The Comanche Reflex
Comanche, Stephens County, Oklahoma

January 19, 1917

Accidentally Kills Self
CEPHUS GARRETT, 13 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. GARRETT, left his home on Mud Creek Wednesday, with a target rifle to go hunting, and after an all night expectation of his return and failing to do so, neighbors and citizens in town were notified and a searching party was instituted. His body was found in a clump of bushes about 400 yards from his house, with a gun shot wound from his rifle. The wound was apparently accidental, an inquest held, rendered he came to his death accidentally. He left home Wednesday afternoon and was found Thursday afternoon about 3:00. His mother and father were visiting relatives in Tennessee and were immediately notified, but by the time the telegram was sent, they were on their way home and failed to hear of the tragedy until their arrival here. Burial took place Monday afternoon after embalming.

Wedding Bells
Thursday, Jan. 11: Miss ALBERT (ALBERTA?) STELZER, one of Comanche’s most charming young ladies who grew to womanhood here, surprised her friends by uniting in marriage with SAM W. BUTLER of Pryor, who is engaged in the mercantile business there. She is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. STELZER and received her high school education here. They will make their home in Pryor.

The little 3 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. JIM MALONE, after five weeks of spinal meningitis, succumbed and was laid to rest Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. JOHN KINDER, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. GAINES, left last Saturday for Bonita, Texas, to attend the burial of Mrs. Gaines’ brother, who died last Thursday and interment was in the cemetery near Bonita.

J. D. DOZIER of near Dixie, a prosperous farmer and good friend of J. H. STULL, secured 16 head of Shorthorn and Durham cows and heifers this week.

February 2, 1917

M. J. DAVIS
M. J. Davis, familiarly known as Uncle Jack, passed away Monday afternoon…. General debility marked his later years. Interment was in the Duncan cemetery.

February 16, 1917

Mrs. E. B. WOLFE entertained about 50 guests in honor of the bride, Mrs. JOHN RALLS.

Mortuary
Last Sunday afternoon, Miss LUCY DAMERON, who had been suffering the past several months of tuberculosis, passed away. She was born Sept. 5, 1896 and died February 11, 1917, age 20. She leaves a father, mother, nine brothers and three sisters and other relatives. The funeral services were held at the Christian church. Miss Lucy was one of the seniors at the high school this year.

February 16(?), 1917

DAVE STANLEY and wife of Arthur attended the burial of her sister, Miss LUCY DAMERON, the first of the week.

ALMA RUTH, the little 8 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. GROVER C. HYNSON / HENSON, died last Thursday and the remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery, Friday, W. D. BOSWELL conducting the service. She was 8 months old to the day, her birth June 8, 1916. This makes the second child to die the past few weeks for the parents.

HENRY CHRONISTER of Moreland, Arkansas, will read the Reflex, at the request of ABE BROWN of near Comanche.

Mrs. G. H. BORDNER received word that her sister, Mrs. SULLIVAN of Marlow, was sick and left the same day to be at her bedside.

JOHN HESS, brother of our townsman, JAMES HESS, and Mrs. C. R. BAILEY, accompanied by his little nephew, FRED HESS LEACH, arrived to visit from Oklahoma City.

GEORGE HENDRICKS of Wellington, Texas subscribed to the Reflex.

March 23, 1917

In Memory of Our Dead
In memory of GLENN WOOD, who died March 7, 1917. Sunday School class signed by M. F. KELLY, G. T. WELDON, Mrs. A. W. REYNOLDS, and Mrs. JOE COOK, committee.

April 6, 1917

E. M. BATTENFIELD
E. M. BATTENFIELD passed away last Monday after a lingering illness of several months. Mr. Battenfield was born in Polk County, Arkansas, April 12, 1851 and died March 19, 1917. He came to Oklahoma in 1908. He was a faithful member of the Christian church since he was about 19 years old, and was a member of the Christian church of Cyril at time of his death. The funeral service were conducted by Rev. J. W. COATS at the Methodist church. The remains were laid to rest at the Cement cemetery. Mr. Battenfield leaves his wife and several children, all of whom were present at the funeral except for one daughter who was prevented from being here by sickness in her family.

