Emmit Oral Case d. 1 March 1907

Bell's Creek

The 8 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Case was buried at the chapel cemetery last Saturday. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of all.

The Pulaski County Democrat
Waynesville, Missouri
8 March 1907
Page 8

Cora (Hamilton) Underwood d. 5 January 1902

OBITUARY

Died, on the 5th day of January, 1902, at her home near Riddle ford south of Dixon, Pulaski county, Mo., Mrs. Cora Underwood, wife of J.C. Underwood. She struggled with pneumonia eight days, but shoe bore her sufferings with a fortitude which characterizes a true Christian, which indeed she was, having been a consistent member of the church for about six years. She was born Jan. 21, 1875, being nearly 27 years old at death. She was married to J.C. Underwood Aug. 16, 1896.

Cora was an industrious daughter, a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother. She was the daughter of J.E. and M.C. Hamilton, well known and respected citizens of this community. Her place in the family circle will be sadly missed, her place in society hard to fil.

Her body was laid to rest in the cemetery at Mitchell Chapel in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends, to await the morning of the resurrection.

She leaves a husband, two children and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her untimely death.

Cora, it is hard to say good-bye, but we will strive to meet you in heaven.

---D.D. GREENSTREET

The Pulaski County Democrat
Waynesville, Missouri
10 January 1902
Page 1

Jane E. (Huffman) Claiborn 1845-1944

From the Dixon Pilot, July 1944

Mrs. Jane E. Claiborn, 99 Years Old Buried Sunday

One of the few persons who remembered the war between the states and who had witnessed the transformation of this country from wilderness and prairie to farm and industry, died last Saturday at Crocker, when Mrs. Jane E. Claiborn was summoned, at the age of 99 years, 6 months and 17 days.

Mrs. Claiborn came to Pulaski county in about 1864, the year she married D.A. Claiborn. She attended school at the old academy at Lebanon, and often told of the Bushwhackers coming through that town and cleaning out chicken yards and barn lots so completely that not enough food could be found to keep the people from hunger. In those days no salt could be bought in Lebanon and present day complaints of the inconvenience of the rationing program never failed to amuse Mrs. Claiborn. "You don't know anything about hard times" she would say to her listeners.

Jane E. Claiborn nee Huffman was born at Lebanon December 21, 1844. To Mrs. Claiborn and her husband D.A. Claiborn (who died March 1931) were born 11 children, eight of who survive as follows: O.C. Claiborn, Decaturville; Dr. Ed Claiborn, Camdenton; Dr. Dru Claiborn, Big Timber, Mont.; H.A. Claiborn, Wister, Okla.; W.T. Claiborn, Crocker; and Fannie Salveter; Belle Layman and Carrie Hamilton, all of Crocker. The deceased children were Matthew, Cleopatra and Arthur.

Mrs. Claiborn was early converted and had lived a consistent Christian life all through the years, as a member of the Christian church.

36 Descendants in Service

Other survivors are 45 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. In addition to her own family she reared two orphan children, giving them the same care and love that she gave her own family.

According to Dru Salveter, cashier of the Bank of Crocker, and a grandson of the deceased, more than 35 of Mrs. Claiborn’s descendants are serving their country in its armed forces.

Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at Mitchell's Chapel, 4 miles east of Crocker with six grandsons acting as pall bearers: Charlie Claiborn, Paris Claiborn, Winfred Layman, Harold Hamilton, Ralph Hamilton and Allan Salveter.

Reverend W.E. Waddell, Christian minister, assisted by Reverend William Gammon, Presbyterian minister conducted the services at the church and grave.

Daniel Allen Claiborn 1839-1931

Daniel Allen Claiborn was born September 2, 1839 in Sumner County, Tennessee. At the time of his death, March 16, 1931, he was 91 years, six months and 14 days old. When he was two years old, his parents moved in an ox wagon from the place of his birth to the state of Missouri and finally located in Camden County. There he lived to manhood. When the cause of the Civil War arose, he enlisted with the Union Army and served until near the close of the war, when in the Battle of Vicksburg he received a wound in his right arm which necessitated its loss. On the 18th day of October, 1865, he was married to Jane E. Huffman and soon after his marriage moved to a homestead near Crocker on Bell's Creek in Pulaski County. He and his widow have lived on the same farm for the past 65 years.

To this union were born 11 children. Two died as children and Arthur died December 3, 1920. Surviving him are his widow, eight children: Ousley Claiborn and Dr. E.G. Claiborn of Decaturville, Missouri; H.A. Claiborne of Wister, Oklahoma; Dr. Drura Claiborn of Big Timber, Montana; Mrs. Belle Layman of Collinsville, Oklahoma; W.I. Claiborn, Mrs. Fannie Salveter and Mrs. Carrie Hamilton, all of Crocker, Missouri. He is also survived by one brother, Judge W.F. Claiborne of Decaturville, Missouri.
Mr. Claiborn, during his years of activity, served as a member of the Pulaski County Court for two terms. He taught one of the first schools ever taught in Pulaski County. He made many useful contributions to the social and community life during the time that he lived, and the power of his character will have its influence for good on generations yet to come. His passing away is a deep loss
felt by all who knew him. Let us believe that as he passed to the other side he felt upon his wasted brow the breath of eternal morning.

