On last Thursday morning the people of Coldwater and surrounding country were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Howard R. Burnett at his home in Logan-tp., ten miles southeast of Coldwater. The announcement came as a surprise to everybody, as it was not generally known that he was even complaining. On Tuesday Mr. Burnett assisted about the farm work and seemed in his usual good health. Late Tuesday evening he began to complain of difficulty in breathing. He had evidently caught cold while working during the cold weather. On Wednesday he grew worse. Medical assistance was called but he grew no better. His suffering ended at 1:15 o'clock Thursday morning, February 16, 1899, after an illness of less than 30 hours. The attending physician pronounced the cause of his death to be pleurisy of the lungs. The plans at present (Thursday evening) are that funeral services will be held at the New Eden school house on Saturday, February 18. Friends of the family in Missouri, Indiana and Oklahoma have been notified and are expected to be present.Howard Burnett was a native of Iowa. In 1866 he moved to Missouri where he lived until 1884 when he came to Comanche-co., thus becoming one of our earliest settlers. He was one of our best known and most highly respected citizens- upright in all his dealings and possessed of those qualities which instinctively lead all who knew him to say at this time "an honest man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen is gone." At the time of his death Mr. Burnett was chairman of the board of county commissioners in this county. In public as in private life he was honored and esteemed by all.
Mr. Burnett was married a little less than 13 years ago to Miss Ella Jordon, whose father was also one of the early settlers in Comanche-co. Three children - Edna, Howard and John-and the grief stricken wife and mother now mourn a loss which may seem unbearable, but they have the kindest sympathy of many friends to sustain them in their sad trial and too, they have the assurance that "God doeth all things well."
Mr. Burnett was close to 40 years of age at the time of his death.
Howard R. Burnett was the father of Howard Reynolds Burnett and the grandfather of Lt. Howard Reason Burnett III, USNR.
Burnett - Jordan
Howard Burnett and Almina E. Jordan were married on March 24, 1886. Mrs. Burnett still lives in this county. -- Interesting Data From Old Marriage Records, (Excerpt) The Western Star, July 15, 1938.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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