The Adair County News, Wednesday, March 31, 1937

Funeral Services Saturday For John Milton Blair, 79

Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday in White Oak Church for John Milton Blair, 78, who died at his home near Ozark at 5 a.m. Friday of chronic heart trouble. The services were in charge of Rev. Simpson B. Rowe, assisted by Rev. N. R. Roach. Interment was in the Bryant cemetery.

The deceased was a long‑time member of the White Oak Baptist Church and his passing is regretted by a wide circle of friends.

Mr. Blair married Miss Hannah Frances Brockman on April 7, 1880. She died 24 years ago, leaving a daughter. Two children of this union died in infancy.

In 1913 the deceased married Miss Mary Emma Eubank, who survives him. He also leaves one daughter, Mrs. J.S. Bottom, Russell Springs, and a brother, Hiram Blair.

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The Adair County News, Wednesday, March 31, 1937

[Mary Grider Barger] Mother of Mrs. Stevenson Dies Tuesday Afternoon

A prolonged illness proved fatal to Mrs. Mary Barger, 83, who died yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. M.O. Stevenson and Mr. Stevenson in Garlin.

The deceased was a native of Russell County but had lived in Adair for more than 20 years. Before her marriage to J.H. Barger, who died fifteen years ago, she was Miss Mary Grider, member of a prominent Russell County family. After moving to Adair, Mr. and Mrs. Barger lived on a farm near Ozark until his death, at which time she moved to Garlin to make her home with her only child, Mrs. Stevenson.

She was a devout member of the Christian church.

Besides her daughter, she is survived by two grandchildren, Mrs. Demaree Richards, of Garlin, and Robert Stevenson, of Adairville.

Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Albert Engle at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Burial will be in the family graveyard near Esto [in Russell County.]

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The Adair County News, Wednesday, March 31, 1937

W.A. Humphress Succumbs At Age Eighty-three

W.A. Humphress, one of Adair County's better-known older citizens, died at his home near Absher, after having been ill for the past year.

The deceased was born at Knifley, October 16, 1854,  being 83 years of age at the time of his death. He was a member of the Christian church and a popular and beloved citizen who will be greatly missed by his many friends and relatives. He was twice married but neither of his wives survive him.

He leaves the following children: Fred Humphress and Miss Ella Humphress, of Absher; Mrs. Sylvia Walker of Roley and Mrs Callie Rice of Springfield, Ill. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. H.B. Ingram of this place, and a brother, Talbott Humphress, Pleasant Plains, Ill. The following nieces and nephews live here: Mesdames C.G. Jeffries and S.E. Shivley, and W.I. and Henry Ingram.

Funeral services were conducted at the home this morning, with burial in the Page Cemetery.

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The Adair County News, Wednesday, March 31, 1937

Missing Man Tells Name When Dying

Henry Humphries, Missing Eight Years, Succumbs In Illinois And Is Buried There

Deputy Sheriff Martin Rowe was notified last week of the death Thursday [March 25] of Henry Humphries, 51, formerly of Knifley, at Ellsworth, Ill. Mrs. Eddie Brown, Ellsworth, at whose home Humphries died, informed Mr. Rowe by phone that she had known the man for seven years as Henry Hampton, and it was only Wednesday, when he was dying, that he said, "I have a wife and six children at Columbia, Ky., or possibly Knifley, Ky." She then began investigations, which resulted in the locations of his former wife, now Mrs. I.J. Willian, here.

He left Adair County eight years ago and his wife, who moved from Knifley to Columbia, divorced him in March, 1935 on charge of desertion and on February 20 [year not stated] was married to Mr. Willian in Campbellsville. No word of the deceased had been heard for seven years, officers said.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Owen Carnes and Misses Iva and Fannie Humphries of Columbia, and Miss Elsie Humphries of Louisville; two sons, Edwin and Joseph Humphries of Knifley; two sisters, Mrs. Mont Harper, Campbellsville, and Mrs. P.H. Dudgeon, Elkhorn, and three brothers, Ben, of Minnesota, Thomas, of Knifley, and Bunyan, of Corbin.

Miss Elsie Humphries and Bunyan Humphries attended the funeral services Tuesday at the beck Funeral Home in Bloomington, Ill., where burial was held.

(The online Illinois Death Index notes that Henry Humphries died in Bloomington, McLean Co., Ill., on March 25, 1937.)

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The Adair County News, Wednesday, January 24, 1937

[Jack Irvin Blair] Grandson of Mr. and Mrs. S.I. Blair Dies In Ohio

Jack Irvin Blair, 8‑month‑old son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Blair, of Akron, Ohio, died of pneumonia on Thursday of last week.

He leaves two brothers, Arthur and Ronald, and two sisters, Lillian and Shirley, in addition to his parents. He was a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. S.I. Blair, of Craycraft.

Funeral services were held at the Hopkins Funeral Home Friday, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Mr. S.I. Blair and Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lawhorn attended the funeral.

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The Adair County News, Wednesday, July 14, 1937

[Fanny Gowen Harper Compton] Mother of Sheriff Harper Succumbs At Age 84

Mrs. Fanny Compton, 84 years old, mother of Sheriff Bert Harper, died here Sunday morning after having been in declining health for some time.

Mrs. Compton was a native of Adair County, being a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Gowen. She was born and reared near Weed. Her first husband, Marion Harper, died 25 years ago and the second, Peter Compton, died in 1925.

The deceased is survived by six children, Mrs. Clarence Coomer and Sheriff Harper, of Columbia; Joe and Claude Harper, Summer Shade; W.R. Harper, Valley View, Texas; and Mrs. Laura Bennett of Horse Cave. She also leaves one brother, C. Gowen, Sparksville, and four sisters, Mrs. Charlie Rowe, Columbia; Mrs. Martha Collins, Elizabethtown; Mrs. Lizzie Grider, Glasgow; and Mrs. Emily Compton, Clinton, Ill.

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