For several weeks Uncle Abe VanWey whose home was in Protection, had been lingering at the point of death. His sickness began over a month ago, and a rapid decline of vitality was at once noticeable. Sickness was almost unknown to him, and, for one of his age, he was a remarkably well preserved man. But disease - pronounced by his physician to be Uraemic poison - came, and soon destroyed his health and life of the body. For ten days or more he had taken no food but a small quantity of nourishment of any kind. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, 1898, he passed quietly from life unto death, and at noon on Monday was buried in the Protection cemetery. Many loving friends administered to every need during his sickness and were present at the burial. Rev. C. M. Gray, of Coldwater, conducted the funeral exercises.Abram VanWey was born June 27, 1817, in Fairfield County, Ohio. He moved to Illinois in 1865 and from there to Coffey county, Kansas, in 1869 or 1870, thus becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Kansas. He lived for a while, also, in Miami county. In 1884 he came to Comanche county and thus became a "pioneer" here. He moved to Oklahoma in 1892, but returned to Comanche county only about a month ago, settled again in Protection.
Uncle Abe as he was familiarly called, was known and respected by a large number of friends throughout this and adjoining counties. He had a kind word for everybody, and nothing pleased him more than to have a familiar chat with his friends. He was endowed with little education learned in school, but he possessed withal, a keen intellect and quick perception.
All who knew him united in giving utterance to the sentiment - another noble man and good citizen is gone.
He was a consistent member of the M. E. church and died in the Christian faith. He leaves a wife and three children to whom the sympathy of the entire community is extended in their hour of bereavement.
Also see:
Obituary: Abram VANWEY, Jr., The Western Star, March 12, 1920.
James W. Dappert: Reminiscences of Early Days in Comanche-co.
The Western Star, January 15, 1926.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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