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Chase County Kansas Obituaries
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Graham, W L W.L. Graham Drowned
The following, from last Sunday's Kansas City Journal, refers to W.L.
Graham, formerly a resident of this county, near Cedar point.
Yesterday, two brothers, J.L. Graham and R.B. Graham, of Centerville, Mo.,
visited Independence and called upon undertakers Moseley and Hill. A
request was made that the body of the floater found in the river near the
mouth of Sugar Creek, be exhumed, for the purpose of identification. The
brothers claimed that they had almost positive proof that the dead man was
their brother, W.L. Graham, who left his home in Cherokee County, Kas.,
October 1, and who has been missing ever since.
They brought with them a
strip of cloth which matched his coat, and also a strip of cloth which
matched his shirt, and with these they expected to identify the remains
beyond all doubt. The cloth samples, they said, were sent to them by the
wife of the dead man, for she had made both garments herself. The
undertakers exhumed the body, as requested, and the samples were compared
with the garments of the dead man. The heavy shoes worn by the dead man,
the missing tooth, size and weight tallied with the description of the
missing brother, for whom a long search had been made.
After the identification the remains were again buried in the grave from
which they were taken, to await identification upon the part of the
insurance company. The brothers were not positive, but were under the
impression that the deceased carried life insurance to the amount of $1000,
possibly more. For this reason it was deemed advisable not to remove the
remains from the burying ground until this last was ascertained and the
identification completed and satisfactory to the insurance company.
W.L. Graham was once a well-to-do stockman in southern Kansas, according to
the story of the brothers who visited Independence yesterday. For years he
had been a resident of Cherokee County, Kas., where he had a large family
of grown up sons and daughters. Some years ago he dealt largely in live
stock and had frequent cause to visit Kansas City in the interest of his
business. He was a familiar figure at the stock yards and was well known to
the commission men.
Several years ago while making a shipment of cattle to Kansas City, he fell
off the top of a cattle car and sustained injuries which unbalanced him
mentally. At times he would aparently be in the best of health and sound in
mind and body. His fits of temporary insanity, however, caused considerable
apprehension upon the part of his relatives, who were not disposed to let
him travel about alone.
October 1 he expressed a desire to see the Priests of Pallas parade and
started to Kansas City. After witnessing the parade it was his intention to
visit his brother at Centerville, whom he had not seen for a number of
years. His continued absence, for this reason, was not looked upon as a
serious matter by his family. About ten days ago, J.W. Ash of Cherokee
County, a friend of the family, visited Kansas City. He was aware of the
fact that some anxiety was felt at the home of Graham as to his whereabouts.
During his rounds, he called at the commission house of W.F. Morrow. Here
it was found that Graham had left the place about 3 o'clock on the
afternoon of October 1, and was acting queerly. He also heard of the
floater found in the river near Independence and secured sufficient facts
to warrant him in connecting the missing Graham with the man found floating
in the river.
In the meantime, Mrs. Graham was making diligent inquiry and
had written to his brothers at Centerville. The reply she received
confirmed her fear that her husband was not among the living. The story of
Mr. Ash, upon his return home, confirmed her belief, and she requested her
brothers visit to Independence, sending them samples of his wearing apparel.
His relatives think he left his room while asleep and wandered to the river
without waking. He had, it is said, been in the habit of walking in his
sleep.
Chase County Leader-News, Nov.29,1894, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
by your Chase County Host, Lorna Marvin.
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