Wheat - Milton Kennedy - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

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Wheat - Milton Kennedy

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal, August 19 1909

 
Milton Kennedy Wheat died Saturday evening at 6:45 o'clock at  his home, 708 E. Market St, from the effects of chronic  nephritis.  The funeral services were held this afternoon from  his late home and were in charge of the Rev. JF Rake, pastor of  the Baptist Church.  Mrs OR Coutant, Mrs. Lucy Cullom Springer,  Mrs. OH Jones, William White and Walter Dorsey sang.  The body  was laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery  Milton K. Wheat was b.  near Paris, Bourbon Co Ky, Oct 29, 1841.  He was a son of  Washington Wheat, who was for many years a resident and prominent  farmer of Bourbon Co and who afterwards moved to Missouri, and  died there in 1877.  Milton K. Wheat in his younger days was  surrounded by many who sympathized with the south and while not a  Whig, followed the teachings of Henry Clay and was decidedly  opposed to a division of the union and the extension of slavery.   Consequently when the war between the sections broke out, he  volunteered on the side of the union and enlisted in the 10th Ky  Cavalry and served with honor till honorably discharged.  On Nov  4, 1864, he marr. Mary Nannie Talbot dau of Courtney Talbot, who  then lived on the old Talbot farm So. of this city now owned by  ex-sheriff Charles N. McCullough.  He and his bride returned to  Bourbon Co. where he was engaged in farming  and stock raising  until 1877, when he removed to this city.  In 1878 he moved  again, this time to Pleasant Hill, Mo.  His wife died in the  latter place Aug 14, 1883, and a remarkable coincidence occurs in  the fact that she died on a date exactly corresponding month,  day, and hour with that upon which her husband died last  Saturday.  Mr. Wheat with his family returned to this city in  1892, where he lived till his death.  He left the following  children: Misses Cora, Bessie and Sarah of this city; Mrs. Walter  Rigdon of Danville, Ill; Mrs. Ben S. Kennedy, of Geneva, NY; Miss  Hettie of Indianapolis and Charles c. of Lincoln Neb 3 having  died in infancy.  Mr. Wheat was a profound lover of his home and  lived to see all his children self-supporting and prosperous.  On  account of rheumatism he was compelled to cease active labor 20  years ago, but continued active in mind till his death.  He was a  student of all living questions and read many books and  periodicals and was never so happy as when discussing current  topics with others from whom he thougth he might gain more  information.  In politics he was reared a Democrat, but was very  liberal in his views and followed the teachings of many leaders  of other parties.  On all moral questions he was sound to the  core and if his party took up with some notion not based on what  he thought was right, he always said he had a right to "shift for  himself" and thought all self-respecting men should do the same.   Along with his other studies he found much time to read and  discuss the scriptures.  He always enjoyed a good sermon and  after hearing one, followed it up in his study for weeks after  and seemed to get as much from it as the minister who delivered  it.  His love for birds was particularly noticeable.  Each day he  found time to study their habits, feed them and build and put up  houses for them.  A day or two before his death he asked to be  taken out under a shade tree in his yard, where he could watch  them enjoy the preparations he had made for them and his last  request was that they be cared for and protected.  Mr. Wheat was  a member of the Missionary baptist Church. - transcribed by kbz
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