From the Moberly Monitor-Index, Friday, September 14, 1934:
129 Old Settlers Died During Past Year, Loss Is by Far the Greatest in Any 12 Months
3 ADDED TO ROLL OF OLD SETTLER DEAD
Three Old Settlers who have died since the last annual reunion and whose names do not appear on the list compiled by W. T. Dameron and published in today's Monitor-Index are: Benjamin T. Atterbury, 74, died Jan. 4, 1934; J. P. Ryals, 72, died Sept. 11, 1934; and Mrs. John S. White, 78, died Sept. 13, 1934. These bring the total of deaths during the year to 132.
By W. T. DAMERON
Ranks of Randolph County old settlers have been thinned by 129 deaths since the last reunion at Huntsville a year ago. Of these one hundred and twenty-nine 67 were men and 62 women. The loss by death is by far the greatest in any single year since the organization was perfected.
The oldest to die were Nicholas Mathias and Mrs. Mary E. Hubbard, each 93. Combined ages of the 129 is 9130 years or an average of about 77 years. Seven persons on the list were past 90; 42 were between 80 and 90; 43 between 70 and 80; and 27 between 60 and 70.
After the last reunion, 5 persons died in September; 6 in October; 10 in November; 11 in December; 12 in January, 1934; 12 in February, 7 in March; 12 in April; 4 in May; 12 in June; 20 in July; 14 in August; 4 to Sept. 7, 1934.
Organized 46 Years Ago
Two or three old settlers who died elsewhere than in the county, but who were born and lived in the county 60 years or more, are included on the list. This is usually the case every year.
There are a few on the list of deaths who were born in Macon County, and settled in this county many years ago, but died before they had lived in the county 60 years though were much older than 60 years. The reason for this is that old settlers from Macon County have never been barred from registering at our reunions. The association was first organized as "The Old Settlers Association
of Randolph and Macon Countys" at Jacksonville 46 years ago. All white persons who had lived in either county from 1829 and prior were eligible or membership in the Association, or became members automatically, and they were called the "Twenty Niners."
At the reunion of 1906 on motion of the late Capt. W. T. Austin, the old settlers voted unanimously to hold their annual renions permanently at Huntsville, on the second Thursday in September. No official action was ever taken barring old settlers from Macon County from registering at the reunions, but Macon County was "unofficially" dropped from the original title of the Association. Several years previous to 1906 at a reunion the age limit for registering old settlers of both Randolph and Macon County was fixed at 60 years. Few old settlers from Macon County have registered at any reunion for the past 35 years.
Only 10 Deaths In 1899
The last reunion held in Macon County was 1897. The late W. R. Sauel was president of the association that year. I remember that at the old settlers reunion, September 10, 1899 the secretary, Wm. M. Baker, reported only 10 deaths in the county and four deaths in Macon County, and one hundred from 1891 to 1899, in all 114. Mr. Baker's voice was so weak that he asked "Uncle Bob" Samuels to read his report. It seemed that Mr. Baker had no report of deaths of old "Twenty niners" prior to 1891. What a difference in the number of deaths that year and 1934-1935.
The weather was not good that day, 35 years ago, but about 160 old settlers registered. The late Atty Watt Martin of Moberly, was the orator of the day. The late Gov. A. M. Dockery who was a candidate for Governor delivered a rousing speech on old times. He was somewhat disappointed when the committee told him that he must not discuss politics, and he did not, but made lots of friends. I think it was at that reunion that the late Ferd Taylor of Salt River township won a gold rimmed spectacle, in an old fiddlers' contest. There were 32 persons that registered that year, 1899, who had lived in Randolph County since 1829 and prior and 25 who registered from Macon County who were born in 1829 or prior.
Deaths In Last 12 Months
Those who have died since last year:
G. W. Gritton, died Sept. 17, 1933 - age 83.
C. H. Dameron, Sept. 23, 1933 - age 69.
Sauel Turner, Sept. 28, 1933 - age 69.