May 4, 1917

Obituary
JAMES CALVIN RICHARDSON was born December 14, 1840 and departed this life April 24, 1917, age 77 years. He was converted and united with the M. E. Church South when a young man, and a devoted member of the church most of his life, but about 15 years ago, united with the Methodist Protestant church of which he was a member until death. Funeral services were conducted at the Methodist Protestant church by Rev. R. W. BOUNDS, assisted by Rev. SMITH of the Nazarene church and interment was in the city cemetery by the side of his wife.

Married
At the residence of SAM PASCHAL, the bride’s father, on Sunday, April 29, 1917 by U. G. WILKINSON, LEWIS MULLICAN and Miss ESTHER PASCHAL. Mr. Mullican is one of the leading real estate men of Rush Springs. Miss Paschal is a graduate of Comanche high school, teaching school near Rush Springs.

May 11, 1917

Mr. and Mrs. C. R. BAILEY left Monday for his old home at Pittsburg, Texas in response to a call stating the serious illness of his father. Later his father died.

OREN DAVIS of Route 1 left for Payette, Idaho to make his home.

LEE MILLER, one of Loco’s prosperous citizens, was here en route from Cleburne, Texas, where he was called before the grand jury in response regarding his stolen car.

The little infant child of Mr. and Mrs. JIM NORMAN died Tuesday morning and the remains were interred in the Loco cemetery Tuesday afternoon. M. F. KELLY officiated.

CYRIL SULLIVAN is another Comanche boy to answer the ‘Call to Colors’ for military service.

May 25, 1917

Died May 11 near Diamond, M. P. SEARCY, age 74. He was a member of the Church of Christ and lived a consistent Christian life. He was buried in the Diamond cemetery Tuesday evening. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. U. G. WILKINSON.

ROY KINCAID, who has made his home the past two years at Holdenville, returned to take up the office work of his father, G. A. KINCAID, who has the management of the Sanitary Chicken Roost and a splendid insurance business.

Uncle JACK WELDON, daddy of the Sanitary Chicken Roost, had a severe accident while cutting tin with a foot power cutter. All the machinery in this factory is dangerous.

Miss LOUISE PATIENT(?), the expression teacher in the high school, departed for her home in Arkansas.

Little 3 year old HERBERT V. PENDLETON disappeared from his grandfather, W. H. PATTY, whom he had accompanied to the swimming pool. A hurried search was made and the child was found.

Last Friday, an oil stove, caused by high winds, destroyed the home of Grandma NIGH and the residence of OSCAR LEMMING, adjoining.

June 1, 1917

Miss MARGY SMOTHERS returned from Ryan where she spent some months attending school. She was accompanied home by her cousin, Miss RICHARDS, who will visit here.

Miss EMMA BAILEY, who visited with her brother C. R. BAILEY and wife the past two weeks, returned home to Pittsburg, Texas.

Little MIRIAM HELSLEY went to visit her grandmother at Cleburne, Texas.

ROBERT WILLIS and family, accompanied by Mrs. J. W. MCILVAIN and Mrs. J. B. MAJORS, attended the funeral services for Mrs. MINDY WILLIAMS at Dixie Wednesday.

J. W. MCILVAIN was called to Loco to assist in preparing the remains of his aunt, Mrs. MINDY WILLIAMS, for burial. Interment was in the Dixie cemetery Wednesday afternoon.

JOE WELDON, elder brother of GEORGE and JACK WELDON, returned to his home at Ada.

J. C. RUSSELL, proprietor of the Variety Store, sold the stock to R. S. MYERS of Manitou. Mr. Russell will visit his parents in Childress, Texas. The Russell family has been here the past two years.

