Obituary Record

Limnah Arnett Wilcox
Died on 12/23/1923
Buried in Blair Cemetery

#1 Pilot 28 May 1924

Wilcox, L. A.

The remains of L. A. Wilcox arrived here last Thursday morning from Spokane, Wash., accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. H. Vaughan and husband, and were taken to the Unruh undertaking parlors. The funeral was held at the M. E. Church at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, Rev. O. U. McProud officiating. A son, Clarence, arrived from Spokane Friday morning in time for the funeral service. The other members of the family were unable to attend. They are Fred, who is with the Northern Pacific, Mrs. M.L. Morton, who is a telegraph operator on the Northern Pacific, Elizabeth, telegraph operator on the S. P. & S. Mr. Wilcox was born in Sandyville, W. V., in 1838 and died at Spokane December 23rd, 1923, the body being placed in a receiving vault there until it could be brought here for burial by the side of his wife in the Blair Cemetery, at his request. He was married at Amesville, just before the Civil War broke out and came to Nebraska in 1867. He was employed as foreman of a bridge crew by the railroad company and became one of the first residents of the new city of Blair, building the house on east Grant St. that was his home for many years. Before there were any churches here Mr. Wilcox got the railroad officials to set a box car on the side track so Sunday School might be held in it, the singing being led by Mr. Wilcox. He was one of the original members of the Methodist Church here and asked that his funeral service be held in the Blair church. Mrs. Wilcox died here in 1907. Since her death he made his home for some time in Missoula, Mont., later moving to Spokane, Wash., to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Vaughan.

#2 Tribune 17 Jan 1924

Body of L. A. Wilcox Will Be Buried Here In Spring

Spokane, Washington, Jan. 9 ’24.

Thos. T. Osterman, Editor Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Dear Sir: I had a copy of the Spokane paper mailed to you giving an account of my father’s death on December 22nd at 8:40 p.m.

He had been quite feeble for nine months but was not ill and always bright and cheerful until the last two weeks, he slept most of the time and passed away quietly like a tired child going to sleep.

He was one of the pioneers of Blair, Nebraska, coming there in early days just after the civil war. He came out west in 1907, after my mother died, making his home with his daughter, Mrs. M. L. Morton. He was employed by the U. P. railway for many years, a special bridge watchman up to about one year ago.

He leaves two sons, three daughters and seven grandchildren: Fred L. Wilcox, conductor U.P. Ry., in Missoula, Montana; Clarence G. Wilcox, train dispatcher, S. P. & S. Ry., Spokane, Montana; Mrs. Mina L. Morton, telegraph operator for the U.P. Ry., Belmont, Montana; Miss Elizabeth Wilcox, telegraph operator for S. P. & S. Ry., Lamont, Washington, and Mrs. Harry J. Vaughan, wife of Eng. Vaughan, U. P. Ry., Spokane.

Private services were held for L. A. Wilcox on December 24th, at Turnbull’s parlors, by L. Morgan Chambers, of the Central Methodist church. Temporary interment was made in a private vault until spring, when final services and interment will be made in Blair, Nebraska, where his wife was buried just sixteen years ago during the holiday season. Owing to illness of my son I was unable to make the trip back there at this time.

Mrs. Estella S. Vaughan.

#3 Tribune 10 Jan 1924

L. A. Wilcox Passes Away At Seattle, Wash.

A copy of the Seattle Chronicle of December reaching our desk conveys the news of the death of L. A. Wilcox, formerly of this city. The article follows:

“Private funeral services for L. A. Wilcox, aged 85, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry J. Vaughan, E3807 Second avenue, Saturday, were held yesterday afternoon at the Turnbull parlors. The public funeral will be held the latter part of this week at Blair, Nebr., where Mr. Wilcox made his home for more than 50 years.

“Mr. Wilcox is one of the pioneer railroad men of the west and is known among the railroad fraternity from Chicago to the coast. He was for many years the foreman of the bride construction gangs for the Chicago & North Western and later acted as the government inspector of timber at Omaha.

“He is survived by two sons, Clarence, who is a train dispatcher on the S. P. S.; Fred who is connected with the Northern Pacific, and three daughters, Mrs. M. I. Morton, telegraph operator on the N. P.; Elizabeth, telegraph operator on the S. P. & S., and Mrs. Harry J. Vaughan. Mr. Vaughan was the farmer labor candidate for congress.” Find a Grave Memorial # 66198753

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library~~~

Printed in the Blair Pilot on 5/28/1924


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