Notes:

Mrs. W. W. Bear dies, funeral service Monday
Mrs. Bessie May Bear, 74, who came to Kansas in a covered wagon at the age of 14, died at the Colby hospital Thursday night. Mrs. Bear was the mother of a prominent Brewster area family and had been active in commumity affairs all of her life.
Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church in Brewster on Monday at 2:00 p.m., cst.
The daughter of William and Nancy Ann Thompson, Mrs. Bear was born in Mercer county, Mo., on Jan. 14, 1889, and the family moved to Kansas when she was 14. She was married to William Walter Bear on Oct. 12, 1910 and the couple took up a homestead nine miles north of Brewster. They lived there until 1947 when they moved to Brewster. Mr. Bear died in 1958.
Mrs. Bear was a member of the Methodist church, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Stich and Chatter club of Brewster.
Surviving Mrs. Bear are two sons and two daughters, all of Brewster; Mrs. Lorna M. Eicher, Mrs. Mary Violet Miller, Lloyd G. and Gearge S. Bear. There are eight grandchildren. Surviving brothers include Bert Thompson of Goodland, Charley and Fred of Brewster, Ivan of Edson, and Alec of Westminster, Colo. Sisters are Mrs. Addie McAdams of Wray, Colo., and Mrs. Idonia Wright of Brewster.

Bessie married William Walter Bear on 12 Oct 1910. William (son of George Bear and Mary Agnes Conn) was born on 18 Dec 1890 in Brewster, Kansas; died on 18 Jul 1958 in Brewster, Kansas; was buried on 21 Jul 1958 in Brewster Cemetery, Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lorna Mae Bear was born on 27 Mar 1911 in Thomas County, Kansas; died on 11 Sep 1994 in Goodland, Kansas; was buried in Goodland, Kansas.
2. Lloyd Gale Bear was born on 23 March 1914 in Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas; died on 17 Feb 2000 in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas; was buried in Brewster Cemetery, Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas.
3. George Sheldon Bear was born on 20 Feb 1917 in Thomas County, Kansas; died on 26 Sep 2000 in Goodland, Kansas; was buried on 29 Sep 2000 in Brewster Cemetery, Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas.
4. Mary Violet Bear

Notes:

Elmer Thompson's birth certificate says William was born in Illinois, 1860 Census says Missouri. Mercer County, Missouri is where a lot of this family was born.

Died at 9:00 AM.

Obit:
William Sheldon Thompson was born April 28, 1860, in Mercer county, Missouri, and departed this life at Brewster, Feb. 17, 1946, age 85 years, 10 months and 17 days.
He was united in marriage to Nancy Ann Cox in 1882. She preceded him in death Feb. 3, 1937. To this union six sons and three daughters were born. One son, William Esma, passed on in August, 1924.
Mr. Thompson united with the Baptist church in early life. On coming to Kansas he united with the Methodist church at Prairie Gem in the neighborhood where the family was reared.
He leaves to mourn his passing his sons, Burton, Charley and Fred of Brewster; Ivan and Alex of Edson; his daughters, Mrs. Bessie Bear and Idonia Wright of Brewster, and Mrs. Addie McAdams of Laird, Nebr.; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Beckner, Brewster; one half-brother, Elmer Thompson of Portis; two half-sisters, Mrs. Mary Graham and Mrs. Idonia Thompson of the Dalles Ore.; 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held from the Brewster Methodist church, Conducted by Rev. J. E. Gruver, with a large attendance of relatives and friends. He was laid to rest by the side of his wife in the Brewster cemetery.

Died:
Death Certficate on file.

William married Nancy Ann Cox on 31 Aug 1882 in Mercer County, Missouri. Nancy (daughter of Minister John Willis Burton Cox and Mary Jane Rockhold) was born on 05 Jan 1859 in Mercer County, Missouri; died on 03 Feb 1937 in Rawlins County, Kansas; was buried on 04 Feb 1937 in Brewster Cemetery, Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Have also seen name as Nancy Anne Cox.

Death Certificate shows Nancy died in Rawlins County, Kansas.

Obit:
Nancy Ann Cox was born Jan. 5, 1859 in Mercer County Mo., and departed this life Feb. 3, 1937, at the age of 78 years and 28 days.
She spent her girlhood in the community in which she was born and was converted at the age of 17 and became a member of the Fairhaven Baptist Church.
On Aug. 31, 1882, she was united in marriage to W. S. Thompson who mourns her loss. To this union were born six boys and three girls: Burton Thompson of Brewster; Charlie Thompson of the home place; Mrs. Bessie Bear of the home community; Mrs. Addie McAdams of Laird, Nebr.; Ivan C. Thompson of Edson, Kansas; Fred Thompson of Brewster; Mrs. Idonia Tracy of the home community; and Alec Thompson of Edson, Kansas. Willie Thompson preceded his mother in death having passed away in 1924. There are 25 grandchildren and one great grandchild who survive.
A kindly spirited wife and mother has passed on. Her going is great loss but while here among her fellow beings and caring for her family she was a blessing to all. She knew her Lord and let Him lead her into the valley of the shadow of death - but no fear possessed her.
The funeral service was held in the M. E. Church at Brewster and conducted by the Rev. Fred W. Martin assisted by the Rev. Simpson, pastor of the church.

Died:
Death Certficate on file.

Notes:

Notes from Elmer A Thompson state that: William Sheldon Thompson, Elizabeth Thompson and Lois Thompson are the children of Chauncey Gridley Thompson and his 1st wife, and that Mary, Idoine, Amanda and Elmer were children of Chauncey Gridley Thompson's 2nd wife.

1860 Census and Obituary say that Chauncey was born in Indiana.

William Sheldon Thompson's Death Certificate shows parents name's as Chancy G Thompson and Sarah Mitilda (Not Known). Both born in Illinois.

Obit: Corrections made within the [ ]
Obituary for Chaucey G. Thomas [Chauncey Gridley Thompson] was born February 6, 1832, in Indiana. Moved in early boyhood, with his parents, to Shelby County, Illinois. Later, moved to Missouri, about 1856, with his first wife Sarah Robson [Sarah Matilda Robertson], to whom he was married in Illinois. To them were born five children. The first wife died in November, 1864. November 11, 1869, he was married to Mary Garland, in Mercer County, Missouri. There were born to them seven children. The wife died February 8, 1909.
In 1885 he moved to Norton County, Kansas, and in 1886, to Thomas County, where the homestead was taken and the home was until fall, of 1905, when returned to Norton County and bought property in Oronoque, resided until death March 2, 1915; aged 83 years and 26 days. He leaves two sons and six daughters, with grandchildren and other more distant relatives, to mourn his death. His was a blameless life. He never spoke an unkind word about anyone. His honesty and integrity, was unquestioned by all who knew him.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. E. Huff, of Oronoque, and notwithstanding a blinding snow storm, the house was crowded with friends and relatives.

Funeral Postponed – The C. G. Thompson funeral at Oronoque will be held tomorrow, if trains run on time. Relatives from the east could not arrive today.

Will Garland, of The Telegram, will always hold the memory of Mr. Thompson in reverence and respect. When we were a lad, seven years of age, our mother died and our father moved from Missouri to Kansas. “Uncle Chauncey” prevailed upon him to let us make our home with them in Thomas County, which we did for the greater part of a year. No child of his own ever received more kindly attention or more favors than were accorded us during that period. The news of his death came to us unexpectedly, in fact, only a few days before, we had met him in Oronoque and while on account of his advanced age, he was not as strong as he was in the pioneer days; he then seemed to be a strong man of that age. He was a clean man in everyway. A man whom memory will be long remembered after death, by all those who know him.