Obituary
Mrs. ARMINDA A. WILLIAMS was born Nov. 15, 1849 and died at her home in Loco, May 29. She was a member of the Methodist church 35 years and lived a consistent Christian life. She leaves two brothers, J. H. MCILVAIN of Loco and W. MCILVAIN of Graham, Texas; and four sisters, Mrs. EMMA STALLCUP, Mrs. ELIZA BUSHON, Mrs. JANIE GIBBS and Mrs. BELLE ROGERS, all of Paoli. She leaves 3 sons, CHARLES and AL HALL of Loco and JESSE COLEMAN of New Healdton. Her suffering was of short duration. Heart ailment with other ailment caused her demise.

June 8, 1917

EDDIE HASTINGS, son of J. E. HASTINGS of Loco, died Thursday of appendicitis at El Reno. The remains were laid to rest in the Loco cemetery Friday. He was 21 years of age.

J. F. PRUITT and wife, Mrs. M. V. PRUITT, and Miss MAGGIE MAE PRUITT, departed to visit relatives in Simsboro, Louisiana.

C. T. BRITTON returned from Canyon City, Colorado, where his father-in-law, D. E. MASSEY is seriously ill.

Mrs. R. E. DIXON of Poolville, Texas, mother of Mrs. J. B. MAJORS, and Mrs. M. B. NIXON of Joplin, Missouri, arrived to visit Mrs. Majors and family. They visited with Mrs. J. W. MAJORS of Loco.

The mystery of the unknown, unidentified body of a young girl found in a hotel in Oklahoma City has been known. She was Miss TOMMIE GAULT, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. WILL GAULT of Loco. The body was identified by the a schoolmate. The body was sent to J. W. McIlvain, funeral director, and services and burial took place Sunday afternoon at Loco. Rev. GARDNER officiated.

June 15, 1917

Mrs. M. F. KELLY
Mrs. M. F. KELLEY passed away at the Baptist sanitarium at Oklahoma City Wednesday. She was taken there last Friday for an operation to relieve her suffering. The remains were sent to Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday and interment was in the Evergreen cemetery by the side of an infant child which had preceded her. She was one of the most faithful and devoted types of Christian womanhood. She leaves a husband, two small children, a mother, a father and a sister.

June 29, 1917

A Good Man Gone
BURL E. MASSEY was born in Carthage, Mississippi, Dec. 18, 1855, and departed this life June 18, 1917 at his home in Canon (Canyon?) City, Colorado. He leaves one sister, one half-sister, three brothers, one half-brother, a wife, nine children and two grandchildren….

J. P. CARTER
J. P. CARTER, former townsman, departed this life Sunday morning, June 14. Brother Carter, while living here, was a faithful member of the Church of Christ…. Written by U. G. WILKINSON.

At Rest
Mrs. LOUESA (LOUISA?) BOUNDS, wife of Rev. J. E. BOUNDS, died at her home in the city last Thursday, June 21, age 68 years. She was the mother of seven sons and four daughters, all of whom were present at the time of her burial: T. H. BOUNDS of Richland, Texas, L. D. BOUNDS of Wortham, Texas, JESSE, ROBERT and W. O. BOUNDS of Comanche, CLINTON BOUNDS of New Healdton, R. E. BOUNDS of Richland, Texas; Mesdames HEFLIN and ROBERSON of Comanche, ROBERT CLAIRE, WALTERS, and JOHN CALAME of Corum. She was united in marriage to her surviving husband, Dec. 7, 1865, giving them 52 years. She professed religion in 1866 and became a member of the Methodist Protestant church in 1868. Funeral services were conducted at the M. P. church by Rev. MCBRIDE.

August 3, 1917

THOMAS HERRINGTON
THOMAS M. HERRINGTON, known as Uncle Tom Herrington, died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. ROBERT DAMERON, Friday after two weeks of intense suffering caused by a stroke of paralysis. He was born Jan. 13, 1842, age 75 years. The funeral services were conducted at the Dameron home by Rev. J. C. THOGMORTON and the remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery.

