JOSEPH B. FELLOWS GRAVESTONE PHOTO
Independence Daily Reporter, Thursday, February 5, 1914, Pg. 1:
J. B. Fellows Falls to Street Dead on Way Up Town
HURRIED TO DOCTOR IN AN AUTO
Life Was Extinct When He Was Picked Up from the Sidewalk
Near Consolidated Offices
About 2 o’clock this afternoon J. B. Fellows, an old and well known citizen of this city, dropped dead just as he was turning the corner at the offices of the Consolidated Gas & Oil Co. at the corner of Main and Fifth streets. He was coming up town, walking with Milton Gregory when without saying a word he dropped to the sidewalk.
Leo Laney, who was passing in his automobile, stopped his machine and Mr. Fellows was picked up and taken to the residence of Dr. DeMott. The doctor was not at home and he was hurriedly taken to Reppert’s undertaking parlors, and Dr. Surber was summoned. Life was pronounced extinct.
Mr. Fellows was bout 75 years old. He was among the early settlers of the county and for a number of years managed a farm near Bolton. A number of years ago he retired and came to this city where he has since resided.
He was an old soldier and a member of McPherson post of this city. He leaves a wife and three sons to mourn his death.
Mr. Fellows seemed to be in his usual health. He always seemed to be quite active for a man his age.
This makes four sudden deaths in this city during the past two weeks. In two cases old men dropped dead on the streets and the other two were only confined to their bed a few hours.
Independence Daily Reporter, Friday, February 6, 1914:
It Will Take Place From Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Tomorrow
The funeral of J. B. Fellows, whose sudden death on the streets yesterday afternoon was a great shock to this community, will take place from the Presbyterian church at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. McPherson Post will have charge of the services and Dr. Floyd Poe will preach the sermon.
Mr. Fellows was born September 25, 1842, in LaSalle, Ill., and united in marriage to Sabina Kilmer, February 22, 1856. Five children were born to them, three of whom survive. They are Oscar, in San Francisco; W. J. in Henrietta, Okla., and Frank, living at home. A daughter Mattie, died many years ago and a son, Everett, died last March.
J. B. Fellows enlisted in Company G, Fifty-third Illinois Infantry when the war came on and served three years. His father was also a veteran of the Civil war. After the war, Mr. and Mrs. Fellows came west and settled on a farm near Walker Mound. Ten or twelve years ago they moved to Independence and purchased the property that has ever since been their home.
All the living children will be present at the funeral except Oscar, who lives in San Francisco.
Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas.