James Lewis Kluttz was born near Pleasant Hope, Mo., March 16, 1880 and departed this life in the Wesley hospital in Wichita, Kansas, May 28, 1938 at the age of 58 years, 2 months and 12 days.

Early in life he moved with his parents to near Buffalo, Mo. There he grew to young manhood. When 18 years of age he came west living in Kansas until 1902 when he removed to Oklahoma and proved up a claim. There he was engaged in farming and the cattle business. In 1906, he was united in marriage with Miss Rose McGinnis of Springfield, Mo. After 1909 they moved to Wilmore, Kansas, where he became engaged in the mercantile and lumber business. Later at different intervals he participated in farming and business in and around Wilmore.

During one of Evangelist L. C. Bauer's revival meetings here, Mr. Kluttz was converted, and was later baptized by Rev. J. Bert Smith the pastor of the Wilmore Baptist church. Since uniting with the church Mr. Kluttz has been a faithful member, loyal to its services, and has lived an upstanding Christian life.

He leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife; one brother, Frank of Greenville, Miss., and four sisters; Mrs. Lillie Booth of Wilmore, Mrs. Alice Cole and Mrs. Laura Oller both of Coldwater, Kansas, and Mrs. Bertha Preston of Wickenberg, Ariz. Every effort known to medical science was made in a vain attempt to save his life.

Mr. Kluttz was a lover of little children, and was a devoted husband and brother. He was a member of the Town Board, and was always active in the best interests of the community. He held the esteem of his business associates, and his cheerful disposition and keen sense of humor won for him a large circle of friends. His manly spirit manifested itself in health, but probably reached its height in the patience of his suffering during his last illness and in that resolute courage with which he faced the end.

"Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no meaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark;
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark.

For tho from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar."
--Tennyson

Funeral services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. F. Russell Pitman, May 30th at 2:30 p.m. in the Wilmore Baptist church and burial was made in the Wilmore Cemetery.

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Gravestone of Rose Jane and James Lewis Kluttz.
Rose and Jame's picture is inset on the headstone.
Powell Township Cemetery, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas.
Photo by John Edward Schrock.

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Moses Alexander Kluttz, father of James Lewis Kluttz.

Rose Jane (McGinnis) Kluttz Doyle, widow of James L. Kluttz; she married George Doyle in 1945.

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The picture above is of the Men's Bible Class in 1931. Sam Lawrence was the teacher of the class. The gentlemen are (from left to right): Lew Kluttz (had an auto agency), Perry Wall (hardware store owner & rancher), Perry Barber, Bruce Snare, Jeff Forree, Van Lott (owned grocery store), Lawrence York (rancher), L.B. "Daddy" Sommers, John Manahan (school superintendent), Sam Lawrence, Oscar Pinkston, Grandfather Ray, Tom Pepperd (had gas delivery truck & farmed), Shurd Smith (railroad section man), Lester Larimer (Sunday School superintendent & farmer). Photo courtesy of David Lawrence.

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Also see:

Red Cross Fund Oversubscribed, The Wilmore News, 28 June 1917.

Yeggs Nitro Two Safes In Wilmore Wednesday Evening, The Wilmore News, January 9, 1931. (The Kluttz Motor Company was one of the places robbed.)

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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