Brutally Murdered
Shocking news was received here Saturday morning in which ARDELL MESLES (MEASLES), son of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. MESLES of this city, was charged with murder of S. G. BROWN, age 60 years, of Yukon, whose body was found three miles west of Blackwell Friday morning.

August 17, 1917

G. W. HARRISON, manager of the Leader Mercantile, received the sad news Saturday that his mother had died at Sulphur Springs, and he and his family departed for that place Sunday. Miss RUBY CURRY, sister of Mrs. HARRISON, accompanied them on her way to Dangerfield, Texas. Mrs. Harrison will go late to visit her parents at Dangerfield.

Death
Monday morning, PRESTON MCPHAIL, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. MCPHAIL, was severely burned and succumbed by 9:30 p.m. He was preparing a meal, making a fire in the stove, pouring coal oil, and unknown to him, there were live embers in the stove, causing an explosion. He made a dash … he made for a neighbor, about ½ mile away, and requested Mrs. TOLBERT to go and assist his wife,… called a physician…Funeral services were held at the grave and the remains were quietly to rest in the city cemetery early Tuesday. He leaves a wife, a baby, mother and father, and several brothers and sisters. Attending the funeral from away were: Miss FANNIE MCPHAIL of Greenville, N. C., FRANK MCPHAIL and family of Ardmore, and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. TUCKER of Duncan.

August 24, 1917

Obituary
PRESTON MCPHAIL was born in Gallman, Mississippi, Dec. 27, 1870. He married Miss MINNIE PASCHAL Dec. 29, 1913 and died August 13, 1917. He leaves a wife and child, parents, and brothers and sisters. … Funeral services were conducted at the city cemetery August 14, 1917 by Rev. HAMPTON.

His 70th Birthday
On August 12, a big birthday dinner was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE DAMERON, who reside on East Mud Creek, in honor of Mr. Dameron’s birthday. The following attended; Mr. and Mrs. TOMMY DARE and baby, Mr. and Mrs. CARL DANIELS and baby, Mr. and Mrs. ARTHUR HOWARD and two children, Mr. and Mrs. BLACKERBY and three daughters, Preacher S. W. MORGAN, LEE REHM, Miss ETHEL RUSSELL, and Mr. and Mrs. George Dameron and daughter.

August 31, 1917

First Bale
On Tuesday evening, the first bale of cotton was received in Comanche, brought in by TOM TUCKER of near Loco.

Word of the death of WADE ATKINS Sr., father of Mrs. E. M. RALLS, was received here Tuesday and Mrs. Ralls departed immediately to attend the funeral. His death was a surprise since his health was good since his going to West Texas to his ranch which is near Shamrock. The remains were shipped to the family burial grounds at Bowie, Texas where Mrs. J. B. LEACH, R. M. RALLS, and son JOHN went Wednesday morning. Death was due to heart failure.

Mr. and Mrs. LEON SMITH have a new baby girl at their home, arrived Sunday night. Mr. Smith is acting as janitor during this term of school.

Mrs. S. E. ANDREWS, who was visiting her mother, Mrs. IVEY, departed for her home at Weatherford, Texas where her daughter, IRMA, was very sick.

Mrs. J. C. RUSSELL departed Thursday for Childress, Texas, where her sister is ill.

Miss WAUNITA KINSEY and mother, Misses IMOGENE and MARY KING of Memphis, Texas, visited the STANLEY WHITE home this week.

The W. L. CLICK, who spent the past two months touring in their car visiting friends and relatives in Texas, returned home. He is manager of the Cameron lumberyard.

December 7, 1917

Suicide
Saturday evening, W. E. FREDERICK, a wealthy farmer of the Weaver Chapel neighborhood, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. … He had recently sold his farm and other belongings and was preparing to move to Sulphur near which place he contemplated purchasing another farm. He was well liked by friends and neighbors. Mr. Frederick was about 57 years old and leaves a wife and several children.