In Memoriam - November 25th

1658  Joseph Loomis age about 68 in Windsor, CT.  He was born before 1590 in England the son of John & Agnes (--?--) Loomis.  He worked as a woolen draper in Braintree, England which means that he sold wool cloth.  Joseph married Mary White in Messing, England in 1614 and they had eight children: Sarah, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas, Nathaniel and Samuel.  The family immigrated to New England in 1638 landing in Boston, settling in Dorchester briefly before finally settling in Windsor, CT.  After his death the estate was valued at £178, 10 s.

1859 Jacob Colclasure in Clay Co., IL age 64.  The son of Abraham & Abigail (Dennen) Colclasure was born in Hardin Co., KY in 1795.  The family moved to Indiana where he married Mary Trinkle.  Jacob & Mary had thirteen children:  John, Jacob, Elizabeth, Abigail, Abraham, Mary, Richard, William, Nancy, Rachel, unnamed child, Caroline and Steven.  Jacob moved his family to Clay County, IL in 1828.  He is buried in Oak Mound Cemetery in Clay Co., IL.

1923 Mystery in Death of Emery Johnson

Keenes Relatives of Dead Man Have Reasons to Suspect Foul Play in Victim's Death

Charles and Ettie Johnson, living three miles south of Keenes, received the following telegram on Friday, November 30th:

Arco, Idaho.

Emery A. Johnson died here Tuesday.  Wire instructions.

Joe Detton, sheriff of Butte Co.

They answered at once by wire as follows:

Prepare and ship body of Emery A. Johnson to Chas. Johnson, Keenes, Ill., express, collect.

They waited four days, expecting body to arrive and then received the following letter from sheriff Detton.

Arco, Idaho, Nov. 30th.

I telegraphed you today informing you of the death of your son, Emery A. Johnson, who died near here on Tuesday the 27th of November.  The body was taken to Mackay, Idaho, by the authorities of Custer county and we are not informed as to whether the funeral has taken place yet or not.  I inclose herewith clipping from today's newspaper in which is contained most of the facts that are known.  Emery Johnson, at the time of his death owned a Chevrolet touring car, of which the motor and license number are in my office.  The Custer Co. authorities have taken charge of this car.  What they intend to do with it is not known to me, but you might get in touch with the sheriffs office of Custer county at Challis, Idaho, and inquire.  I have a suit case containing some personal effects which I will send to you in case it is not called for by Edgar Johnson, Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming, who has been notified and who may possibly come here.  If there is anything we can do for you, or any questions we can answer let us know.

Very truly yours,

Joe Detton, Sheriff

The clipping from the Arco paper follows:

Emery Johnson of the upper Little Lost Valley, was found dead in bed in his cabin last Tuesday morning.  He was bunking with a man named Scott and before retiring the night before Johnson complained of not feeling well.  Tuesday morning after Scott had built a fire and the room was warm, he attempted to arouse his partner, but life had become extinct during the night.  He resided in Custer Co. but we understand no inquest will be held as it was a clear case of death from heart failure.

Death took place in the cabin owned by Wallace, the painter, in which the men were making their home.

After sending many telegrams and writing some twenty letters, Mr. Johnson received a letter from J.H. Baxter, undertaker at Mackay, Idaho, saying:

Emery Johnson was brought to me about 1 o'clock on Nov. 28th and buried about that hour on the 29th.  The body and the grip was brought to me by the Sheriff of Custer Co.  The body was practically nude, only the underwar being on it.  No hat, socks or shoes.  The grip contained a suit of underwear and a few trinkets.  The sheriff of Custer Co. can tell you more than I know.  The body was in good shape for being dead so long (a fine specimen of physical manhood.)

He having no clothes nor no money, and a stranger with relatives unknown, we buried him as he was brought (just another of those sad cases, all too numerous in these wild-west regions.)  A tag on the suit case read, 'Emery A. Johnson, Wayne City, Ill.'  I will do all I can in this matter for you.

J.H. Baxter, Undertaker.

Another letter from Sheriff Detton states that he has known Emery Johnson for about nine months and that emery had a Chevrolet touring car and paid for it and had considerable money in the local bank there.

Emery's parents wrote the sheriff of Custer county some twenty days ago, asking for the particulars surrounding Emery's death but have received no answer yet.

They also wrote the folks where Emery was last known to have worked, but have received no answer.  His folks at Keenes received a letter, Dec. 13th from another son, Edgar Johnson of 76th Field Artillery, Cheyenne, Wyoming, dated Dec. 9th and mailed at Blackfoot, Idaho, stating that he was waiting for an 8:25 a.m. train for Arco to investigate the death of brother Emery, and to see about his property also and asking his folks to communicate with him at Challis, Idaho, which is the county seat of Custer county and has no R.R. nor telegraph office.

Mr. Johnson answered his son at Challis the same day they received his letter, but have never heard of him since and are uneasy in regard to him.  The folks here wired the money to Mackay, Idaho, to have Emery's body sent home and received word that the body would be taken up about Dec. 27, 1923 and then it will take about four days on the way here.  It was the intention for Edgar Johnson to accompany the body home.

Emery had been working on ranches around Arco all summer at about $100 per month.

In a letter dated September 28th he was working for Frank Curtis of Howe, Idaho, some sixty miles from Arco, and spoke of going deer hunting when he got through work, but later, Oct. 25th he said he had about $1000.00 counting his car.

His folks feel like he has been murdered.  The body will be laid to rest, three miles south of Keenes in Mt. Zion cemetery, on its arrival.

1963 Had Been in Poor Health Some Time; Wife of Don Austin; Rites Held

Mrs. Lova May Austin, 66, a housewife died at her home on rural route Wayne City at 8 a.m Saturday.

She had been in poor health for some time.

Mrs. Austin was the wife of Don Austin.

Funeral services were held from the Mt. Zion Methodist church Monday afternoon (today), with Rev. Tom Richards officiating.  Interment was in Mt. Zion cemetery.  The Richardson Funeral Home was in charge.

Lova May, daughter of Joe and Lulu Dove Lathrop, was born in Wayne county September 6^th 1897.

On March 14, 1928, she was married to Don Austin, with one son born to this union.

Mrs. Austin was a member of the Mt. Zion Methodist church.

Surviving are her husband; a son, Donald Gene, of East Peoria; two grandchildren; five brothers, Rufus, Albert, Forrest, Bernard and Raymond Lathrop all of Wayne City; and four sisters, Mrs. Gertie Shaw of Rochelle, and Tressie Lathrop, Zelphia Shelton and Ruby Shelton, all of Wayne City. 

1986 William Clark age 74 in Wayne, WV.  The son of Delbert & Ada (Delawder) Clark, he was born in Proctorville, OH in 1912.  William married Darlene Ellcessor and they had one son Donald.