Mrs. Mary Sandison, Sept. 28, 1933 - age 81.
Olee Trusdale, Oct. 5, 1933 — 74.
Mrs. Tempy Ryals, October 8, 1933 — 69.
M. F. Broaddus, Oct. 9, 1933 — 82.
Mrs. Clara Holmes, Oct. 16, 1933 — 73.
Mrs. Cathrine Rice, October 17, 1933 — 82.
John Allen Mayo, Oct. 19, 1933 — 91.
Henry Martin, October 21, 1933 — 78.
Mrs. Mary Brockman, November 2, 1933 — 80.
Lewis F. Dale, November 2, 1933 — 64,
Mrs. W. W. Yancy, November 8, 1933 — 75.
Mrs. Oscar Lingo, November 13, 1933 — 72.
Mrs. Francis Eastwood, November 13, 1933 — 88.
Mrs. Ella Kimmell, November 16, 1933 — 67.
Mrs. Mary E. Hubbard, Nov. 20, 1933 — 93.
James Daggs, November 23, 1933 — 75.
Mrs. D. A. Ornburn, Nov. 29, 1933 — 84.
R. L. Beheler, November 30, 1933 — 61.
Wm. H. Farris, December 3, 1933 — 74.
Mrs. S. O. Kimbrough, Dec. 3, 1933 — 64.
Elliott Palmer, Dec. 6, 1933 — 87.
Wm. A. Wall, Dec. 6, 1933 — 87.
Thomas Speed Watts, Dec. 21, 1933 — 83.
Robert Creed, Dec. 22, 1933 — 79.
Mrs. J.A.Pitts, Dec. 23, 1933 — 72.
Mrs. Martha Hamilton, Dec. 25, 1933 — 69.
Mrs. W. C. Malone, Dec. 28, 1933 — 82.
Coleman Durham, Dec. 28, 1933 — 83.
B. Brad McDavitt, Dec. 31, 1933 — 86.
L. D. Forbes, Jan. 1, 1934 — 62.
Leona Minor, Jan. 7, 1934 — 62.
Joe M. Haines, Jan. 12, 1934 — 68.
W. P.Frazier, Jan. 16, 1934 — 61.
Mrs. W. T. Haley, January 18, 1934 — 67.
Minor Shipp, January 22, 1934 — 77.
Jerry Miller, January 24, 1934 — 81.
J. J. Patrick, Jan. 26, 1934 — 76.
Mrs. Mattie Hubbard, Jan. 25, 1934 — 83.
Mrs. Elizabeth Darr, Jan. 29, 1934 — 85.
John T. Bagby, January 30, 1934 — 63.
Nicholas Mathias, January 31, 1934 — 93
Mrs. G. W. Bradley, February 3, 1934 — 67.
Mrs. Lucinda Esry, February 3, 1934 — 80.
A. W. Carr, February 5, 1934 — 77.
Mrs. Rebecca Spears, February 5, 1934 — 62.
Mrs. Mattie Hannah, February 7, 1934 — 67.
Mrs. A. W. Carr, February 8, 1934 — 74.
W. D. Johnson, February 11, 1934 — 75.
Mrs. Kate Coulter. February 20, 1934 — 92.
W. C. Dawkins, Feb. 20, 1934 — 66.
W. C. Bradley, Feb. 21, 1934 — 71.
J. Lee Wirt, February 28, 1934 — 64.
J. Walker Rucker, February 28, 1934 — 70.
J. Scott Campbell, March 1, 1934 — 83.
Evan Haines, March 10, 1934 — 67.
Mrs. Abe Vince, March 16, 1934 — 86.
May J. Tedford, March 19, 1934 — 65.
Mrs. Mariana Powell, March 21, 1934 — 92.
J. Press Heifner, March 27, 1934 — 72.
Mrs. R. Terrill, March 28, 1934 — 79.
John Dale, Apr. 7, 1934 — 92.
J. W. Hardgrove, Apr. 8, 1934 — 87.
Mrs. Sarah Jane Phipps, April 12, 1934 — 81.
