Howard County Indiana USGenWeb Project Obituaries

This page contains obituaries or death notices (full or extract) of former Howard County residents. If you have a notice you would like to add, please view the Submission Policy

Alice V. BANKS DARBY (1856-1912)

Alice V. BANKS was born in Tampico (now Center), Howard county, Indiana, January 2, 1856, and died at the home of Mrs. Anna BANKS in Converse Sunday morning, February 4, 1912, aged 56 years, 1 month and 2 days.
She came with her mother and two brothers to Xenia (now Converse) in the fall of 1869. She was married to Frank [Francis O.] DARBY about the 12th of September, 1874, and together they took up their home in Connersville, Indiana. Subsequently she removed to Chicago where she has resided for the last twenty years.
In August of last year she sustained a shock of paralysis that left her in failing health. But a few days ago she came to Converse for a much needed rest and a visit with relatives. In making the trip she contracted a severe cold and within a day or two she was taken suddenly and seriously ill. Pneumonia set in and she soon reached the end of her earthly journey.
While she was still quite young her father died in the service of his country [Thomas W. BANKS, d. Civil War] and later two brothers departed this life. In the hard school of suffering and sorrow she learned the lessons of patience and sympathy. Her life was one of brave devotion and love to others. She leaves four half-sisters, one half-brother and other relatives to cherish her memory.
Funeral services were conducted by John M. B. Reeves at the home of Mrs. Anna BANKS Tuesday. Interment was made in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Ida Ellen HARROD DAVIS (1868-1952)

Ida Ellen (HARROD) DAVIS died at her Burden, KS home September 29, 1952 at 84 years of age. She was born to Mr. & Mrs. Mose HARROD on Aug 18, 1868 at Kokomo, Indiana. Ida was the last member of her family.
On May 23, 1895 Ida married to William Monroe DAVIS, the son of Monroe & Sarah DAVIS. The couple lived at Burden several years before moving to Oklahoma where they resided about 40 years. They returned to Burden, KS about 1945.
Ida was survived by her husband and her two children; Harry Monroe DAVIS of Enid, OK and Blanche (DAVIS) SMITH of Sheridan, WY. She was also survived by many neices and nephews in the Burden, KS area, 2 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and 2 gg-grandchildren.
She was a member of the Burden Baptist Church. Funeral services held at the church with Interment in the Burden Cemetery. Rev. Elmer ORE officiating and Miles Mortuary in charge.

Hanson S. DAWSON (1841 - 1905)

TO CALL OF DEATH -- H. S. Dawson Made Answer Today
Proprietor of Howard Mills Passes Away After an Illness of Twenty-four Hours -- A man of Highest Worth
At the noon hour today the death messenger summoned Hanson S. DAWSON, the end coming after an acute illness of twenty-four hours from congestion of the lungs, which superinduced heart trouble. Mr. DAWSON passed away at his late residence, 67 East Walnut street, surrounded by the members of his family, all of whom had fondly hoped that he would be spared to them for many years yet.
The announcement of the death of Hanson S. DAWSON will occasion surprise and regret throughout the city; surprise because it is so sudden, and regret because it removes from our citizenship a man of such superlative worth as was his. Friday at 11 o’clock he was taken violently ill at the Howard flouring mills, which he owned and operated, and had to be removed to his home. Under the prompt medical attention and nursing bestowed upon him he seemed to grow better during the afternoon, and by evening was feeling considerably easier.
He did not have a good night, however, and his condition was not improved this morning. He made a brave fight, however, against the enemy he felt was assailing him, and was serene to the end. Life held many things that were very dear to him and he was loath to part with them, but when he realized he must, he yielded to the inevitable with beautiful resignation, with calm courage, with becoming tranquillity.
The demise of Mr. Dawson works a distinct loss to this community. He was one of the substantial men among us. He stood for the worthy things in citizenship, endeavored always to live uprightly, bore with his fellow men in patience and charity, took for the chief tenet of his creed old-fashioned honesty, made not the slightest parade of any virtue he possessed, thought first of his family, then of his friends, and of himself last, always.
On account of his extreme modesty, not many person knew him well, but those who enjoyed the privilege of intimate acquaintance, know how many admirable things entered into the character of this quiet-mannered, thoughtful-faced man. He aggressed upon the rights of no person in the world, and no one ever heard his motives reproached or his integrity called into question. Not many among us live so free from criticism.
Hanson S. Dawson was born in Fayette county, Indiana, near the city of Connersville, January 1,1841. His youth and his early manhood were spent in the milling business in that locality.
He was united in marriage to Miss Vashti GIFFORD, December 27, 1865. Of this union one child was born, Auras G. DAWSON, of this city.
The family moved to Howard county in 1882, Mr. Dawson identifying himself with the Howard mills, with which he has been connected ever since. His religious affiliation was with the Methodist church, having been baptized according to the rites of that denomination in his early life.
He was not an active churchman, in the common acceptance of that term, but he was a Christian gentleman in all that the phrase implies. One of the most beautiful things in his life was his great affection for his two little grandsons. This big man, whom so many people thought so reserved and so hard to know, was the best loved friend and most favored playfellow of these little ones. They knew how gentle was his nature, how tender was his heart. By all to whom he was intimately related he will be greatly missed and sincerely mourned, but most of all, perhaps, by those little boys, whom he humored so much and whom he loved so well.
The funeral will take place Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home, conducted by the Rev. C. W. Choate. The interment will be had in Crown Point.

James R. DELVECCHIO (1841 - 1905)

The Kokomo Tribune - Friday, 19 Dec 1975

Name: James R. DELVECCHIO
Age: 48
Died: before 9:15 am Thursday, 18 Dec 1975; found dead in home due to smoke inhalation from a fire.
Born: 12 Oct 1927 in Akron, OH
Parents: Edward and Harriet ZOELLER DELVECCHIO
Married: [name of wife not given]
Military Service: US Army during World War II
Survivors: mother; son, James J. DELVECCHIO; sister Mrs. Emerson (Cecelia) MARTIN, Jr.
Services: Ellers Mortuary
Burial: [not given in article]

John DIRMIT/DIRMITT

John DIRMITT, son of Edward and Anna DIRMIT, was born near Crab Orchard, Ky., February 28, 1830. Died at the home of his son, James near Kappa, December 22, 1920. Age 90 years, 9 months and 14 days.
He was three times married. His first wife being Nancy GORDON, who died in the year of 1854; to this union two children were born, James W. and Eliza Jane.
His second marriage was to Hannah MAULER, who died in 1863. To this union four children were born. Aura Francis, Phoebe Ann, Nancy Elizabeth and Tommy, who died in infancy.
His third marriage was to Emeline THOMAS, who died in 1882. To this union eight children were born John Henry, Catherine, Lilly, Viola, Howard, Levi, Emma, and one which died in infancy. He has been a member of the Friend's church at Bethel for years.
Of this family of fourteen children seven survive. They being James W. DIRMIT, of Kappa, Eliza Jane RUSK, of Burlington, Aura Francis THORNBURGH, Emma ARTHUR, of Indianapolis, Phoebe MCGUIRE, Elizabeth ANDERSON, Viola HARRISON all of Kokomo. There are 26 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren. He moved from Kentucky to Ripley County, Indiana, with his parents, when 9 years old, and came to Howard County in the year of 1854. He has made his home with his son James for over 20 years. The passing away of uncle Johnny, "as he was commonly called by everyone that knew him," is the removal of one of Howard county's pioneers, who has helped to transform it from the wilderness it was, to the present beautiful country of today.