The Goodland Star-News / Tuesday, July 22, 2003, Page 7
There are some upcoming events that we want to remind you of, and I want to mention that I didn?t announce the Thompson reunion, last week, due to the death of Marjorie's son, Dennis Thompson. But, as Marge says, he would have wanted the plans to go on, so there will be a Thompson reunion, in Brewster, on August 1, 2 and 3. The meeting place will be the home of Marjorie Westover, 669 Illinois Ave., in Brewster, phone (785)694-2837. This reunion is for descendants of Chauncey Gridley Thompson. If you are included in this family, I am sure you know all the details. Marge tried to explain to me how the family tree grew, but with a maiden name like Smith, I get tangled up in the branches. Anyway, it sounds like a fun weekend for all the relatives from the special gathering at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2 until the last family story is shared. I will send the particulars to the newspapers later this week to be sure to plan to attend this reunion.


Birth:
Per the 1900 United States Federal Census Record Kansas > Thomas > Barrett > District 177 > 4

Chauncy married Sarah Matilda Robertson on 11 Sep 1855 in Shelby County, Illinois. Sarah was born in 1840 in Kentucky; died in Nov 1864. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Chauncey and Sarah were married by B. W. F. Corley.

Married:
Marriage Certficate on file.

Notes:

1860 Census on file.

Tombstone reads "JWB Cox died Apr. 24 1899 aged 73y 4m 5d".

Also found notes stating John W B Cox was born in Kentucky.

He was licensed to preach in 1873 and ordained into the Baptist Church in 1875.

Obit:
Obituary
J.W.B. Cox was born December 19th, 1826, and departed this life April 24 at 6 o'clock, 1899, aged 73 years, 4 month and 6 days. He was born in the state of Tennessee, and at the age of 11 years moved to Jackson Co., MO with his father and mother and seven brothers and sisters, he being the seventh. James the oldes, Jarret T. Mary Ann, Hugh P., Elisabeth Jane, Sarah C., Margaret E. and J.W.B. Cox are the names of the family of Wilson and Susannah Cox and they have all passed away except Margaret, who is only waiting for her lord to call her home.
At the age of 17 J.W.B. Cox moved to Mercer Co., where he made his home until God called him away. He joined the Baptist Church in the year of 1871, was licensed to preach the gospel in 1873 and was ordained about 1875. He was married to Mary Jane Rockhold in the year of 1856. He has left his companion 4 boys and 3 girls and 15 grandchildren. Two of his children had gone on before to a better land, one in infancy and the other, Elizabeth J. Brown, who has preceeded him about 5 months, and died so happy in Jesus and having her friends stand around her bed and her **ther hold her Bible open so she could look on its sacred pages to the last. But how soon does a generation pass away? J.W.B. Cox was loved by all. He was a minister of the Gospel in word and deed. No one ever came to him for aid but what he would help them. He was a Good Samaritan to all, his house was open to receive the orphans and he was a father to them all. How sadly he will be missed by al and especially at home when they gather around the dear old family altar at night, oh, then, how he will be missed! Yet his works will follow him for how can we ever forget who have heard his kind exhortations and warnings and prayers.
His sufferings were very great during his illness of nine days but he shouted and praised God all day the day he took sick. He said from the first day of his sickness that he would not get well and he has gone to his erernal rest.
The funeral sermon was preached by J.R.Nordyke and J.D.Houston from Job 14:1 to a large concourse of people.
Weary toiler thy work all done And they soul into glory gone, Eternal life with its crown now won, God giveth the rest. Rest from all sorrows and watching and fears, Rest from all possible sighing and tears, Rest through God's endless wonderful years, At home with the blest.

