mrs. R. D. Fleming; Verna, Golda, Ralph, Roselia and Bessie. Besides the seven children and his companion, he leaves to mourn in departure, an aged father and mother, four brothers and two sisters, five grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was baptized in the Lutheran church in infancy, and was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of 18. At the age of 21 he received license to exhort, and later was licensed to preach, and in the year 1886 served as pastor of the M. E. church at Craig, Holt County, Mo. But on account of a throat trouble he was compelled to give up his cherished hopes of a ministerial life and return to his farm but
his zeal for the cause of Christ, which he had so earnestly espoused did not wane, for he was very frequently called upon to preach funeral sermons and conduct other religious services. He was without doubt the most successful Sunday School worker in the entire community. He was always a very active member and a liberal supporter of the Oak Grove M. E. church, and his death is an irreparable loss to the church and community. It was very truthfully said of him from the pulpit of the Oak Grove church, on the day of his funeral, "that perhaps not a man, woman or child in the community had, in the last quarter of a century,  professed saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ without having received some help and spiritual advice from him."

The writer fails to find any word or phrase that will adequately express the high esteem in which Rev. Praisewater was held in the community in which he lived. It is not known that he had an enemy, and this is most remarkable when we consider that he was a man of firm convictions, never making any excuse or allowance for wrong doing, yet always ready and willing to forgive the wrongs of his erring brother. His friends, realizing his inestimable worth to the community, elected him, with a good majority, to the state legislature in the year 1898, and being well pleased with his services they manifested their appreciation by giving him another term in 1900.

His was an active, busy life, and as we look at it we are disposed to say that it had a premature close for he was but 53 years of age when the summons came, but God said: "It is enough, come up higher." And he, realizing that the end had come, could say like Paul: "I am ready to be offered up. The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have kept the faith. I have finished my course. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." He gave good evidence just before his death of his "abundant entrance" into the City of the King, for turning to his family he said: "Do you hear that singing? That is the sweetest music I ever heard."

The funeral service was held at the Oak Grove church, Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. The service was conducted by Rev. E. B. Lytle, Presiding Elder of the Maryville district, assisted by Rev. M. H. Jordan, pastor of the M. E. church at Bolckow, and the writer, C. H. Sauceman, pastor of the Fillmore charge M. E. church. The body was laid to rest in the
Fillmore cemetery. With the departure of Brother Praisewater Methodism has lost a very
efficient and faithful layman.

Date of death: 28 Oct 1917

Subject: Sarah Elizabeth (Riggin) Wescott

Source: Andrew County Democrat, 2 Nov 1917

Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of James and Rebecca Riggin was born March 7, 1850, in Andrew County, Missouri, and departed this life October 28, 1917 aged 67 years, 7 months and 28 days. She was united in marriage to James Wescott, May 19, 1872, and to this union was born four children, George H., of Kidder, Mo, Mrs. Maude E. Hosher, Mrs. Lottie J. Duncan and James Thomas Westcott all three of Andrew county. She also leaves four grandchildren besides an aged mother and two sisters. Her husband died May 9, 1912. With the exception of a few years she lived her entire life on the farm just east of Fillmore, Mo. Her life was lived as a true Christian. Her membership was in the First Presbyterian church of Savannah. In her passing the community loses a friend who was the same at all times, and the family a true hearted loving Mother. But in her departure they have the assurance that all is well.

Mrs. Wescott's sickness was of short duration. She was taken with what she thought to be the Grip only about a week ago but it was found to be more serious. She was taken to St. Joseph to a hospital, and it was too late for an operation. Everything was done that loving hands and hearts could do for her.

The funeral service was conducted in the Methodist church at Fillmore by Dr. H. A. Sawyers, assisted by Rev. A. D. Seelig of the Presbyterian church of Savannah, Mo., and Rev. A. H. McKellup of the M. E. church of Fillmore at eleven o'clock Tuesday, October 30, and the remains were laid to rest in the Fillmore cemetery. A short service was held at the home before going to the church. The text used was Amos 4:12, "Prepare to meet thy God."

Date of death: 13 Mar 1884

Subject: Lewis Roberts

Source: Savannah Reporter, 21 Mar 1884 

Lewis Roberts died at the residence of Jasper Bradford, one and a half mile [sic] south of Fillmore, on Thursday morning at six o'clock, March 13, 1884.  Deceased was fifty-three years of age.

Date of death: 21 Feb 1896

Subject: Permilia "Millie" (Temple or Auld) Berry

Source: Savannah Reporter, 28 Feb 1896

Aunt Millie Berry, who is so well known, was buried here last Sunday. She will be greatly missed in this community. Her funeral was preached at the M. E. church, South. She having been a member of that church for sixty years.

