Mclennan Co. TX - Obits from March 1902 Submitted by: Carol Couch Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ----------------------------------------------- WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 01, 1902 SATURDAY MRS. BLOCKER DEAD Mrs. M.A. Blocker died at 12:15 o'clock this morning at the residence of her brother, Captain D.R. Gurley, on South Third street. Mrs. Blocker was well known, having reared a family in this county and was one among the early settlers. The announcement of her death will be sad news to a large circle of friends in Waco and McLennan county. The arrangements for the funeral had not been made when the Times-Herald closed for the press. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 02, 1902 SUNDAY W. H. ESTILL A large concourse of citizens followed the remains of W.H. Estill to the cemetery on yesterday afternoon, where he was buried with impressive ritual service of the Masonic fraternity. This venerable man was in his 89th year: born in Winchester, Tennessee, July 7th, 1813. Mrs. Estill, his wife, known to the older citizens, died in Belton twelve years ago. Nine children were born to these worthy people, four of whom survive, two sons and two daughters. They came to this place twenty-six years ago. Mr. Estill filled the office of justice of the peace for over twenty years, and was exercising the duties of his office when the pressure of advancing years weighed him down. For fifteen months had been confined to his bed, a most patient sufferer, always bright and cheery and appreciative of the kindness of friends. - Belton Journal DEATH ROLL Funeral of Mrs. Blocker to Take Place this Morning The announcement of Mrs. Mary A. Blocker's death, which was made in yesterday's paper was read with much sorrow in this city. She is one of the oldest residents of Waco and has made her home with her brother, Colonel Davis R. Gurley, since the Civil War. The deceased was in the 77th year of her age and was universally loved. She was born in North Alabama and was the daughter of Davis and P.B. Gurley. She was educated at Athens Female college. After graduating she came with her father's family to Texas and came to Waco in 1863. Soon after this family moved to this city she was married to R.F. Blocker, of the law firm of Blocker and Gurley. Two children blessed this marriage, but neither survived and died in their infancy. In 1865, Mrs. Blocker was left a widow and has lived with her brother, Davis R. Gurley, since that time. She was a consistent Christian and has been a member of the Methodist church since her girlhood. She was faithful to her church and her beautiful life and character have been a benefit to those who have known her. The funeral will be from the residence of Davis R. Gurley on South Third street, Rev. M.S. Hotchkiss officiating. The following are the pallbearers: C.C. McCulloch, W.D. Jackson, W.L. Tucker, J.C. West, W.S. Kincheloe and A.N. Earle. J. M. ANDERSON DEAD J. M. Anderson, who has been ill at his home on Franklin street for some two weeks, died yesterday morning at his residence, No. 1005 Franklin street. The funeral will take place at 3 o'clock this afternoon, interment at Oakwood. Mr. Anderson was 42 years of age at the time of his death and was known to a large number of people, all of whom esteemed him. He was for a long time connected with the grocery business of Luckett & Co., on Third street and also worked for --- [the next line is unreadable]---- ago with something like inflammation of the bowels and grew steadily worse until the time of his death. The deceased was a Woodman and an Odd Fellow and was highly esteemed by all. He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss and they have the loving sympathy of all. MRS. M.B. GOLSON The sudden death of Mrs. M.B. Golson at San Antonio on Monday removes from Waco one of her pioneer citizens, one who came to live in Waco before the war. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 05, 1902 WEDNESDAY MCGREGOR MATTERS JOE EMBRY BEN GRAY McGregor, Tex.-Last Saturday Joe Embry buried a small child and on Sunday Ben Gray buried one of his little ones. Both children had pneumonia. GRANDMA CALDWELL McGregor, Tex- Today at noon the remains of Grandma Caldwell arrived on the Cotton Belt train and the burial is going on at this writing. Grandma went to Mississippi a few months ago to make a visit with relatives and was taken sick shortly after getting there and was unable to get home. Her two sons, S.J. Caldwell of McGregor and Dr. Caldwell of Bartlett, came in with the remains, and her daughter, Mrs. Winslet, and a large number of friends met them at the train. Funeral exercises were held at her home on Main street. Sister Caldwell was the widow of Rev. S. I. Caldwell, who died two years ago. She was an old Texan, having lived in the state more than half a century, having been a citizen of McGregor for more than ten years, she was known and beloved by all. She leaves four children, several grandchildren and a host of good friends to mourn her death. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 06, 1902 THURSDAY DIED IN KNOXVILLE O.B. Wiggins, has gone to Knoxville, Tenn., to attend the funeral of his brother, C.P. Wiggins, who died in that city Tuesday night. He will be gone for several days. Mr. Wiggins has the sympathy of his friends in his sorrow. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 07, 1902 FRIDAY K.A. MCKINNIE DEAD K.A. McKinnie, the well known cotton buyer, died at his home, 523 South Third Street, at 12 o'clock last night of pneumonia. He had only been ill a few days and his death was unexpected. Mr. McKinnie has lived in this city for a number of years and has been recognized as one of the best posted cotton men in the city. He has been connected with the American Cotton company for several years and was until last season their district manager at Dallas. This season he has been located in Waco. Mrs. K.A. McKinnie is one of the efficient teachers in the public schools and has been at the South Third street school for many years. She has the loving sympathy of all her friends in this dark hour. The funeral arrangements will be made today. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 08, 1902 SATURDAY MR. MCKINNIE'S DEATH The funeral of K.A. McKinnie, who died Thursday night at midnight, will take place from the residence, No. 523 South Third street, this morning at 10 o'clock. The services will be conducted by Rev. J.G. Kendall, assisted by Dr. S.A. King. Interment at Oakwood cemetery. The deceased was born in Warren, Ga., August 21, 1848 and resided in that state for a number of years. He was married to Miss Susie Gibson in [this line is unreadable] and she survives. Soon after the marriage Mr. and Mrs., McKinnie moved to Waco and have resided in this city since that time. Mr. McKinnie has been in the cotton business most of the time since his residence in Waco and is recognized as one of the best cotton men in the state. He was by nature of a retiring disposition, and quiet in manner but those who knew him best were his best friends. He attended strictly to business and has been quite successful in his chosen trade. During the past few months he has been in delicate health, but has lost no time from his work. A few days before his death his firm instructed him to go down on the Brazos river and look at some cotton there. In making this trip through the disagreeable weather he contracted a cold and in a very short time pneumonia developed. Being weak lunged and rather weak physically he was unable to bear up against the attack, and going to bed Tuesday he lived until Thursday night. It was not thought until Thursday afternoon that his condition was serious and even then it was not regarded as critical until later on in the evening. He passed away without a struggle and was fully prepared to answer the summons. His devoted wife, who survives, is one of the most lovable woman in the city and has the sincere sympathy of all. She has been in the city schools for a number of years and her work as a teacher has won the admiration of the hundreds whose children that she has instructed. The following are the pallbearers: J.C. Lattimore, J.M. Ferguson, W.T. Woodard, W.T. Watt, J.N. Ganaghin, T. Jeff Smith. Honorary: R.P. Kirk, Robt. Brook, W.S. Heard, R.J. Tolson, Dr. H.W. Smith, J.T. Brock, J.C. King, C.S. Johnson WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 09, 1902 SUNDAY MISS LULA HOLDER DEAD Miss Lula Holder died at her home, 1201 Webster street, last night at 9:30 o'clock, at the aged of 21 years. Funeral arrangements were not made in time for publication. The family has many friends in the city who will join in sorrow for the departed member and extend sincere sympathy. HEWITT HAPPENINGS NAT PARKER Nat Parker, a well known colored man, died at the home of his son-in-law, a few miles west of Hewitt last Sunday, and was buried Monday. "Uncle" Nat, as he was familiarly known, was 92 years old, and had lived in McLennan County forty years. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 11, 1902 TUESDAY DROPPED DEAD An Aged Citizen Dies Suddenly from Paralysis - Funeral this Morning J. G. Meisner dropped dead yesterday morning between 8 and 9 o'clock at the residence of Charles Schoener, No 726 North Eighth street, from a stroke of paralysis of the heart this being the second stroke he has had within the past months. Inquiry at the store of Wm. Krause yesterday brought the information that Mr. Meisner who was a native of Germany has been in bad health for some time, having given up his business near Mooreville temporarily on this account. He was a very close friend of the Krause family and of other Germans who have been here some time besides having endeared himself to the people of Waco generally by his kindly modest and generous characteristics. He has been living in this city for nearly forty years, having been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge about thirty-six years. He had a farm near Golindo, until recently when he sold it, coming to Waco from his store near Mooreville, for medical treatment. He had a bad stroke of paralysis in January, which induced him to take this step. He grew some better and was able to get about a little, but this morning the final