Death of J.I. H. Westover

A Former Citizen of Crawford County Passed Away at Chandler, Okla,
and the Remains Brought to His Old Home for Interment.

In the death of James Ira Halbert Westover, which occured at the
home John Westover’s near Chandler, Okla., at 9:15 o’clock a.m.
on Friday, April 30, 1909, removes one of the most prominent figures
in the early settlement of Crawford county, Missouri

He was born in St. Francois county, Missouri, Aug. 2, 1830 and at
the time of his death was 70 yrs, 6 mo, and 23 days old.  He came
to this county in the year 1853 and settled on the place on which
he lived and made his home.

Three years after coming here he returned to St. Francois county
for the purpose of settling his father’s estate, after which he
returned here.  He was a mechanic and miller and built what is
known as the Westover Mill on Dry Creek where he made his home
until a few years ago, when he disposed of the property to
Mr. T.J. Branson, the present owner.

At the time he erected this mill it was one of a few in the part
of Missouri and was patronized from far and near.  The power for
driving the machinary was a water-wheel which was driven by water
from an immense spring about one-fourth of a mile from the mill,
which is built on a rock foundation.  In connection with the mill
and operated with the same power was an immense cording machine
which made wool rolls from which principally all the wearing
apparel was made in those days.  A cane mill which also operated
by this power, was one of the utilities until by the ingenious
hands of this man.  Citizens from all parts of Crawford, Washing-
ton, Iron and Dent counties came to this place for their bread
stuff, their wool and sorghum molasses.  The sorghum cane was fed
in the cane mill nad came out the finished product.  A conveyer
carried the refuse from the cane mill into the creek and it was
washed away.  Near the mill is situated a blacksmith and wood
shop where Mr. Westover make a large portion of the machinery
that was used in the mill, carding machine and cane mill, and
the immense timbers that form the frame work of the mill which
he cut and honed fifty or sixty years ago, are now in a perfectly
sound condition, and on every hand a person can see the handiwork
of this once resourceful and useful citizen.  Years ago when the
mills ran with a water-wheel a dam was built across the creek
near the mill and an immense pond of water was made above the
millsite, but later when the turbine wheel replaced the old water-
wheel, a mill-race a quarter of a mile long was built through
which the stream water was conveyed to the pen-stock where turbines
drive the mill machinery.  The old cane mill is partially rotted 
down, and the rolls in the carding mill have ceased to go round.
Modern rolls in the mill now makes a high grade of flour, instead
of the rolls which formerly made flour for farmers, who would come
thirty of forty miles to mill.
Times change all things and the remark was frequently make on
Sunday at the funeral of the originator of these enterprises, that
he was never known to turn any person away who came to him for
assistance and they were remembered by the hundreds, as many of
his old acquaintances and friends who were in abundance at his
funeral.

He was married to Miss Lavina Houck of St. Francois county about
the time he came to this county.  His wife died almost six years
ago.  They were the parents of seven children - six sons and one
daughter.  The daughter was married to Mr. G. W. Ives of this city
and died in 1897.  Four sons are now living.

Mr. Westover visited in this county, last summer and sent to 
Chandler where he had been making his home with his sons, last
September.  He was stricken seriously ill on Monday the 26th of 
April, and was sick but four days until he passed away.  His
illness was of the heart.

Notwithstanding the fact that but few persons were aware of his
death, all who learned of the funeral were present to pay the
last tribute of respect to a worthy and useful citizen.