Date of death: 5 Jan 1923

Subject: Joseph Morton Walker

Source: [probably Savannah Reporter], Jan 1923 

Joseph Morton Walker, son of James F. and Katherine Walker, was born in Lee county, Virginia, May 22, 1843, and departed this life, after a few days of illness of pneumonia, January 5, 1923, at his home four and one-half miles northwest of Rosendale, at the age of 79 years, 7 months and 23 days.  He came to Andrew county, Missouri, with his parents when he was but a child, and this county has been his home ever since. 

For three years he served in the Civil War, being a member of Company B, Fourth Missouri Voluntary Cavalry.  Later he was appointed and commissioned First Lieutenant of K Company, of the 98th Regiment of Missouri militia, by Governor Thomas C. Fletcher.  He was an honored, upright and beloved citizen of this county.  To his friends and neighbors he was familiarly known as Uncle Joe. 

February 16, 1879, he was married to Susan Wright, and to this union were born four children, all of whom, with their mother, survive, and were at his bedside during his illness.  The names of the children are: Orey M., Ernest W., Mrs. Laura Lemmon and Mrs. Ethie Roach.  Besides the immediate family he is survived by eight grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Mary E. Lincoln, of Washington, four brothers, Richard W. Walker, William L. Walker, James M. Walker, of Fillmore and A. F. Walker, of St. Joseph, also by his neighbors and many friends who will mourn his departure.  He was one of the best of neighbors and a friend to all who knew him.  He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. 

Funeral services were conducted from the Fillmore Christian church, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. The address was delivered by Rev. N. O. Rogers, of Savannah.  The body was laid to rest in the Fillmore cemetery.

Date of death: 21 Jul 1909

Subject: Cary Wardlow

Source: Savannah Reporter, Jul 1909 

Another old pioneer has left us in the person of Cary Wardlow, who was called on the long voyage July 21st.  He had been a resident of Andrew county since 1841, and in all that time was never known to wrong a neighbor.  He came here when the country was young, and did his part toward developing its natural resources, and making Missouri the splendid commonwealth she is today. 

Cary Wardlow was born in Highland county, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1839; moved with his parents to this county in 1841, and on Nov. 21st, 1869, was married to Martha Hulse.  To this union were born four children, two of whom died in infancy.  The survivors are Thomas A. Wardlow and Mrs. F. E. Wade.  After his marriage he moved onto a farm adjoining the old home place, where he lived till May 15th, 1879, when his wife died, leaving him with three children.  He then lived with his mother till May 15th, 1881, when he was married to Martha Tyler, and the couple moved back onto their farm.  They resided there till last spring, when they moved onto another farm a mile and a half north of Fillmore, where he died, survived by the wife and the two children mentioned above. 

Funeral services were conducted at the family residence at 2 p.m. today, after which the earthly remains were deposited in the Fillmore Cemetery.

Date of death: 9 Aug 1922

Subject: Milton Wardlow

Source: Savannah Reporter, Aug 1922 

Milton Wardlow, son of David and Sarah Wardlow, was born near Fillmore, April 12, 1848, and departed this life August 9, 1922, at the age of 74 years, 3 months and 28 days, having spent his life within one-half mile of his birthplace.  He has been in poor health for some time but only confined to his bed for four days. 

At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Union Army, Company D, 43rd regiment and was discharged from service June 13, 1865, having served almost fifteen months. 

November 9, 1871 he was married to Laura Killen.  To this union were born fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters. 

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, seven sons and one daughter, David A., of Savannah; Ira, of Rea; Walter C. and Charles W., of Kansas City, Kansas; Wesley E., of Ravenwood; Loren M. of McCook, Neb.; Ethel and Fred at home and thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. 

The memorial services were held at the Fillmore M. E. Church Friday afternoon in the presence of a large crowd, Rev. M. F. Brower, of Savannah, gave the address. 

His six strong and respected sons acted as pall bearers.  What a great heritage this man has left.  The body of this man, who did the best he could, was placed in the Fillmore cemetery and he who occupied that body has gone on to home in the heavens not made with hands and He who took care of him so wisely here is doing the same thing there.

Date of death: 15 Mar 1902 & 16 Mar 1902

Subject: Lewis Wright & Martha (Shunk) Wright

Source: Savannah Democrat from the Fillmore Lever, 28 Mar 1902 

Lewis Wright died at his home south of town, Saturday, at the advanced age of 80 years, 11 months and 16 days. On the following day the old wife also departed to join her husband in the great beyond. Her age was 72 years, 5 months and 21 days. 

Lewis Wright was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, March 29, 1821. 

Mrs. Wright, who was Miss Martha Shunk, was born in Licking county, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1829. 

Funeral services were held at the family residence by Jas. M. Walker, and the remains of husband and wife were laid to rest in one grave in the Fillmore cemetery, Monday, March 17. 

A large concourse of sorrowing friends followed the remains to their resting place. – Fillmore Lever.