Okfuskee, OK – Obit - Kezer, Daniel J., 1832-1921 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: Donna Barnes Email address: okfuskee@losdos.org Date submitted: 5/16/1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by noncommercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files by noncommercial entities and libraries is encouraged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Okemah Oklahoma Ledger, Thursday, June 23, 1921 "J. D. Kezer, Sr. age 89 years, died Thursday afternoon of last week just as the sun was setting. He was one of the picturesque old timers of the early day of the west, and helped make history of the great southwest. The past two or three days the old man had been bothered with flux, and Wednesday while attempting to fix up a dose of medicine of Jamaica ginger and peppermint, picked up a bottle containing carbolic acid instead of the ginger and the effects of the acid was fatal the following day. His eyesight had almost entirely failed. There was no one in the room at the time of the accident, but he was found unconscious within a few minutes afterwards. Dr. Keyes and Stephenson were called and gave treatment. The indications were that as soon as the old man found what he was taking, spit out what he could, but swallowed enough to prove fatal. Mr. Kezer was born in Ohio in 1832 in Claremont county, and moved to Missouri with his parents at the age of two, where claims were homesteaded. Mr. Kezer was married twice, three children being born to the first union, one child now living, Miss M.E. Kezer of Woodward, Okla. To the second union seven children were born, five of whom are living. They are Mrs. D. J. Judkins of Montgomery, Ala., Miss Hattie Kezer of Okemah, Mrs. Ed Miles of Custer City, Okla., J. D. Kezer and Osman Kezer of Okemah. He joined the M. E. Church at Council Grove, Kans., when 18 years old. The funeral services were conducted by Dr. Franklin Moore at the home and the burial was made Friday in the Highland cemetery. Mr. Kezer's stories of the early days in the west were most interesting and some few years ago he wrote a brief review of incidents for publication after his death, but thus far the document has not been found. He made three trips when eighteen years old from the Kansas City boat landing on the Missouri over the famous Santa Fe trail to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He said there was often 300 ox schooners in the train and at night they would form a big circle with the oxen and people on the inside as a protection against the Indians, who were constantly raiding the wagon trains. He was acquainted with the James boys and met Frank James in Okemah in the early days of the town, when he paid a visit to this town. He also knew the members of the famous Quantrell band. He knew John Brown of Kansas fame, and has been on his place, and also visited the place where Brown was hung at Harper's Ferry. During the Civil war Mr. Kezer was a member of the Kansas State Militia, and helped organize that body of state troops. It was their duty to keep the Indians quiet and prevent them from making war on the settlers of Kansas. He was 25 years old before he ever saw a railroad engine, and lived at a time when he seen the ox train transplanted by the modern railroad, and the modern automobile take the place of the horse and saddle. When he was a boy there was still a great deal of witch craft superstition among the people and an invention was looked upon with suspicion. The old man followed the change of times and conditions with extreme interest and had many interesting stories to tell of the reception of some of the changes that we see every day and think nothing of." Source: The Okfuskee County News, June 23, 1921 "Daniel J. Kezer died at his home in East Okemah Thursday night from the effects of a dose of carbolic acid, which it is believed he took through mistake. The deceased was 89 years of age and had been quite feeble for some time. His eyesight was very defective and it is thought that he intended to take a dose of peppermint, which was in an ounce bottle similar in size to a bottle which contained carbolic acid. Mr. Kezer evidently swallowed but a small portion of the deadly acid, as the mistake occurred Saturday afternoon and he lived until the following Thursday. But for his advanced age and debilitated condition he would probably have recovered from the accident. The deceased was one of the oldest residents of Okemah, having lived here practically since the opening of the town. He was respected by all who knew him. The funeral was held Friday, services being conducted by Rev. J. Franklin Moore, pastor of the M. E. Church, South. Interment was in Highland cemetery.