***Editor note: D.A. Claiborn is the son of Ousley Claiborne (1802-1891) and Frances Hunter Claiborne (1813-1892)

View Death Certificate

Mitchell Chapel Cemetery

Click picture for larger view of Mitchell Chapel Cemetery's location in Pulaski County, Missouri.

Photo by Pulaski County Obits, Summer 2009

Mitchell Chapel Cemetery is located in Pulaski County, MO., 4 miles east of Crocker, at the end of HH Highway.

At one time this was also the location of the Mitchell Chapel Methodist Church. The church was still standing December 1920. It was named for Henry Mitchell who donated the land on which the church once stood. The oldest dated headstone belongs to a son of Henry and Nancy, Andrew J. Mitchell, who was less than 1 year old when he died 14 November, 1869.

Mitchell Chapel Cemetery near Crocker, MO. Photo by Pulaski County Obits, Summer 2009

The tombstone of Arthur & Tabitha Claiborn, Mitchell Chapel Cemetery. Photo by Pulaski County Obits.

Latitude: 37.9328173
Longitude: -92.1982246
Township 37-Range 12-Section 13

Arthur & Tabitha Claiborn d. December 3, 1920

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Mrs. T.A. Claiborn Killed Husband With Shotgun Then Took Her Own Life With Pistol Early Friday Morning Near Wheeler’s Mill.

The Crocker News – Dec 9, 1920

The people of Crocker and Pulaski county were shocked early Friday morning when news came that Mrs. T.A. Claiborn had shot and killed her husband, a highly respected and prosperous farmer, and then killed herself at their beautiful country home near Wheeler’s Mill, nine miles east of Crocker. The tragedy occurred between five and six o’clock Friday morning and it is believed that Mrs. Claiborn’s mind had become unbalanced as a result of prolonged ill health and the mystery will perhaps never be solved.

Mrs. Claiborn had arisen Friday morning and was busy about the kitchen. She had awakened her husband, but he had supposedly gone back to sleep. After starting a fire Mrs. Claiborn returned to the bed room seized a shot gun which was near at hand and fired at close range, blowing the back and top of her husband’s head off killing him instantly. Her eldest daughter, about 12 years old, was at her side in an instant and seeing what her mother had done, cried “Oh Mama, what did you kill Papa for?” and then ran up stairs to waken the hired man, who ran down in his night clothes barefooted. When he reached the room where Mr. Claiborn lay Mrs. Claiborn was on her knees by the bed with gun against her head trying to pull to trigger. He knocked the gun away and then began a terrific struggle for its possession. Fearing that his own life was in danger the boy escaped from the house, ran down the hill and waded the Gasconade river to the J.A. Shattuck home for help. He and Mr. Shattuck returned to the scene at once but could hear no sound in the house. Finding the doors all locked but one they finally gained entrance and found Mrs. Claiborn lying on floor with a bullet would in her forehead. She had taken her own life with a pistol. She lived a few minutes after they arrived, but never regained consciousness.

The coroner and physicians were hurriedly summoned and many people went to the scene of the double tragedy during the day. At the inquest the children and the hired man told the same stories leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mrs. Claiborn had committed the deed which left her children orphaned and brought deep grief to many close relatives and friends.

Mr. And Mrs. Claiborn were trading in Crocker Thursday and seemed to be in their usual good spirits, she, in particular, it is recalled seemed unusually cheerful as she “visited” with acquaintances while doing her shopping. That evening after returning home, so the story goes, she asked her husband to show her how to shoot a gun and they went into the yard and fired several shots. In the morning she called her daughter to get up and help her get breakfast, and while dressing conversed with her husband as he lay in bed. It is said that after shooting the father she kissed the children goodbye and told them they could live with their grandpa. When the children begged her not to kill herself she finally said she would not if they would go to the home of a neighbor for help. They started to do as she bade them, but she fired the shot that brought death to herself before they left the house. According to friends who had known them for years they had never had any domestic troubles and were deeply devoted to each other and to their children.

Mr. And Mrs. Claiborn were both born and reared in Pulaski county and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them, and their passing in this terrible manner came as a great shock to the entire county. Mr. Claiborn was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Claiborn, both of whom live on a farm near by. Mrs. Claiborn was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. J. E. Hamilton, who also reside in that neighborhood. Both families have lived in Pulaski county for many years and are well-to-do- and highly respected and deep is the grief that has suddenly overshadowed them in their declining years. The deepest sympathy of every person goes out to the parents, the orphaned children and the brothers and sisters of the dead.

The funeral was held Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at Mitchell Chapel, east of Crocker. Impressive services were conducted by Rev. Licklider, of near Crocker and Rev. Patton of Waynesville, after which the bodies were laid to rest in the same grave at the Chapel cemetery in the presence of a vast gathering of sorrowing relatives and friends.

Mr. Claiborn was 35 years of age at the time of his death and Mrs. Claiborn was 33. Besides their six children, ranging in age from 4 months to 12 years, they leave their parents, several brothers and sisters and many other relatives to mourn their tragic and untimely death.

Editor's Note: Arthur Claiborn was born August 16, 1885 and Tabitha was born May 22, 1890. They are buried side by side, and share a tombstone, in Mitchell Chapel Cemetery.

View T. Arthur Claiborn Death Certificate

View Sarah Tabitha Claiborn Death Certificate