stroke came and deprived him of life within a short time. He was past seventy years of age, and has no relatives in this country. He has a sister in Germany, but no other relatives so far known. A coincidence in connection with the matter is the fact that Charles Shoener, at whose place Mr. Meisner died yesterday, was carried off in practically the same manner. Mr. Shoener fell dead at the same place about a year ago. The funeral of Mr. Meisner will take place at 10 o'clock this morning from the undertaking establishment of Fall & Puckett, where the body was taken yesterday for preparation for its long rest. The Odd Fellows will officiate, he having been a prominent and popular member of that order, interment following at the Odd Fellows cemetery. I LOWINGER, A WELL KNOWN CITIZEN TOOK HIS LIFE YESTERDAY AT 12 O'CLOCK I. Lowinger, a well known citizen of Waco, took his own life yesterday about 12 o'clock by sending a bullet crashing through his brain. The tragedy occurred in room 25 of the McCleland hotel, the room being used for a toilet and bath room. No one was present when the fatal bullet was fired, and it was perhaps half an hour before the rash act was committed. What led to it is a puzzle to all for it is thought that he had every environment around him that would conduce to happiness. Only a few weeks ago the deceased was wedded to Mrs. Julia Moses and the two had been boarding at the McClelland hotel since the marriage. They seemed to be entirely content and in fact the deceased was seen only a few minutes before his death and he seemed to be in the best of spirits and was far from trouble. But no man knows the inward feeling of a man from his outward expressions and it is likely while he was pleasant to those who met him that he had decided at that very moment for his self destruction. Mr. Lowinger had a safe [ the next line is unreadable] the safe and took his revolver from out of the drawer. About 11 o'clock he was in the rotunda of the McClelland hotel and had a talk with Dr. A. Suhler. The latter gentleman says that he was in a talkative mood and seemed to be in the best of spirits. Half an hour later he was in H. Jacobs tailor shop and was still maintaining his feelings, and his apparent good feelings were even noticeable by that gentleman. After having a conversation with Mr. Jacobs Mr. Lawinger said that he had some business to attend to in his room in the hotel and took his departure. In about half an hour from then he was discovered in the room mentioned above with a bullet hole in his head and the life blood flowing freely, but already dead. The pistol used was a 38-caliber Smith & Wesson and his aim was true, as the ball went through and through his head going into the right temple and coming out at the left , afterwards burying itself in the wall and carrying with it a secret of the man's act. The ball showed that it had considerable force left after traversing Lowinger's head. So far as known no one heard the shot and the first known of the tragedy was when a chambermaid tried to enter the room which is used as a bath room and closet. She found the door locked and after trying vainly to enter called a negro boy and asked him to go around the back way and open a window, as some one had come out and locked the door. The room is on the third floor, and the boy quickly saw what had caused the trouble and communicated the information. Lowinger when found was lying on his back, the room bathed in blood about him, perfectly dead. The dust had been brushed off the wall for several feet and it looked as though he might have walked along the paper irresolutely before firing the shot. He must have died almost instantly. He had on all of his clothes and looked very natural when found, save for the ghastly wound in the head. He was not powder burned or marred save by the spots marking the entrance and exit of the leaden missile. He had been married once before, but it is understood that there were no children. Lowinger was a Hungarian by birth and had done very well financially in this country, being in comfortable circumstances. He had been in various lines of business in Waco and until recently conducted a liquor business on the square. He was well known, a man of good intelligence, magnificent physique and of a social and generous turn. The statement made in the Telephone quoting M. Firnberg was an error. That gentleman stated that he said that it was a noticeable fact that many of the nobility of Hungary did commit suicide, but did not quote Mr. Lowinger as having said so. Mr. Lowinger came to Waco more than twenty years ago and has been prominent in business circles. He has been very successful in his undertakings and was in good circumstances. He was rather retiring in disposition, but was well liked. The funeral will take place from the McClelland hotel this afternoon at 3 o'clock under the auspices of the Hebrew Benevolent association. Interment at Hebrew Rest. FUNERAL NOTICE Members of Eureka lodge No. 198, I.O.B.B. and members of Hebrew Benevolent association are hereby notified to attend the funeral of our late brother, I. Lowinger, Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m. from the McClelland hotel. Members of the lodge will assemble at the lodge room at 3 p.m. By order of : L.J. Davidson, President Eureka Lodge No. 198 WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 12, 1902 WEDNESDAY TWO CHILDREN CREMATED Claude, Tex.-Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Evans, whose home is in the extreme southwest corner of Armstrong county, had the misfortune to loose two of their children, a boy of 7 and a girl of 8 years, along with their house and contents, by fire about 5:30 this morning. When the parents awoke they discovered the whole house a mass of flames and the room in which their two children had been sleeping almost destroyed. As it was found utterly impossible to save the children, the father and mother managed to escape through the flames with the other child. The building, with its entire contents burned to the ground, when the charred remains of the two unfortunate children were found in the location in which their bed stood. THOMAS M'GHEE DEAD Thomas Scott McGhee, who lived in Waco nearly thirty years ago and who married Miss Jennine Glenn, died Monday night four miles from Leon Junction as a result of heart trouble. He was taken ill Tuesday and grew worse until he died. His wife was a sister of Mrs. Robert Ross of Waco and Mrs. T.H. Killingsworth of Rusk, also of W.P. Glenn of South Bosque. He married in Waco and was known to all the old settlers, by whom he was universally esteemed. He has been living at other places for a long while, but has kept up his friendships here by occasional visits. The news of his death will cause sorrow among his old friends. He leaves two sons, who are still with him, and one daughter at Hico and another at Leon Junction. Mrs. Ross and some of the other relatives will attend the funeral. MORTUARY MYRICK-Italy, Tex--E. L. Myrick died here yesterday afternoon. He was with Owens grading outfit, and his home was at Prairie View, Williamson County. KNOX-Rosebud, Tex--Mr. J. F. Knox of Barclay, eight miles west of here, died at his residence this morning. He was postmaster and merchant and an old resident of that place. He leaves a wife and several children. He will be buried with Masonic honors in Barclay cemetery. RITCHEY-Marion, Tex.-- Died at her residence, about one mile and one-half south of Marion, late last night, Mrs. Mary Ritchey, aged 29 years, of typhoid pneumonia. Deceased was born and raised in Guadalupe county. She leaves a husband, three small children and numerous relatives to mourn her loss. FORBES-Kenedy, Tex.-- Dr. C.J. Forbes, son of Dr. J. A. Forbes, died at Charco of pneumonia. He was brought to this place and buried yesterday. He was born in this county, but until recently had lived in other portions of the state. Rev. John Hudson of Round Rock, and who performed the marriage ceremony of Dr. Forbes years ago, was present and conducted the ceremonies. FRICKEY-Franklin, Tex.-- Mr. C. W. Frickey, aged 69 years, a respected and prominent citizen of this place, died last night and was laid to rest in the Franklin cemetery today. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church and was universally loved. He leaves an aged wife and one single daughter, Miss Gracie, also two married daughters, Mrs. James Gilland of Franklin and Mrs. Nestor of Denver; also one son, living in Denver. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 13, 1902 THURSDAY LAID TO REST The remains of Major Wiley Jones were laid to rest yesterday afternoon and the funeral was one of the largest that has occurred in Waco in a long time. The services were from the residence of J.E. Egan on Washington street and were very impressive. Floral tributes were in the greatest profusion and showed the high esteem in which the beloved dead was held. A noticeable thing of the funeral was the presence of so many of the old residents of the city and county. This was due to the high esteem in which he was held and the broad acquaintance he had all over the county. The funeral procession was a very long one, the fire department draped in mourning taking part in it. The deceased was seven years the chief of the fire department and his efforts have done much toward bringing the department to its present efficient position. The remains now sleep in Oakwood, but his spirit is with the angels in heaven. WACO TIMES HERALD MARCH 14, 1902 FRIDAY A DEAD MEXICAN Found Near Gurley Who Had Been Stabbed Through the Heart The railroad crews who came to the city at noon yesterday on the Aransas Pass railroad report that the section hands at Gurley found a dead Mexican near Gurley at 11 o'clock. There was every evidence of foul play in the dead man. He had several stabs in the breast and there was evidence of a life struggle between the man and some other person. The body was found near the track a short distance from the whistling sign this side of Gurley, but in Falls county. The Mexican was taken in charge by the proper authorities and will be buried at Gurley. From the reports received no clue as to who committed the deed had been secured, but it is certain that a murder had been committed.