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ELGIN COURIER   JAN. 29, 1942

JOHN SAMUEL KELTON OF MCDADE PASSES FOLLOWING EIGHT MONTHS ILLNESS.

 

Mr. John Samuel Kelton, prominent and revered citizen of McDade, passed onto his final reward Wednesday night, Jan. 21st, 1942, at 11:20 o’clock, at the family home, following an illness of eight months, caused from infirmaties of old age.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, January 23rd, from the rsidence in McDade, at 2:30 o’clock with Rev. Beasley of Austin, assisted by Rev.Wayne Dubson, of Georgetown, and Rev. Holt, of  McDade, officiating.  Interment was in the McDade Cemetery in the family burial plot beside his wife who passed on a short while ago.  Pallbearers were W.P.Wilson, A.P.Williams, R.L.Chaney, C.L.Kunkel, W.T. Stagner and J.C. Sanders.

            The group of sorrowing friends and relatives from various central Texas points present to pay their last respects attested to the high esteem in which he was held.

            The mound of his final resting place was banked with a fragrant floral blanket composed of the profusion of handsome floral tributes sent as expressions of love and sympathy to his bereaved family.

            John Samuel Kelton was born December 7, 1885, in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Thomas Eggleton and Sarah Kelton.  He came to Texas in 1873 and located some six miles above Bastrop, where he was employed with Mr. Coulson on his farm.  He later returned to his home state and while there was married Susannah Hickerson, at McMinnville, Tenn., on February 5, 1882.  They came to Texas, to McDade, in 1883 and for 5 years he farmed, moving into the town of McDade in 1888, where he was employed in the large store of Morris Bassist.

            In 1900 Mr. Kelton was elected Justice of the Peace, serving for 2 years.  He then clerked for Mr. LeMaster and in 1913 he and Mr. Kunkel, also a LeMaster employee, decided to go into business for themselves and bought the dry goods and furniture departments from their employer, later becoming owner of the grocery department.  Mr. Kelton was active in the management of this business until his health failed.

            He was active in all the affairs of the community; served as school trustee for many years and took active part in building the large schoolhouse that recently burned.

            By faith Mr. Kelton was a Methodist, having been converted and joined the church at the age of 14 years.  He was a consistent church member the rest of his life.  He served as steward and trustee of his church and as Sunday School superintendent for many years.  He was a member of the building committee at the time the McDade church was built.  He was a man whose influence was felt throughout the community, Kind, sympathetic with those bereaved or in misfortune, those who sought his helpful counsel, dependable and true to his friends, he was admired and beloved by all and known as a wonderful father and husband.

            He was one of the oldest Masons in this section of the country, being a charter member of the McDade Lodge, later transferring his membership to the Elgin Lodge of which he was a member at the time of his death.  He practiced the principles and teachings of Masonry in his private life and business dealings and as a result prospered and won the confidence and esteem of an unlimited friendship.

            Surviving are 5 daughters, Mrs. M.C.Donham, Smithville; Mrs. W.E. Scott, and Mrs. L.A. Kunkel, McDade; Mrs. H. Lee Vincent, Taft and Mrs. G.H. Miller, Columbus, Texas; and one son, S.M. Kelton, Ingram; also one sister, Mrs. D.B. Spillar, Austin; 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grand children.

            Among those from other places present for the funeral were; Mr. R.F. Ott and daughter, Mr. and Mrs.D.B. Spillar, Mr. and Mrs. B.R. Spillar,

Miss Irene Derrick, Mrs. Lillie Shelby, Miss Margaret Sue Miller, Mrs. Joe Hanson, all of Austin; Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Sapp, Mr. J.H. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Hartford Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Brannon, Bastrop; Mrs. Sam Seamon Jr., Mrs. E.E. Irwin, Mr.and Mrs. G. H. Miller and Gus Jr., Mr. E.G. Miller, Mrs. W.M. Paulson, all of Columbus; Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Vincent, Houston; Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Donham, Denison; Mr. and Mrs. L.V. Homuth, Port Arthur; Mr. and Mrs. M.B. Scott and Jeanine, Brownwood.

            Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Donham, Mr. J.D. Donham, Mr. and Mrs. Jap Spillar, Smithville; Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Watterson, Mrs. Mary Frost, Mrs. M.L.Singleton, Mrs. J.L. Wilson, Dr. and Mrs. Milton Sheppard, J. F. Metcalfe, Elgin; Mrs. Texana Harvey and Mrs. Alma Westbrook, New Braunfels; Dr. and Mrs. Beasley, Austin; Mr. E.K. Scott, Houston; Mrs. Ben Heironymus, Corpus Christi; Mr. and Mrs. H. Lee Vincent, Taft Rev. Wayne Dunson, Georgetown.

 

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