Coleman Co., TX - Obits: Henry W. Kingsbery ****************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Michele Holland Mills USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************** Henry W. Kingsbery obituary #1 Henry W. Kingsbery Passes To Reward Santa Anna News, Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas, January 1929 Henry Williams Kingsbery, one of the best known and most lovable characters in Coleman county, passed to his reward last Thursday night, January 3rd at his home six miles south of town. He has been in failing health for man than one year, prior to which he was considered one of the most supple men of his age in the county. Death resulted from the effects of the flu, according to information reaching us this week, having been stricken with the disease December 22. Henry Williams Kingsbery was born Carrelton, Ga., February 24th, 1847. Should he have lived until February 24th, this yea, he would have reached his 82nd birthday. He came to Texas in the winter of 1876, and spent the first several years of his life on some of the old historical cattle trails, going with several large herds from Texas to the northern and western states to market and range. It was more than interesting to sit and listen to Mr. Kingsbery tell of incidents that happened while on some of the long drives. By way of explination the editor is writing this in his room, where we have been for a week, s uffering with an attack of the flu, and are writing from memory alone. We have some data in our office that would greatly aid us right here in preparing an article that we would rather have at this time, but since we have not been able to leave our room for a solid week, we will just make the best of the situation we can from what we have at hand and in mind. Deceased came to Coleman county in 1882, shortly after the county was organized and has spent nearly fifty years of faithful services in helping to build and establish one of the leading counties in Central West Texas. He served for several years at one time in the official capacity of sheriff and tax collector, but has always been interested in livestock and agricultural developments. When he retired from public office, he purchased a fine stock farm south of Santa Anna, where he lived out the remainder of a most valuable life and expired sometime during the night of Thursday, January 3rd. Deceased was twice married. His first marriage was to Miss Callie Lane of Georgetown, Texas, during the year of 1892. To this union was born three children, all of whom are still living. Howard T. who lived on the ranch with his father, Miss Merle now Mrs. Lee Woodward of Plainview, Texas, and Carroll E. also living here. Mrs. Kingsbery died in 1899. Deceased was later married to Miss Cora Berry of Granbury, Texas, who, together with all three children and four grandchildren survive him. The funeral services were held at the Methodist church Saturday afternoon, conducted by his pastor, Rev. B. R. Wagner, pastor Martin of the Baptist church, Judge Marcus Weatherred of Coleman, M. J. Norrell of Dallas and Mrs. J. Hall Bowman of Rising Star all paid beautiful and befitting tributes to the life of Col. Kingsbery during the funeral services. Deceased was a faithful member of the Methodist church, and had served for several years as one of the trustees of the church property. He was also a member of the Stonewall Jackson Corp. U. C. V. His remains were laid to rest in the local cemetery to await the Judgment. In the death of Col. Kingsbery, personally, the editor feels the loss of a very close friend and counselor. Often we have looked to this treasured old soul for friendly counsel and never was disappointed. Well do we remember when we first moved to Santa Anna, a stranger and struggling hard for sustenance for myself and my family, this wonderful old man came to our office, made himself known, offered words of encouragement and not only this, but left us a nice little check in payment of our paper, a box of stationery and a list of local advertisements to be run in our classified column. We have enjoyed his constant visits every since, and since that first acquaintance, his visits have been received and appreciated in a fatherly kind of way, for he never did occur to us as a stranger after the first meeting. (We pause at this point to remove the tears from our eyes.) Col. Kingsbery had some faults, but they were all covered up with his many good qualities. His life was not for himself alone, but much of it was spent for others. He was often called upon to go to those in trouble and enver failed. His friendly touch, personality and good advise has been shared by hundreds, and such a character as he was will be greatly missed in this country. We will always cheerish his memory with pleasant thoughts and our sympathy is extended to the bereaved family. In his passing the community has lost a most treasured asset. His family has lost a father and companion. His friends have lost one of the most treasured assets. The active pall bearers were W. Ford Barnes, Leman Brown, D. W. Keefer, Burgess Weaver, Roy Stockard, C. W. Woodruff, E. M. Easley, and Press McCord, the latter being from Coleman. The following list was named as honary pall bearers: From Santa Anna: Fred W. Turner, R. C. Gay, F. C. Woodward, J. T. Newman, Dr. T. M. Hays, Dr. T. R. Sealy, T. J. Lancaster, V. L. Grady, E. P. Rendleman, S. D. Harper, J. F. Turner, J. D. Simpson, W. R. Kelley, Curtis Collins, D. J. Barnes, L. W. Hunter, Luther Stewardson, E. L. Woodward, Henry Brown, Lee Mobley, A. R. Brown, H. I. Shield; from Coleman; Judge J. O. Woodward, Walter Woodward, E. M. Critz, Marcus Weatherd, R. V. Wood, Will Gay, Wade Golson, W. J. Coulson, Jim Dibrell, Billie Rose, J. F. Gordon; Capt. J. A. Robertson, Galveston, Texas; Jim Cox, Gouldbusk; Walter Pope, Austin; Bob Goodfellow, Austin; Jim Andrews, Bangs; Albert Shaw, Cristoval; M. L. McFarland, Lee Guthrie, Joe Turner, Earl Gill, E. L. Karr, of Brownsood, and C. B. Rendleman of Little Rock, Arkansas. ***************************************************************************** Kingsbery Genealogy http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mhmills