Parke County Indiana Obituaries 

Surnames beginning with the letter "V"

VANCLEAVE

Dr. Elijah VanCLEAVE died at Rockville Saturday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock of double pneumonia.  He was formerly of this county having been born near Bluff Mills. For several years he practiced medicine at Catlin in Parke County but the past five or six has lived in Rockville and looked after a large practice.   He was a brother of Henry D. Vancleave and William Vancleave of this city.  His funeral occurred at Rockville at 2 o'clock this afternoon. – Crawfordsville Daily Journal, February 20, 1905 (Monday)

VANDIVER

Bloomingdale, Ind - Services for William T. Vandiver, 68, RR 1, Bloomingdale, who died Thursday will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Butler Funeral Home with the Rev. Ben Newlin officiating. Burial will be in Clear Run Cemetery at Bridgeton. Friends May call. - Source: Terre Haute Tribune Sun 12 Dec 1965, Page 10

VANDUNN

Prominent Parke County Farmer Dies Thursday -  Wright VanDunn of R.R.1, Rosedale, age 72, died at 1:40 Thursday morning at St. Anthony Hospital in Terre Haute.  A prominent Parke County farmer, he was a member of the Farm Bureau, trustee of the Lyford Levee Association and the Methodist Church of Clinton.  He is survived by a daughter, Grace, and a son Paul both at home; two sisters Mrs. Ruth Cluder of Clinton and Mrs. Ester Hayworth of Merriville, and two grandchildren.  Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon at the First Funeral Home in Clinton, with the Rev. William Paterson and the Rev. Chester Martin officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery.  - Unknown newspaper

VANFOSSEN

August 12, 1876, George VanFossen, a well-to-do farmer of Parke County, Indiana attended a Grange picnic near Rockville.  There were several hundred people present, and among them a noted rough named Warren Goddard.  Just before the day closed Goddard became noisy and quarrelsome from drink, and declared his intention to “whip the best man in Indiana.”  Mr. VanFossen attempted to quiet him, when he suddenly drew a large knife and stabbed. Mr. V. so severely that he lived only five minutes.  Goddard was armed with both a revolver and knife, and appears to have completely cowed the entire party, for no attempt was made to arrest him, and he made his escape.  That night the murderer lay concealed in some brush, and the next day, by the aid of some relatives, made his way to Illinois.  There he stole a horse, saddle and bridle and rode to Mercer County, Missouri, where he had relatives.  From there he removed to Wayne County, Iowa, and obtained employment in a coal mine.  Meantime a change of sheriffs took place in Putnam County, Indiana, where Goddard resided, the present officer, Mr. Lewman, coming into power.  He decided that the murderer should be arrested, and immediately commenced work on the case.  He succeeded in tracing his man to Illinois and part way through that State, and then lost the trail.  Finally he caught the thread again; this time in Missouri.  Then he procured a requisition on the Governor of Missouri.  In due tie he received it and followed the murderer to Mercer county, arriving there a few days after he had left.  Strategy and perseverance procured the information of the fugitive’s whereabouts, and last Monday night at dark, accompanied by a guide, the Sheriff left Princeton for Iowa.  They rode all night through the snow, stopped an hour for rest and pushed on another entire day.   Meantime the force had been increased by ex-Sheriff Robb, of Wayne County, Iowa, and the Marshal of Chariton.  Tuesday night they learned where their man was – in a wild, rough, mining country, where there were few inhabitants, and those not of the class to furnish materials for first class angels.  After dark they found the house of one Munden, where Goddard was boarding.  They approached carefully, and looking through the window, saw their man.  The other occupants of the room were Munden and his two little girls.  The later and Goddard were singing a religious hymn. It was a short job to open the door and before the astonished murderer had time to make any resistance Sheriff Lewman had him by the arm, ant eh two revolvers were pointed at his head.  He surrendered instanter, vouchsafing the cheerful remark that all three of them could not have arrested him “if they hadn’t got the drop on him. “   The next day he was taken to Chariton and a preliminary examination took place, resulting in the Sheriff being allowed ten days in which to procure a requisition.  Leaving the prisoner in jail, the officer came to Des Moines to procure Gov. Kirkwood’s order, having telegraphed Williams to send the requisition to this place.  And here, at the Aborn, he is awaiting it.   Goddard is a desperate character, utterly reckless, and a terror in Putnam County.  Sheriff Lewman has done a good and plucky think in arresting him.  The Indiana murderers stretch hemp, a fortune that will undoubtedly befall Warren Goddard. – St. Louis Globe Democrat, Tuesday 16, January 1877

Mrs. Maggie VanFossen of Bridgeton, Parke county, died last Friday of consumption.  Her remains were laid to rest Sunday.  Her brother Robt. Guinn of this city attended her funeral. – Clinton Plaindealer, 22 Feb 1907

VANHUSS

Bert Van Huss, 85, of Bellmore passed away at his residence last Friday at 6:00 p.m., November 19, 1965.  A native of Parke County, he was born in Greene Township on January 4, 1880, the son of Mathias and Mary Jack Van Huss.  He had been a farmer all his life and was a member of the Portland Mills Christian Church and the Parke County Farm Bureau.  Surviving are the widow, Edith; two daughters, Mrs. Marie Temple of Oklahoma City, OK, and Mrs. Opal Martin of Aurora; one son, Kenneth Van Huss of R.R. Judson; one brother, Enos Van Huss of Rockville; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at the Butler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Luther E. Page officiating.  Burial was in Memory Garden Cemetery. -  Waveland Independent News

The body of William VanHuss arrived from San Antonio, TX on the evening train, north, Monday and was received here by his father, Tice VanHuss of Green Township.  The funeral and burial occurred today at Mt. Moriah cemetery.  Deceased was 27 years old and was in the employ of LB Root & Co, at Terre Haute, until last November when he went south on account of ill health.  His death occurred February 17th. -  Waveland Independent, February 24, 1889

