VIOLA (GREENE) MOORE CASTER
From the Oberlin Herald , pg 1
1-23-1930
MRS. VIOLA CASTER PASSES AWAY FRIDAY - Had
lived in Decatur County more than fifty years.
In the passing of Mrs. Viola Caster,
Oberlin, and Decatur County loses one of its earliest settlers, and
one whose life of noble Christian example was an inspiration to her
children, her neighbors and the entire community in which she resided
for more than fifty years. The Federated Church and Sunday
School loses one of its staunchest supporters and most cheerful
workers.
For several weeks Mrs. Caster had been
fighting that great destroyer of human life, cancer, and tho she must
have realized the hopelessness of the struggle she made no complaint,
and had only cheering words for the loved ones who were calling at her
bedside.
VIOLA GREEN was born in Meigs County,
Ohio; her parents being Abbott Greene and Julia Crowell Greene.
Her early education was had in the rural schools near her parents'
home, and later she attended an academy in Wilkesville. In 1875
she was married to Luther Moore who died June 21, 1877. One daughter,
Chloe, was born to this union; who afterward became Mrs. Howard Vale,
and preceded her mother in death December 31, 1910.
On June 1879 Mrs. Moore started for Kansas
with Oberlin as her destination. On her arrival at Buffalo Park
Station on June 12th she was met by Daniel Caster, who was raised in
the same neighborhood in Ohio as Mrs. Moore, and had known her from
childhood. Mr. Caster's first wife had died before he came to Kansas
in 1878, leaving him the care of four children, and he had asked Mrs.
Moore to share his lot and mother his children; she had consented and
the trip to Kansas was the result.
Before leaving Buffalo Park Station they
hunted up the Methodist minister and were united in marriage. On
the trip over to Oberlin (made in a covered wagon) they drove through
a herd of Texas cattle and learned afterward there were 23,000 in the
herd.
Mr. Caster's home was then a dugout which
stood near the spot where the frame residence was later erected on the
north end of Oberlin's present golf course. But Mr. Caster had a
sod house partly completed when Mrs. Caster arrived and they later
moved to the new house. A number of years later another
and larger sod house was erected and in 1903 Mr. Caster had the large
frame residence erected which is still standing.
During those early years Mr. Caster did
quite a bit of freighting from Buffalo Park Station from Lenora and
from Indianola in order to earn extra money above that derived from
farming.
Several years ago when asked if they
didn't have some pretty hard times during the early 80's Mrs. Caster
answered "No, we didn't have hard times. I enjoyed all of
them" And we believe the philosophy of life as then
expressed by Mrs. Caster in that statement is indicative of her
character and explains why she was one of the best liked women of the
community.
Mrs. Caster embraced the Christian faith
in early girlhood. We are not sure whether she and Mr. Caster
were charter member of the Oberlin Baptist Church at its organization
or not, but if not, they joined shortly after its organization January
31, 1880, and Mrs. Caster was a faithful worker in that church
until its federation with the Christian Church, and with the Federated
Church until recently. Unless sickness prevented she could be
depended on to be present at and teach a class in the Sunday School.
For years, Mrs. Caster acted as Clerk of the Oberlin Baptist
Association and was ever a faithful and untiring worker in the cause
of the church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Caster were born three
children-- Fred G Caster of Oberlin; Westly Amer Caster of Lexington,
Nebr; and Mrs. Bertha Taylor of Almena, Kansas.
The four older stepchildren, who, without
doubt are appreciative of Mrs. Caster's influence, in their lives,
are: Mrs. Nora Morton, of Oberlin; Mrs. Alice Gilbert, of Wellsville,
Kans; H.O. Caster of New York City, and V. R. Caster of Olive Twp.
The deceased is survived by two sisters:
Mrs. D. W. Morton of Bassettville township and Mrs. Cora C. Hawk, of
Wilkesville, OH; and one brother Abbot M Greene of Canby, Calif.
One brother and one sister preceded her in death. Mrs. Caster is also
survived by 33 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Mr. Caster died in August 1914 and soon
after Mrs. Caster moved to Oberlin and seven years ago had the
residence erected on York Avenue where she made her home until her
death, January 17, 1930 at the age of 75 years and 28 days.
Funeral services were held from the
Federated Church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and despite the
very inclement weather the building didn't provide room for all who
had gathered to pay their last respects to one they had known for so
many years.
The Pastor, Rev. Wm. C. Heiskell conducted
the service, taking as his text, Rev. 14:13: "Yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do
follow them" The theme being the immeasurable influence of a life
such as had been lived by the deceased.
Interment was in the family lot in the
Oberlin Cemetery.