Shakin' the Family Tree

Sunday's Obituary: Josiah H Shinn and Mildred Williams Shinn

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:50:08 GMT

Josiah H Shinn Dies in Washington
Former Arkansan Had produced Many Historical Volumes
(From the Gazette's Correspondent)
Washington, Sept. 3 - Josiah H Shinn, aged 68, an employee at the capitol and known throughout the country as a writer of history, died yesterday at his home, 624 Rock Creek Church road.

He was born in Russellville, Ark., March 29, 1849. He wrote for the Arkansas Gazette and Southern School Journal. He established the first chautauquas in Arkansas.

Among his books and pamphlets were, "The South in Public Education," "Illustrated Arkansas," "History of American People," "Education in Arkansas," "Russia at the World's Fair," "English and Russian."

He was registrar for the Arkansas S A R from 1892 to 1894. He was a member of the American Institute in 1894, and an honorary member of the Pennsylvania and West Virginia historical societies. His history on "Education in Arkansas" was published by the government.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mildred C Shinn, and a son, Joe L Shinn. The body was sent to Russellville tonight.
Published on Tuesday, 4 Sep 1917, in the Arkansas Gazette

Mrs. J H Shinn Dies at Home in Washington, D C
Mrs. Minnie C Shinn, aged 78, widow of Josiah H Shinn, formerly of Little Rock, died at her home in Washington, D C early Thursday. The late Mr. Shinn was superintendent of public instruction in Arkansas from 1890 to 1894. He and Mrs. Shinn moved to Washington about 1902 when he accepted a government position.

He was the author of many historical works. He was a native of Russellville, Pope county, and met Mrs. Shinn at her home in Kentucky after he studied law in Cincinnati, O.

Their home was at Russellville and Magnolia, where he was the principal of schools in those cities and they moved to Little Rock when he was appointed to a position in the state Department of Education before his election as superintendent.

Mrs. Shinn was born at Bridgeport, Ky. Mr. Shinn died in 1917. Their son made his home with his mother until his death two years ago. Mrs. Shinn visited in Little Rock last spring. She is survived by one brother, J D Williams, 2310 Ringo street. Funeral arrangements will be announced by P H Ruebel & Co.
Published on Wednesday, 17 Feb 1932, in the Arkansas Gazette

Mrs. J H Shinn
Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie C Shinn, widow of Josiah H Shinn, who died at her home in Washington, D C, Tuesday, will be held at 10:30 Saturday morning at the chapel of P H Ruebel & Co. The body will arrive in Little Rock early today. Funeral services will be in charge of the Rev. J H Fuller. Pallbearers will be: Active - C H Williams, P M Williams, J D Williams, Jr., and Vernon Shinn, of Little Rock, and Eugene Shinn of Russellville, all nephews of Mrs. Shinn; honorary - Henry Martin, G DeMatt Henderson, Tom Howland, Clio Harper, H A Bowman, S J Beauchamp, Arthur E Lee, Martin Critz and D R Fones. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park.
Published on Saturday, 20 Feb 1932, in the Arkansas Gazette

Josiah Shinn, wife Minnie, and son Joseph R L.
Photo circa 1886.

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Sunday's Obituary: Katherine Leah Williams, 1899-1904

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:39:04 GMT

A Bright Little Spirit Called

It is not often such a sad and unpleasant duty falls to the average newspaperman as confronts the writer of these lines, announcing the death of Little Miss Catherine Leah Williams, the pretty, vivacious and beloved daughter of Mr and Mrs JD Williams, which took place at their home Thursday December 8th, 1904, as the result of croup. To the bereaved father, mother and brothers, of whose life she was the pride and joy; to her little playmates and friends to whom she was so true our heart's sympathy is full to overflowing. Catherine will not pass this way again, her sweet voice is stilled; the busy little hands are folded, but she was of this life so sweet a part that her memory will remain.

The funeral service took place from the Christian church at 3 o'clock pm, Elder C C Cline of Little Rock and Dr Geo. W Harkey of this city officiating. The church had been most beautifully decorated with evergreens and potted plants, while the floral offerings were far more expressive of the tenderness felt for the departed one, her father, mother and brothers than we have words to portray. The attendance was limited only by the capacity of the house to accommodate those seeking admission. Followed by a long procession those precious remains were borne to the city cemetery and laid in the silent tomb, mid the glorious loveliness of a December day.

This lock of hair was attached with a straight pin to the page in the Bible where the obituary was glued.

Katherine Leah Williams

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Sunday's Obituary: Maxie Leah (Meek) Williams, 1869-1955

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:20:52 GMT

Mrs. Maxie L M Williams, Widow of J D Williams, Sr.