John A. Dickerson, April 12, 1934 — 89.
Mrs. Sadie McDonald, April 15, 1934 — 76.
John W. Linn, April 19, 1934 — 83.
J. W. Roberts, Apr. 19, 1934 — 79.
M. T. Embree, Apr. 20, 1934 — 81.
Mrs. Martha F. Henry, Apr. 24, 1934 — 78.
Mrs. W. O. Fowler, April 27, 1934 — 72.
H. T. Tomlinson, Apr. 30, 1934 — 70.
Mrs. Harritt C. Talkington, Apr. 30, 1934 — 87.
Mrs. Margarett Stone, May 14, 1934 — 87.
A. S. Hines, May 15, 1934 — 80
Mrs. J. A. Wadsworth, May 18, 1934 — 70.
Mrs. Alfer Hultz, May 30, 1934 — 91.
John R. Anderson, June 1, 1934 — 77.
Anderson Bowers, June 2, 1934 - 85.
W. B. Ornborne, June 3, 1934 — 35.
W. R. Hamilton, June 5, 1934 — 71.
John Sanders, June 6, 1934 — 77.
S. L. Halliburton, June 15, 1934 — 74.
Mrs. M. Miles, June 23, 1934 — 71.
Frank Anderson, June 26, 1934 — 76.
W. H. Collins, June 27, 1934 — 66.
Mrs. Eliza Green, June 28, 1934 - 88.
Mrs. J. W. Gaines, June 29, 1934 — 68.
Will Crist, June 30, 1934 — 65.
J. M. Johnson, July 1, 1934 — 81.
Mrs. Alice Magruder, July 3, 1934 — 76.
Mrs. Geo. Laight, July 5, 1934 — 85.
Ed G. St. Clair, July 10, 1934 — 78.
Geo. R. Rennolds, July 16, 1934 — 83.
Arck P. Brock, July 17, 1934 — 88.
Mrs. W. S. Bell, July 15, 1934 — 68.
Mrs. Willia Thompson, July 15, 1934 — 79.
J. C. Hitt, July 17, 1934 — 70.
Mrs. Jim Pilker, July 18, 1934 — 72.
Mrs. Mary C. Day, July 20, 1934 — 86.
J. W. Poe, July 21, 1934 — 66.
James Miles, July 21, 1934 — 83.
Miss Joe Hall, July 23, 1934 - 77.
Mrs. G. V. Welch, July 23, 1934 — 66.
A. J. Harlan, July 23, 1934 — 78.
W. T, Botts, July 24, 1934 — 86.
Mrs. Mary A. Ostrander, July 24, 1934 — 86.
Malcolm Palmer, July 24, 1934 — 75.
Mrs. Lutitia Esry, July 29, 1934 — 83.
Mrs. O. J. Milham, Aug. 1, 1934 — 70.
Mrs. Laura Dulaney, Aug. 2, 1934 — 80.
W. D. Pifer, Aug. 3, 1934 — 80.
Walker Patton, Aug. 6, 1934 — 65.
David Ball, Aug. 6, 1934 — 79.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey, Aug. 8, 1934 — 74.
Thos. P. Hager, Aug. 9, 1934 — 74.
John Nebergal, Aug. 12, 1934 — 80.
C. F. Boatman, August 14, 1934 — 83.
Mrs. Elizabeth Fullington, Aug. 27, 1934 — 84.
Wm. J. Ashcom, August 28, 1934 — 61.
Mrs. Jacob Evans, August 30, 1934 — 91.
Mrs. Kirk Wilcox, August 31, 1934 — 62.
Mrs. C. P. Nichols, Aug. 31, 1934 — 78.
Cleymer C. Epperly, Sept. 2, 1934 — 82.
B. R. Sorrell, Sept. 2, 1934 — 77.
W. H. Baird, Sept. 5, 1934 — 72.
Mrs. Ella Moore, Sept. 6, 1934 — 83.
