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The Life of William Harrison Betts Sr

W. H. H. BETTS DEAD.

W.H.H. Betts for 20 years cashier of the Patron' bank died at his home in this city at 8 o'clock Thursday evening after an illness of only 83 hours of acute pneumonia. The funeral services were held from the home Sunday afternoon,  conducted by Rev. Madison. At the grave the Mason lodge took charge.

Mr. Betts was in Kansas City Tuesday and returned home on the evening train. Later he attended the lecture at the Congregational church and at 4 o'clock Wednesday morning suffered the attack which caused his death only a few honrs later.

William H.H. Betts was born in Clarksburg, Ross county, Ohio. July 16, 1838 and died January 21, 1904 at the age of 65 years, 7 months, 5 days. He was a member of a family of thirteen children of which only one brother Geo. W. Betts Kansas City, Kans., survives him.

His father settled in Ohio in 1800 having emigrated from the state of Delaware. His mother came to Ohio from Stone Bridge county, Virginia, in 1807 and settled in Columbus, Ohio with her parents.

Mr. Betts grew to manhood on a farm, and received a common country school education. His environments were religious, his parents were earnest Christians, his father having built and equipped a brick church at his own expense and presented it to the Christian church in 1849, which church is still used for religious services at Clarksburg, Ohio, and contains a memorial window in his honor. In his 21st year he joined the Masonic lodge and at the time of his death was a Knight Templar. 

In 1859 he was united in marriage to Miss Clara McCoum of Clarksburg, Ohio, and immediately after his marriage he entered into the mercantile business at that place and continued in business until he removed to Kansas in 1869. There was born from said marriage in Ohio, two children, Elmer and Helen. Both grew to manhood and womanhood in this state, both are well remembered by the early settlers of the city and had many friends among their associates and were the pride of their father's heart; both are now deceased. There was also born in Kansas, William Betts who is now the receiving teller in the Bank of Commerce, Kansas City, Mo., and Miles Betts who is now office manager for a large grain firm in Kansas City.

After removing to Kansas he entered the mercantile business at Edwardsville. only continuing in said business a short time and then engaged at Gardner, Kansas, in the grain business for a short time. After selling out his grain business he entered into the dry goods business under the firm name of Voorhees & Betts continuing in tbe same business until about 1878. In May 1878 his wife died, and he remained unmarried until November 14, 1838, when he was united in marriage at Greenfield, Ohio, to Allie Banks his present wife and by this marriage there was born to them Albert B. Betts who still survives.

In 1883 the Patrons Co-Operative bank of this city was incorporated and Mr. Betts was elected its cashier which position he held with honor until the day of his death.

 

Olathe Mirror
January 28, 1904
Page 5, col 4

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Posted by Norman P on 03/19/2019