Burt Cox worked at many trades. He was a good woodsman; handy with an axe, saw and other wood working tools. He was a brick maker and he and his boys made thousands of bricks which were used for buildings round about. He was also a carpenter, bricklayer and cabinet maker. However, that did not use up all of his time.
When he was 35 years old, he became very much interested in religion. He wanted to do more in God's work. He studied the "Good Book" diligently. He and Mary Jane had joined the Baptist Church about 1871. Burt became an ordained minister of the Baptist faith about 1873. He was a practicing Minister until his death. He was a minister of the "Hard-Shelled" Baptist Church. Since his Congregation were farmer folk who had rather small incomes, his material returns for his labors were small indeed. Rich, however, were the rewards of good will and friendship he reaped.
He ministered to the sick. If any man needed help to pay his rent or his interest in order to keep his home or if a poor man with only two horses lost a horse, Burt Cox went out to take up a collection to remedy the situation. You may bet your bottom dollar Burt Cox's contribution headed the list and was as large as he expected any other man to give.
Burt traveled all around the area on horseback to hold meetings and to minister to people. He was a big man and a hard working man.
As I said, he worked at many trades. These trades he taught his sons: timber work, farming, bricklaying and brick making. They became proficient in most of these trades.
John Willis Burton Cox died 24 April 1899 in Mercer Co., Missouri and is buried in the old Laughlin Cemetery.

John married Mary Jane Rockhold on 23 Oct 1856 in Mercer County, Missouri. Mary (daughter of Lloyd Rockhold, II and Jane Connor) was born on 26 May 1838 in Carroll, Carroll County, Missouri; died on 30 May 1925 in Mercer County, Missouri; was buried in Laughlin Cemetery, Mercer County, Missouri . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1860 Census on file.

Thelma Nicholas' notes show the last name spelling as Rocholdt, but this is not correct.

Notes with tombstone are: COX Mary J. May 30, 1925 Age 87y, 4d, Same stone with John W. B. Cox, Dau of Loy & Jane Rockhold, Born in Carroll Co., MO.

Obit:
Mrs. Mary J. Cox, A Well Known Old Resident, is dead
By Obie Davenport
Mrs. Mary Jane Cox, an old and highly respected lady of the north part of the county, died Saturday at her home. The funeral was held Sunday at the family home and was conducted by Rev. W E Kauffman, assisted by Rev. Tye and Rev. Houston. Interment was in the Laughlin cemetery.
Mary Jane Rockhold, daughter of Loyd and Jane Rockhold was born in Carroll County, Mo., May 26, 1837. She was one of a family of eleven children, all of whom preceded her in death except her brother, Richard L Rockhold and another brother in California. She moved to Mercer County with her parents, when a child. She was married to the Reverand Burton Cox, Oct 23, 1856 and through their long wedded life she was an exemplar companion, kind, loving, faithful and self-sacrificing. To this union nine children were born. Jarret M, Mrs. Nancy A Thompson, Brewster, Kans., Miss Ellen deceased; Mrs Madora Hampton, Lineville; Thomas W Cox, Lineville; L ****** *** **** Tipton B and *** ****** ***** **** **** ****** ** *** ***** ****** ******* ****** ***** ***** ***** *** ** ******* **** ** the same motherly kindness and gentle she reared a large number of homeless and orphan children.
The hospitality of the Cox home was shared and enjoyed by the entire community for many years. And it has been quite often said that no one was permitted to the leave the Cox home at meal time without breaking bread with this fine old family. Since her husbands death she had lived with her devoted sons, Jarret and Porter in the old home. Her daughter had offered her the comforts of her home but she preferred to remain under the old roof until the end. The children were ever ready to make any sacrifice for their dear old mother's comfort and pleasure. The relatives assembled to celebrate her birthday May 26, and although she was bedfast at the time she greatly enjoyed the occasion very much and was glad they all came home to spend the day.
She was reared by devoted Christian parents was early in life became a member of the Christian church. Later she with her husband, who preached the gospel for more than a quarter century, united with the Baptist church in 1871. She departed this vale of tears to dwell for ever with the pure and Holy. She had for several days been happy singing "I'm Going Home to Die No More." The morning of her death she prayed that the Savior might come and take her home. And, with her passing there comes to our minds this phrase from the Inspired word. "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful, over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

Notes:

Soon after they were married Burt and Mary took a baby boy by the name of Sam B. Baker to rear. Son of Sarah C. Cox Baker, to raise. He was a few years older than Jarrett Cox, who was born July 27, 1857.

