McLennan Co. TX - Obits from December 1914 These obits transcribed by Peggy Corder. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Tuesday December 1, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Funeral of Mrs Birmingham Mrs Minnie Birmingham was buried this afternoon at Greenwood cemetery. The funeral service was held from the residence at White City, on the Robinsonville road. Mrs Birmingham was 38 years of age, the wife of J T Birmingham. She died yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock. She is survived by her husband and two sons, Robert and Erwin. Wednesday December 2, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Col R E Burham died early this morning Aged Waco resident called to his reward by death angel Located in Waco Forty-Two years ago -Father-in-law of Mayor J W Riggins Lingering in a comatose condition for the past few days, Col R E Burnham , aged 81 years, died this morning at 3:30 in his apartments at the Riggins hotel, surrounded by all of his children. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 10:30 in the parlors of the Riggins hotel. Rev C T Caldwell officiating. Interment will be made at Oakwood and the Masons will be in charge of the grave. The active pallbearers are J F Brinkerhoff, T B Barton, Clint Padgitt, Pat M Neff, S P Ross, and John C Davis, Honary : A R McCollum. T F Mann, R H Gray, Dr P R Hengsi,, C H Higginson, Alfred Abeel, W E Colgin, John Sleeper, and George A O'Brien. For several years Colonel Burnham had been in ill health and his advanced age precluded all possibility of a recovery, when pneumonia developed. He was given every attention that the love and devotion of faithful children could suggest but it was known last week that it was impossible for him to survive. Richard Ellis Burnham was born in Murray County Tennessee close to Columbia on September 22 1833. At a early age in life, he went to Nashville after being left an orphan. His advancement in commercial circles was rapid and substantial and in Nashville he was married to Miss Eliza Crosby, who died when their five children were quite young. Colonel Burharm came to Waco in 1872 and though he has resided in Georgia and Florida for the past twelve yeasts, he claimed Waco as his home. For a number of years he engaged in the wholesale business in this city, the firm being known as Magale and Burham and their operations covered a very extensive territory, in the early days in Texas. About sixteen years ago Colonel Burnham retired from active business life. At one time Colonel Burnham was the owner of extensive property interests here, but he had disposed of most of he holding at the time of his death. He retained though, the ownership of valuable land in Georgia and Florida. Probably no resident of this city was better known or more highly esteemed then Colonel Burnham, he was man among men, in all his endeavors and activities. Loyal to his friends and generous at all times, his philanthropies could they be enumerated would fill a volume. Colonel Burnham would never speak of his good deeds, and those which became known were related by the ones who had been the recipients of his kindness. A keen observer and gifted with business acumen rarely found his advice and counsel were often sought by his business associates and friends. He was prudent and careful at all times, and his decision was reached as a result of calm and mature deliberation. He never courted publicity, and he never spoke of his achievements. No one here had greater faith in Waco's future greatness than Colonel Burnham. He realized her vast possibilities and this city's development and progress were with him a matter of pride. As stated above Waco was home to him and he had often expressed the wish to spend is last days in a city that claimed so much of his of his attention and where his closest and most intimate friends lived. Surviving Colonel Burnham are the following children: Mrs J W Riggins, Mrs M A Sullivan, Mrs Kittie Campbell, and R O Burnham Waco, Mrs M E Peach, Atlanta GA. All of these have the loving sympathy of a host of friends in their bereavement. Wednesday December 2, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Last Call comes for Martin E M'Grath Martin E McGrath died this morning at 6:40, at the home of his daughter, Mrs J D Holcomb, 1801 South Tenth street. Funeral services were conducted at the residence at 3 o'clock this afternoon, Rev W W Melton officiating, after which the body was shipped by Undertaker F M Compton to Vinton, Ohio, where interment will take place. Had decedent lived until December 28, he would have attained his eighty - eight year. For the past seven years Mr McGrath had been making his home with his daughter here. He was born in Ohio, in 1826, and was, for many years, engaged in the contracting business in that state. He had been confined to his bed for the past eighteen months. Mr McGrath was known to many here and in Ohio he had a legion of friends and acquaintances. He was a sincere, consistent Christian, a strict observer of the golden rule, in al relations of life. Besides the daughter here, Mr McGrath is survived by two sons, Dr J C McGrath of Nelsonville, O and T F McGrath of Columbus O. The bereaved children have , the sympathy of many . Mrs Holcomb is the wife of Prof I D Holcomb ,principal of the central grammar school . Saturday December 5, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Pioneer Resident died early this morning At her home on North Bosque, Mrs El Ditto, aged 70 years , died this morning at 2 o'clock, after a brief illness. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, these being held in abeyance until her sons can be heard from. The death of Mrs Ditto today removes from this life one of McLennan county's pioneer residents. She had lived in the community where she died since 1856, fifty-eight years, and she had a host of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. Mrs Ditto was a most earnest and sincere Christian and she departed this life well prepared to meet her God. Besides her husband , Elie Ditto, she is survived by three sons, Theodore, Frank , and Ed Ditto, who live in Hall county, a sister Mrs Henrietta Sparks, and a niece Mrs J W Downs, both of Waco, a brother, W T McCann at San Paulo, Brazil and a sister Mrs B L Kennedy at China Springs. All of these have the sincere sympathy of many in their bereavement. Monday December 7, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald BOY AT ELK KILLED BY "UNLOADED" GUN (Mart Herald Dec 5) >From parties coming to town this morning for a coffin, it was learned that John