William Henry Snider was my husbands 3rd great-grandfather. This is a nice, informative obituary.  I love it when they give details!!

From the Evening News Paper, 23 July1880:
Mr. William Henry Snider died on last Thursday morning, July 22, 1880, after a few weeks sickness, in his 74th year.  He was born in North Carolina, March 12, 1807.  He came in Utica in an early day, when Louisville was in the woods.  By his industrious, honest and temperate habits he got him a nice little home, in which he took great pains to keep in good and neat repair, and enjoyed saying it was by honest work that he got it.  He began after marriage by working for Mr. Jacob Lentz Sr. now living near Utica, for $10 per month and was to board at Mr. Lentz’s also, still he always saved a little to lay up for future use.  He was free-hearted and had good will for his fellow men, and was a serious member of the M.E. church, but he was always willing that everyone should have his own choice of churches.  he first joined the church in North Carolina and when he came here he joined what was known as the New Chapel camp meeting.  After the meeting he was amoung some of the brethen, urging them to organize the first Sunday school in Utica.  It was called the Union-Sunday school, all the church took part.  He was then elected Secretary of the Sunday-school, which office he held as long as the school lasted, and then the Methodists organized a school and he was chosen Secretary, which office he filled and was always prompt at his place  until about three years ago, when he resigned, but still he would attend when his health permit.
He was a Democratic in politics; a farmer and a carpenter by trade.  He never was satisfied unless he was employed.  He could be seem almost everyday coming to Utica to get the news and see the sick.
As his life was so was his death.  He always did his duty, and when the Lord called him home he was willing and ready to go.  He was perfectly conscious to the last.  One of his watchers asked him about five minutes before he died if there was anything he wanted.  He shooked his head and opened his eyes.  So he died as he lived, peaceful and happy at 3 o’clock a.m., July 22, 1880.  He leaves a wife and several children to mourn his loss.  All his children are grown.  Their names are respectively, Mr. John Snider, Mr. W.H. Snider Jr., Mr. Joseph Snider, Mr. James Snider, Mrs. Lucinda Smith, Mrs. Mary Pollion, Mrs. Julia Weeks, Mrs. Delilah Van Pelt, Mrs. Laura Chambers and Mrs. Emma Dunn.

He was resident physician at the White Sulphur Springs resort (Greenbrier) for many years and apparently wrote a memoir full of descriptions of the presidents and famous people he met while working there. He also wrote some books about the benefits of the water. I will write about all of that in more detail another time.

Today, I wanted to post his obituary, which I found while I was visiting Roanoke, Virginia last year. I wonder if he may have had another obituary written in West Virginia, where he lived for many years.  I also wonder if there may have been a more detailed obituary at a later date in this same paper, rather than a death announcement which this appears to be.  Sadly, it doesn’t give any biographical information or even list his relatives.

DEATH OF DR. MOORMAN – Dr. J.J. Moorman died at his residence in Salem last Thursday at 4 o’clock a.m.  Dr. Moorman has been for some weeks confined to his bed and his recovery scarcely hoped for, yet his death was quite a shock to the community.  He was 83 years of age and his long, useful and honored life has endeared him to all.  His funeral will take place this morning at 11 o’clock from the Presbyterian church in Salem.

Edwards, Alfred L.

age 72, of 703 N. W. Market. Beloved husband of Viva.  Father of Mrs. Kim (Jill) Edwards, Mrs. A.J. (Donna) Thornton, both Seattle; Mrs. Milton Cours, Sioux City, Ia.  Brother of E.E. (Mike) Roberts, Edmonds, 15 grandchildren, three great grandchildren.  Member of The Berean Church, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32.  Services Friday, 3 p.m., at Wiggen and Sons Chapel.  Interment, Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Ia., 1 p.m. Monday. Remembrances may be made to the Berean Church.

MICHAEL F. KEENE

Michael F. Keene 21, of 11250 26th Av. S.W., died today in a hospital.

Mr. Keene, born in Seattle, had resided here all his life.  He attended Lafayette Elementary School and was graduated from West Seattle High School in 1961.  He was a telephone repairman for the Western Electric Co., Inc.

Survivors are his wife, Dorothy; a son, Scott, and a daughter, Kelley; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Keene, and two brothers, Jim and Tom Keene all of Seattle.

Funeral Service will be at 1 o’clock Saturday in the Washington Memorial chapel. Burial will be in Washington Memorial Park.

Mrs. Ellen Thornton
A resident here for 30 years, Mrs. Ellen Thornton, 79, died Thursday in the home of a son, Clarence J. Thornton, 816 16th street.
She was born in Dubuque February 22, 1863.  She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America.
Surviving are four sons, Alonzo, Edward, Joseph, and Clarence, all of Sioux City, and James E. of Chicago; three daughters, Mrs. Marie McHale of Portland, Ore., Mrs. Ella Thompson and Mrs. Irene Underscheid, both of Sioux City, and a sister, Mrs. John Sullivan of Jackson, Neb.
Funeral services will he held at 9 a.m. Saturday in Cathedral of the Epiphany with Rev. T. M. Parle officiating  Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery at Hubbard, Neb., under the direction of Larkin’s funeral home.  The body will be taken to the home this afternoon, where a rosary will be said at 3:30 o’clock.

