Nofsinger - Phebe LaFollette
Source: Ottawa Herald Sat 16 Oct 1915 p 1
“I’m not any older than you are and I am feeling just fine,” said Mrs. Phebe Anna Nofsinger, 88 years old yesterday afternoon as she talked to a young man at the home of Mr. and Mrs. JS Forgey, 129 Elm Street. Mrs. Nofsinger was dead in a few hours making that statement of how well she felt. She had stepped out on the porch of the Forgey home about 5:15 o’clock yesterday afternoon to sweet away some leaves. Mrs. Forgey heard a noise and again it sounded. She looked out and Mrs. Nofsinger, her mother was lying dead on the floor of the porch. Heart trouble had caused her death. Mrs. Nofsinger, widow of the late Peter W. Nofsinger was one of the pioneers of Franklin County. Her family, the LaFollettes date back to the very early history of this county and were pioneer empire-builders in several states. The LaFollettes came from France from where they fled to America during the reign of terror. The families settled in the East and later came westward as the country developed. In 1826 they moved from Kentucky to Indiana. It was there where Phebe Ann LaFollette Nofsinger was born Aug 5, 1827. She was married to Peter W. Nofsinger near Ladoga, Ind in 1846 and they moved from Montgomery County, Ind to Franklin County, Kansas settling near Lane in 1869. They were one of the best known families of this county. Mrs. Nofsinger was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Her husband died January 7, 1871. Mrs. Nofsinger was the last of 16 children of Usual LaFollette, one of the Indiana early settlers. She was also the youngest of that family. United States Senator Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin is a cousin of Mrs. Nofsinger. Mrs. Nofsinger is survived by three children and numerous other relatives in this county and in Indiana. The children are Mrs. Carrie Forgey, wife of James S. Forgey, 129 Elm Street; Mrs. Susan Hurst, wife of HL Hurst near Lane and Thomas Nofsinger of Lane. A son, George W. Nofsinger died Oct 10, 1910 here. Mrs. Hurst, a daughter recently sustained an operation at the Ottawa hospital and has been at the Forgey home until yesterday when she was taken to her home at Lane. When Mrs. Hurst was taken from the house, Mrs. Nofsinger was apparently in excellent health. The funeral of Mrs. Nofsinger will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from the Baker Church near Lane and burial will be in Baker Cemetery. – kbz