H. S. Waugh, who was one of Coldwater's well known and highly respected citizens, died at his home in the southwestern part of town at 9:15 a.m. on Monday of this week, May 3, 1926. He had been in failing health for several months, due to a complication of diabetes, asthma and stomach trouble, but had been able to be about most of the time until a couple of weeks before his death.Funeral services were conducted at the home on Tuesday afternoon, and were in charge of Rev. H. W. Cummings of the Methodist Episcopal church. Burial was in Crown Hill cemetery.
Henry Segel Waugh was born in Andrews-co., Mo., on November 9, 1861. At the time of his death he was 64 years, 5 months and 24 days of age. When he was about 10 years old, the family moved to Sumner-co., Kans., where he grew to young manhood. His next move was to Colorado, near Pueblo, where he spent some time working in connection with the first irrigation project in the Arkansas valley.
Later he moved to Polk-co., Mo., and there, on June 20, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Luella Mitchell. To this union nine children were born - eight daughters and one son. Three of the daughters died when quite young. The wife and six children survive. The children are: Walter G. Waugh of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. E. L. Franklin of Kansas City, Kans., Mrs. R. F. Burt, Mrs. C. W. Burt and Misses Zona and Elizabeth Waugh of this city. Ten grandchildren, all of Coldwater, also survive. All of the children, except the son, were present during his last sickness and at the time of his death.
Mr. Waugh was in every way a good citizen, husband and father. He went through the hardships of pioneer days in Kansas - principally in Sumner and Butler-cos. He also lived for a while near Joplin, Mo. He and his wife had many trying experiences with such drawbacks as hot, dry weather, grasshoppers and hard times generally, but they kept faith with the country and the work in hand. They came to Comanche-co. about 12 years ago and continued to make this their home.
Mr. Waugh was upright in all his relations with his fellowmen, and always held the confidence of all who knew him. During his early life he united with the Christian church, and later joined the Methodist Episcopal church. In his life he adhered to the practice of the Golden Rule, thus winning many friends and doing much good in a quiet, unassuming way. The family lost a devoted husband and father, and to them the sympathy of all goes out at this time.
The Western Star, August 4, 1922. While not exactly a pioneer settler in Comanche-co., H. S. Waugh of this city is a genuine pioneer in Kansas, coming to the state 52 years ago. Andrews county in northwestern Missouri, was the place of his birth a little over 60 years ago. In the year 1870 his parents moved from Missouri to Butler-co., Kansas, locating near the Walnut river between Eldorado and Augusta. One year later, however, the family moved on a little further southwest, settling on a claim not far from the Arkansas river, three miles north of the present town of Belle Plaine, in Sumner-co. There they lived for about four years when the father died. H. S. was then about 14 years old. From that time on he continued to have some part in about all the experiences which come to pioneer settlers in any new country. The family moved from Sumner-co. to Cowley-co., where they lived for a few years. Then for a few years they lived near Joplin, Mo. Later a wagon trip was made across Kansas into Colorado, where a brother had gone for his health and where widowed mother had decided to locate. Mr. Waugh recalls some of his early-day experiences as follows:
MEMORIES OF EARLY DAYS.
A few Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Comanche-co.H. S. Waugh, a Pioneer Kansan.
The family lived in Sumner-co. in the fall of 1874, when the state was visited by a scourge of grasshoppers. He says that the hoppers ate up everything in sight, leaving the whole country very, desolate looking. All the blades and even the shucks and the coverings of the corn stalks and the pith in the stalks where the corn had been cut, were eaten. Peaches were about two thirds grown, and the hoppers got them too, leaving the bare seed hanging on the trees.
In two or three weeks hoppers had apparently stripped the earth of suitable provisions, and so they disappeared. No one seems to know just where they went. Mr. Waugh says that one species of grasshoppers appeared and ate up many of the others.
Mr. Waugh also recalls very vividly his experiences with prairie fires back in the 70s (1870s). At that time the eastern half of the state was covered with bluestem grass, often six or eight feet high. Often there would be two or three years' growth on the ground, and hence a perfect mat of dry grass, so that when fire happened to break out it was almost an impossibility to stop it. Mr. Waugh says he has known prairie fires to jump the Arkansas river. The settlers had many narrow escapes from having their houses, barns and other improvements wiped out by some passing prairie fire. Besides grasshoppers and prairie fires, Mr. Waugh had his full share of experience with droughts, hard times and all kinds of reverses. But he stayed with the state, and he is not sorry that he did. He says that he marvels at the wonderful changes, the rapid material development and evidences of progress which half a century has brought about in Kansas. When you want to exchange early-day experiences, hunt up Mr. Waugh. He has some intensely interesting memories of by-gone days.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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