{Her husband, Edward Joseph Thornton, died almost 40 years before her in a farming accident. She never remarried and was left to raise 8 children on her own. }

Peter H. Weeks
Funeral services for Peter H. Weeks, age 86 years, who died at his home, 417 North Ninth street, early yesterday will be held from the Rumsey funeral home at 1:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon and from the Methodist church at Vinland.
The G.A.R. and Ladies of the G.A.R. will have charge of the short service at Rumsey’s and Masonic Lodge No. 9 will have charge of services at the grave.  Burial will be at Vinland.  The Rev. C.S. Freark will assist in the services.
Mr. Weeks is survived by his wife, Mrs. Julia Weeks, two daughters, four sons, twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Before moving to Lawrence some years ago, Mr. Weeks had been a resident of Vinland, where he knew and was known by everyone.  He was a good citizen, a friendly man, and a staunch patriot.
During the war, when after the calling of our National Guard the cities of the state found themselves with no military organization, Mr. Weeks, then a man of seventy-six years old, joined the organization of  Home Guards and drilled with them regularly until enough younger men were enrolled to make his attendance unnecessary.

Woods,
Florence Amy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Woods, died at her home, No. 440 Clinton Street Wednesday evening, November 27, 1918, aged 18 years. She is survived by her parents, four sisters and five brothers, Mrs. Byron Belknap, Dora, Ida, Mildred, Ernal, Elgie, Albert, Kenneth of this city and Hobart overseas.
Private funeral services were held from the home Friday afternoon November 29th at 1:30. Rev. Hazen officiating. Interment was made at cold Springs Cemetery.

This article is about my husband’s great uncle, Henry Woods.  It is very sad.

The Union-Sun, Lockport, NY.  Thursday Evening, August 26, 1915.

“YOUNG MAN TRAPPED DIES IN FIRE AT PARENTS’ HOME

Henry Wood Sufferer From Epilepsy, Victim of Flames at Clinton Street Residence.

In a fire that consumed the greater portion of the home of Thomas Woods, an employee of the Thompson Milling Company, at 440 Clinton St. shortly after 6 o’clock last night his son Henry, aged 23 years, was burned to death in a front room on the second floor.

Members of the family were at the supper table and Henry who had gone upstairs an hour before was assumed to be taking a nap.  The smell of smoke became noticeable to those at the table.  One of the sons ran upstairs and found the rear in flames.  He returned to warn the family.  Thoughts quickly turned to the son Henry who was a life long sufferer from epilepsy which trouble had also affected his mind.

But when effort was made to go back upstairs the flames had reached the stairway in a great mass.  One of the brothers ran outside but could not locate a ladder in the neighborhood.  Frantic effort was made to climb to the second story window to save the unfortunate boy but they failed and the fire soon turned the room in which he was known to be into a seething furnace.  The outside blinds of the window had been kept locked to prevent the young man from jumping out in a spell of epilepsy.

The department was called from Box 24 and several streams were played on the fire.  It was quickly gotten under control. Chief Coyle and firemen got inside and located the charred remains of the dead boy, under a bed.  He had evidently tried to crawl under.  Coroner Kittinger was called and took charge.

The members of the family were prostrated by the death of a son and brother and were taken in charge by neighbors.  Part of the household effects were saved but the house was practically destroyed. The loss is about $1500, covered by insurance.  The origin is not known but is believed to have been with a chimney.”

John Campbell Baker was born in Indiana county, PA in 1864 and died in Eudora, KS in 1902.  Even though he had lived in Kansas for over 20 years, his obituary there was very short:

John C. Baker died at his home in Eudora, Kans., July 4, at 1:55 p.m.  He was born July 26, 1862, in Indiana county, Pa.   He leaves a wife and the following children to mourn his departure: Harry Floyd, Sarah, Laura and Lillian Lucille.  Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

His former town, where his sister still lived, published a much more detailed version.  It came a few weeks later though – because news traveled slowly.

Former Marion Man Dead in Kansas.
John C. Baker died at his home in Eudora, Kansas, Friday morning, July 4th, 1902 at 1:55, from the effects of injuries received in a creamery there on June 25th.  By accident he fell into a vat, where the injury was received and help did not come for three quarters of an hour.  Funeral services were held Sunday at 10 a.m. at Eudora, Interment at Lawrence, Kansas.  Deceased was a brother of Mrs. John R. Pringle, of Indiana.   John Campbell Baker was born in Marion Center, July 26, 1864, and went to Kansas in 1876, where he married Miss Minnie McNees in 1885.  For a while he engaged in the mercantile business in other parts of the state, taking charge of the creamery at Eudora in 1901.  He is survived by his wife, three children, his aged and infirm mother, three brothers, and two sisters.  He was a member of the A.O.U.W. the I.O.O.F., Woodmen of the World and Fraternal Aid association.  He was highly respected at his home, where the newspapers speak well of him.

So, it’s definitely worth looking in more than one place for an obituary – who knows what you’ll find!! If I had been content with the first one, I never would have known how he had died.  What a horrible accident.