“Mary E. VANHUSS, daughter of John and Catherine VanHuss, was born in Johnson County, Tennessee, October 23, 1837; died December 12, 1903, aged 66 years, 1 month and 20 days.    She was a member of a family of fourteen children – five girls and nine boys. Four brothers survive her. She was united in marriage to Hezikiah Freeman, July 24, 1870 who died May 7, 1878. To this union were born three children of which only one daughter and two grandchildren live to mourn her loss. She was again united in marriage to Amos Widener, December 16, 1880, who died in June, 1886. …”  - Rockville Tribune, December 30, 1903

VAUGHT

Mrs. Cora Griffin Vaught, 82 years old, lifelong resident of Florida Township, Parke County, died at 5 o’clock Sunday morning at the Vermillion County Nursing Home. She was a member of the Clinton First Methodist Church and of the Jerusalem Chapter No. 254 of the Eastern Star in Clinton. Surviving are the husband, Willis; three daughters, Mrs. Stella Kamm, and Mrs. Lola Newlin, both of Clinton and Mrs. Charlotte Luce of Portland, Ore.: one sister, Mrs. Minnie Johnson of Clinton and four grandchildren. The body was taken to the Frist Funeral Home and will remain for funeral services at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Dr. George P Burdon will officiate, and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. - The Terre Haute Star 3 Apr 1950, Page 01

Mrs. J. H. (Harlan) VAUGHT, died in Culver Hospital on Monday.  She was born in Somerset, Kentucky Dec 24, 1873, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James GASTINEAU.  She married JH V Vaught who survives her with one son, Virgil Vaught, of Parkeville.  Funeral services at the Parkeville Christian Church on Wednesday morning were in charge of Rev. Mr. Brattain. - Waveland Independent, April 29, 1937

VESTAL

 Rockville Indiana, Thursday, June 21, 1951 Funeral services for Frank Vestal, who died Thursday, June 14, 1951, at the  Clinton hospital was held at the Coloma church, Sunday at 3 p.m., Rev Merrill Ford officiating and burial in Coloma cemetery.

Alice T. Vestal, daughter of Jessie and Kathryn Swaim, was born August 30, 1860  near New Salem, North Caroline. She with her parents, moved to Parke County, Indiana, where she spent the remainder of her life. She was united in marriage to Thomas J. Vestal, February 4, 1876. To this union were  born four sons. Elmo, of Mecca and Frank at home survive, Leroy and Vance,  preceding her in death. In early womanhood, Mrs. Vestal was converted and became a follower of Christ  and also a member of the Friends church at Coloma, Indiana. She continued to  live a faithful Christian life until called, by her good Master, to her reward  on November 19, 1929, being at the time of her death 66 years, 2 months and 19  days of age. On account of failing health the last few months of her life, she  was not able to attend many public meetings for worship but she continued to  live a quiet, influential and fruitful Christian life that will ever be a  living witness for her Master. She was also a member of the Industrial Society of her church. Mrs. Vestal being kind, loving and sympathetic with all whom she met, has left  a host of friends. She has been a loving wife and mother, a true Christian and  a friend to all who knew her. She leaves to mourn her departure, an aged  mother, Mrs. Kathryn Swaim, of Mecca; one brother, Joseph Swaim of Mecca; one sister, Mrs. Jennie Hall of Coloma; husband, two sons and two grandchildren,  Mildred and Raymond Vestal, of Mecca. Beside these near relatives she leaves  many other relatives and friends. It can truly be said that a good woman has  gone from our midst. -  Rockville Tribune, November 24, 1926

Elmo Vestal, age 56 died suddenly while in Covington, Monday. Mr. Vestal and  family had gone to the home of Mary Ingram to spend the day and his death  occurred soon after their arrival at her home. Surviving are his wife; one daughter, Mildred; one son Raymond, and one brother  Frank Vestal of Coloma. Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at the First  Christian church at Mecca with the Rev. H. O. Bratton of Bainbridge officiating.  Burial was in the Coloma cemetery. -  Rockville Tribune, May 2, 1934

VINZANT

The funeral and burial of Mrs. Maude SEYBOLD VINZANT who died some days ago in Colorado will take place tomorrow at Mansfield. Mrs. Vinzant went to Denver last August for her health. Her husband died about two years ago.  She leaves a little son.  She is related to Mrs. S. L. McCune, Mrs. D. A. Graham and Mrs. George Rohm of this place. -  - Rockville Republican, 19 July 1899

 VOLMER

 Crawfordsville Weekly Review, April 21, 1883 -- Monday last, the quiet little city of Rockville was shaken from center to circumference by a horrible murder in which the chief actors were Charles Rutledge and George Volmer, a baker and restaurant keeper, whose places of business are adjoining in the same block.  Rutledge had taken a photograph of Volmer's wife and with her, was comparing the negative and proof, when discovered by the jealous husband.  Volmer invited Rutledge into his room.  Rutledge accepted the invitation.  They had scarcely closed the door when two pistol shots were heard in quick succession. The room was soon filled and every appearance of a conflict met their gaze.  Rutledge was covered with blood, but not seriously hurt, while Volmer was dying from a wound in the neck.  Rutledge is a Southerner about 35 years of age, a polished gentleman and conducted himself in chivalrous manner everywhere.  This trait of character no doubt caused the trouble which led to the murder. George Volmer, the victim was a German about 55 or 60 years of age and of a very quarrelsome disposition when in his cups liquor transforming the jolly, jovial man into a demon, full of jealousy.  Rutledge claims the shooting was done in self defense and the Rockvilleites are constrained to believe him.  He is now in jail, awaiting the action of the law.