Pavlosky, living near Elk, was accidentally killed at their home about noon Friday , December 4. According to the statement made the Herald reporter, deceased with his older brother, was preparing to clean a gun (rifle) which they must have thought unloaded. The younger brother started to go for the rod, when by accident his brother let the fun fall to the floor. A discharge followed, the bullet entering the boys, back with fatal results. Monday December 7, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Sidney T Smith Dies after long illness Sidney T Smith , aged 51 years died this morning at 8:45 o'clock at his residence, 417 South Ninth street .He has been a resident of Waco for the past twenty-five years . For two years he has been in bad health. He is survived by his wife and three sons, Roger, James and Enrique, all living in Waco. He also leaves a brother,. J E Smith of Waco and three sisters. The funeral will be held from the John Fall Undertaking company's chapel tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Pall bearers: Active Henry Hays, Mack Cardwell, Ed Teagle, George Yard, F H Woytek, Mike Tonnahill, Honorary G H Luedde, J C Fields Jr, W W Seley, S Archenhold, O L Stribing, H Meyer Monday December 7, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Find Dead Man on T C Right of Way Burns from Hot Cinders may have caused Death of J L Evans in East Waco About 9 o'clock yesterday morning the lifeless body of J L Evans aged 37 years, who lives at Leon Junction, was found on a pile of hot cinders, along the Texas Central right of way, about two blocks from the yard limits in East Waco. The discovery was made by Jack Small, who has been employed as a laborer on the county roads, and G M Gerst , the latter coming here Saturday from El Campo. They reported the finding of the body to the officers and the corpse was viewed by Justice J J Padett. This morning the body of Evans was sent to Leon Junction by Undertaker L C Puckett, and interment will take place in that city this afternoon. Leo Evans was seen alive for the last time last Saturday afternoon,, and he is said to have usually carried some money with him. He also owned a fine watch, but this was gone, together with a part of the chain, when his body was found. An investigation is being conducted by the officers. Evans body was burned about the arm and chest, and these burns resulted from contact with the hot cinders. It is said they sufficient to have caused death The man was lying on his stomach in such a way as to inhale the steam that exuded from the cinders. Judge Padgett's verdict is that Evans came to his death from an unknown cause. Leo Evans was married at Leon Junction less than a year ago. He had been picking cotton in the neighborhood of Waco this fall, and was preparing to return home when his death occurred. A bill of lading for his furniture, which had been shipped to Leon Junction, was found among his effects. Besides his widow, Evans is survived by his parents, Mr & Mrs J L Evans Sr, five brothers and one sister at Leon Junction. One of his brothers, Len Evans, came here last night to make the funeral arrangements. He accompanied the body back home today. Monday December 7, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Death Sudden for Harris Novich Prominent Austin Street Merchant Died Unexpectedly yesterday afternoon Death came very suddenly yesterday afternoon, presumably from heat failure for Harris Novich, aged 54, who passed away at 2:30 at his home, 702 North Fifteenth street. Mr Novich moved into the house where he died one day last week. The funeral will take place from the family residence this afternoon at 3:30. Rev S Levy officiating. Interment will be made at Hebrew Rest. The active pallbearers are: A Adelman, L Fred, J S Cohen, J Davidson, , J Goldberg and Sam Marks. Honorary : Dr A Suhler, Thomas Davidson, Julius Kuttner, A Freedman, L Grasberg, and Ezra Naman. Though he had been ailing for the past few days, Mr Novich was able to be at his place of business on Austin street last Saturday afternoon. He took sick after dinner yesterday and before a physician could be had he was dead. The death of Mr Novich came as a very painful shock to a host of friends and acquaintances here, where he had lived for the past quarter of a century. He was born in Russia. For the past ten years he had been proprietor of a crockery and china glassware house at 509 Austin street and prior to that time he had a grocery store in South Waco. . Harris Novich was a very devout and consistent member of Congregation Agudath Jacob, and no member of that orthodox congregation was more faithful in the performance of his religious duties. He contributed liberally to its support, and was active in all its affairs, at all times. If there was any man in Waco who refused to intrude upon his neighbor's concern, it was Harrris Novich. A man of quiet unpretentious demeanor , he busied himself with his own interest, according to every other man the same right. Among his own people and those of other religious beliefs Mr Novich was noted for his charitable deeds. He was a kindly man in every sense of the word, not one who rendered a philanthropic service for the world's praise, but of the type who ever cherished in his heart a great love for his fellow man. Beside his widow, Mr Novich is survived by four daughter and two sons, Mrs L Lazarus, Misses May Ray and Jennie Novich, and J D Novich, Waco and George Novich Portland , Ore. He also has four brothers, Abe Novich, Waco, Ben Novich Dallas, Mose Novich, New York, and Sam Novich Asheville, N C To all of these the most sincere condolence. Tuesday December 8, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Buried at Patrick The funeral of Buster Brown, aged 6 years, son of Mr. And Mrs. W A Brown, who died yesterday, near China Springs, took place this afternoon at Patrick Tuesday December 8, 1914 Waco Daily Times Herald Funeral at Ennis The remains of Drew D Johns, aged 21, who died last evening at 7:50 were shipped to Ennis for interment today by John Fall Undertaking company. Mr Johns who had been ill for about a month, died at the home of his brother, H H Johns, 1702 North Fourth street. He was in the employ of the B Kemendo company as city salesman. He was very popular here a young man of sterling straits, who had endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. Besides the brother above named he has another brother here, Roy Johns. His father H M Johns lives at Tecumsheh, Okla. And he also has a sister, Miss Bessie Johns, at Springtown. Theses have the sympathy of many in their great bereavement.