Mrs. Maxie Leah Meek Williams, aged 86, of 2310 Ringo street, widow of Joe D Williams, Sr., died Friday at her home. She was a member of the First Christian church and Little Rock Chapter of United Daughters of Confederacy. Suvivors include two sons, P M and Joe D Williams, both of Little Rock. Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Griffin-Leggett by Rev. Marion A Boggs. Pallbearers will be Leon A Boggs, Walter N Brandon, Joe N Dillard, Harry Shoppoch, Milton Osborn and Joe Caldwell. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Published on Saturday, 30 Apr 1955, in the Arkansas Gazette

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Sunday's Obituary: Rollins

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:39:06 GMT

I found nineteen news articles and clippings from late 18th and early 19th century issues of the Dover Sun, (now available from Genealogy Bank) that related directly to my brother-in-law's extended Rollins family.

His ancestors settled in Strafford and surrounding counties as early as 1644, with patriarch James Rawlins arriving in colonial America in 1632 from Cornwall.

Even with the magnitude of information - well researched and documented - about the hsitory of the Rawlins/Rollins clan of New Hampshire, information found in these news clippings does not seem to be widely available, and adds that third dimension to the family members that I love so much.

As is unfortunately often the case, women rarely received mention except at their births, marriages and deaths.

Such was the case with many of the Rawlins/Rollins women.

Sometimes, even the death notice or obituary was very brief.

DIED, at Somersworth, Miss Susanna Rollins, aged about 15...daughter of Mr. James Rollins.
Dover Sun, 2 Mar 1805

Every once in a while, it was much lengthier.

OBITUARY
Departed this life on the 28th ult. in the 28th year of her age, Miss Rachel Rollins of Somersworth, daughter of the late Mr. I Rollins of that place. Her malady (a consumption), was long and lingering, attended with much pain and distress, which, agreeably to her uniform character, she endued with the mildness of the Dove, and the meekness of the Lamb. In the extremity of her sufferings, not a murmur, nor even an involuntary groan escaped her lips! She was all patience, and resignation. Such was the sweetness of her Disposition, it smiled at Grief! and such the purity of her Soul, the terrors of the gloomy Messenger fled before the heaven of her countenance. There, in the darkness of Death, Religion sat smiling, like the Star of even on the bosom of the night.

She was accomplished in her person and manners; possessed of a mind highly susceptible, with feelings exquisitely delicate, and tender as Pity itself. Modest almost to a fault, and chaste as the virgin snow. Her many graces and virtues, drew forth the warmest affection of her friends, and her ever decorous and amiable demeanour, endeared her to her acquaintance. She was a pattern to her sex in acts of kindness and charity to the poor, whose gratitude proclaimed her benevolence, and whose tears now feelingly bespeak the magnitude of their loss. Although cut off in the meridian of her days, yet she arrived to full maturity; for wisdom was her grey hairs, and her spotless life old age. -- As all her pleasing prospects below were vanishing in the darkness, they brightened above in the Paradise of light. Joyful her exit from this transitory scene; a dreary wilderness, a world of woe, a vale of tears! She has passed gloriously, triumphing through her REDEEMER, the billow-swelling Jordan of death, and gained, borne on a Seraph's blissful wings, the promised land, the heavenly Canaan. There grows the TREE OF LIFE, whose taste is immortality. There flow rivers of LIVING WATER, making glad the heavenly inhabitants. There tears are wiped from every eye - and there all her cares, pains, and sorrows are lost and forgotten, in the overflowing fountain of bliss.
Dover Sun, 5 Dec 1812

Something tells me Rachel was very much loved.

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Sunday's Obituary: Edward H and Mary Jane (Lensing) Neumeier

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:12:21 GMT

Funeral Mass for City Couple is Held Today

Funeral mass for Mr.and Mrs. Edward Neumeier was held this morning at the St. Boniface Catholic Church. Burial for the couple was in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Active pallbearers for Mr. Neumeierwere Nick Benedetto, Harry Neumeier, Jerome Kremer, Joe Bauer, Herman Neihouse and Leo Kleck.

Active pallbearers for Mrs. Neumeier were Henry Thron, Augustine Bass, David Lensing, Vincent T. Murphy, Stephen Megless and Stephen Heim Jr.

Honorary pallbearers were Buddy Walker, Harold Watkins, Bill Avlos, Louis Seller, Royal Bowman, Donald Kennedy, Fate Dotson, Herman Schwartz, John Daley, Joe Lensing and Herman Buss.

The Neumeiers were killed when their car went out of control Wednesday on Highway 22 about 22 miles east of Paris, Ark.

Published in the Fort Smith Times Record, 29 Mar 1963

Edward H Neumeier was born 3 Mar 1916.

His wife, Mary Jane Lensing, was born 10 Jun 1919, in Logan Co., AR to Caspar Martin Lensing and Anna Crescence Heim. She was the fifth of their nine children and an older sister of my uncle, Thomas Andrew Lensing, Sr.

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