Burt and Mary also took to rear Tom Qualls and Tobe Molen.
Tom Qualls became a very rich man as riches were reckoned in his day, $75,000 or more.
Tobe Molen moved to Oklahoma about 1900. He worked on a farm for awhile then went to the oil wells or fields to work. He studied the oil business, learned how to find and map oil fields. He worked in both the United States and Canada. The last we heard of Tobe he was on an oil exploring trip in western Canada.

Married:
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 about Mary Jane Rockhold
Name: Mary Jane Rockhold
Gender: Female
Birth Place: MO
Birth Year: 1838
Spouse Name: John Willis Cox
Spouse
Birth Place: TN
Spouse Birth Year: 1825
Marriage
Year: 1856
Marriage State: MO
Number Pages: 1

Notes:

Baptized (LDS):
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&h=537310&dbid=3032
Where The Record Is Found (Citation)
Alba Thompson in the Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920..
Describe The Record (Notes)
Name: Alba Thompson
Baptism Date: 11 Feb 1806
Baptism Place: Kent, Connecticut, USA
Volume Title: Volume 055 Kent

Alba married Sally Barnes on 14 Oct 1824 in Jeffersonville, Clark, Indiana. Sally was born in Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Family Data Collection - Individual Records about Willison Cox
Name: Willison Cox
Spouse: Susannah Mclaughlin
Parents: Abram Cox, Casandra Tipton
Birth Place: Baltimore, MD
Birth Date: 25 Nov 1784
Marriage Place: Washington, VA
Marriage Date: 15 Jan 1807
Death Place: Mercer Co, MO
Death Date: 24 Jul 1865

Arthur married Susannah M Laughlin on 17 Dec 1807 in Washington, Virginia. Susannah (daughter of James Laughlin and Mary Jane Dunkin) was born on 10 Jan 1787 in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia; died on 29 Jul 1862 in Mercer County, Missouri ; was buried in South Lineville Cemetery, Lineville, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Family Data Collection - Individual Records about Susannah Laughlin
Name: Susannah Laughlin
Spouse: Arthur William Cox
Parents: James Laughlin, Mary Jane Polly Dunkin
Birth Place: Washington County, VA
Birth Date: 10 Apr 1787
Marriage Place: Washington County, VA
Marriage Date: 15 Jan 1807
Death Place: Mercer, Mercer County, MO
Death Date: 20 Jul 1862

1860 Census says Susannah was born in Virginia in 1787.

Also seen Born 10 Apr 1787 in Maryland.

Notes:

Married:
Also seen marriage date as 15 Jan 1807

Notes:

Lloyd is buried in the Laughlin Cemetery, Mercer County, Missouri. Tombstone reads "Age 76y, 8m Died in California". Other notes found with tombstone information: No Birth Date Same stone with Jane Rockhold, Son of Loyd & Elizabeth (Buck) Rockhold.

Lloyd married Jane Connor on 08 Mar 1827 in Clay County, Missouri. Jane (daughter of ? Conner and ?) was born on 22 May 1810 in Greene County, Kentucky; died on 01 Jan 1890 in Mercer County, Missouri; was buried in Laughlin Cemetery, Mercer County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jane is buried in the Laughlin Cemetery, Mercer County, Missouri. Tombstone reads "Age 79y, 7m, 9d Wife of Loy Rockhold".

Jane Connor if of Irish decent.

Notes:

Married:
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 about Jane Connor
Name: Jane Connor
Gender: Female
Birth Place: KY
Birth Year: 1810
Spouse Name: Lloyd Rockhold
Spouse Birth Place: TN
Spouse Birth Year: 1808
Marriage Year: 1827
Marriage State: MO
Number Pages: 1