Jarvis - William d 1916
Source: Crawfordsville Review Monday March 20, 1916
Waveland, March 19 – William JARVIS was born in Clementsville, Ky Oct 21, 1823 and died Sunday morning at 8 o’clock at his home here. He was 92 years, four months and 28 days and was one of the oldest as well as one of the wealthiest men in the community. In young manhood he moved to Indiana and spent most of his life in this section in Clark Township. He lived near this city, on one of his farms, until his health began to fail, then he moved to his late residence on west Main Street. He was married June 8, 1852 to Mary Virginia Switzer to which union was born one child Mrs. Edward Oldshue. Besides his wife and daughter three grandchildren survive the deceased, Miss Vivian and Virginia Oldshue of this place and Mrs. Edward Hancock of Montezuma. He was a member of the Christian Church a number of years and lately one of its trustees. He has been in failing health for some time and has been under the care of a nurse for the past 15 months. His death was due to old age and dropsy. The funeral will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock by the Rev DE Morman of the Englewood Christian Church, Indianapolis.- transcribed by kbz
Source: Waveland Independent March 24, 1916
William Jarvis, the oldest citizen of our community died at his home on West Main Street at about 8 on Sunday morning. Funeral services at the home on Tuesday afternoon were conducted by Rev. EE Moorman of the Englewood Christian Church, Indianapolis. Interment in Maple Ridge Cemetery. Mr. Jarvis was the son of Reason and Elizabeth Jarvis, and was born near Maysville, Fleming County, KY Oct 21, 1823. His parents moved to Parke County when he was six years old, so that he has lived here over 86 years. The home place was the farm occupied by John Jarvis at the time of his death. When the gold rush to California came he joined the fortune seekers and in 1850 made the overland trip by way of Great Salt Lake - there being no city there at that time. On the way he fractured one of his limbs below the knee, but the expedition could not stop, so the fracture was patched up as well as possible and a bed arranged for him in one of the wagons. In California he had the usual experiences of the emigrant, but after three years returned home, going by steamer to Panama, overland by mule train to the chagres River, down which they traveled by flatboat to Colon. After a wait of several weeks they got passage on a steamer to New Orleans and traveled by boat to Madison. The new railroad had just been completed to Columbus, from which place he rode on horseback to his home in Parke County. He brought no great fortune home with him only about $1200. It was his intention to return to the gold fields, but soon after coming home his father died and he had to take charge of his affairs. He was married to Miss Mary Virginia Switzer June 8, 1858. Their one daughter, Mrs. J.E. Oldshue with the wife, and three granddaughters survive him. His granddaughters are: Mrs. JE Hancock of Montezuma and Misses Vivian and Virginia Oldshue. Mr. Jarvis was very successful as a farmer and lived on the farm southwest of town until failing health obliged him to give up active work. He then moved to Waveland and built the present residence. He joined the Christian Church in 1890, and has been a faithful member serving for many years on the Official Board. Five years ago last October he was taken seriously ill and for many weeks his life was despaired of. He rallied but did not recover any measure of health, and nearly all the time since has been under care of a nurse. He retained the use of his faculties, however and took great interest in reading. When Stewart Edward Whites' book, Gold was published, Messrs. Doubleday & Page sent him a copy because he had made the overland trip. It gave him great pleasure to read of the events in which he had taken part in his early manhood. Only a few days before his death he expressed a wish to be back in his California cabin. Mr. Jarvis was the fourth of a family of seven children: six brothers, Joseph, Henry, Fleming, Nathan, William and John and one sister, Mrs. Martha McAlister, all of these passed before him. Amongst those present from a distance were: Mrs. Jerome Dooley and Mrs. Dollie Ensminger of Terre Haute; Mrs. I.M. Donnell of St. Louis and Mrs. Joseph Hoekin of Hillsboro, Mo; Mrs. Eliza Sturgeon of Arcola, ill; Rufus Dooley, Rockville; Barton Dooley, Marshall; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hancock, Montezuma; George Myers, Miss Minnie Myers and Mrs. Foster Fudge of Crawfordsville; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Fletcher, Darlington; Miss Virginia Jarvis, Oxford, O. - transcribed by kbz