Newspaper Abstracts

Wright County, Missouri

Wm. A. Rippee Kills Himself

Last Sunday morning about half past eight Wm. A. Rippee living four miles west of Hartville shot himself in the forehead with a revolver and died instantly. For a year or more his family relations have not been to his liking. Sunday morning he oiled his revolver and placed it in the comb case, shaved and put on a clean shirt. He then sat down with his family for a while and something was said for which his wife reproved him saying "I would not talk like that," whereupon Rippee arose took the revolver from the case and remarked "I will do one thing that will please you" and started from the house. On former occasions he had attempted to kill himself and his wife had succeeded in getting the revolver away from him and she tried this time, but soon found him too determined and remembering his threats to kill her too she turned and ran screaming into the house. He then walked about twenty steps from the house and turned facing the house raised the revolver above his head and fired. His death was instantaneous. No one was at the house except the wife and four small children. Two small children about four and six years old witnessed the shooting and when the mother came to the body one of the children had picked up the revolver and were playing with it. She took the revolver into the house and ran to the nearest neighbor Mr. Davis for help. When Mr. Davis and two neighbors who were visiting arrived they went to the nearest phone and notified the Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney. The Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney, Dr. Latimer and several citizens went to the home immediately and upon investigation found there was no question, but that he had killed himself. The two little children who could not talk distinctly and could not tell their own names, readily showed how the father held his gun and staggered backward and when asked about the pistol walked near his father’s feet and put his hand near a dent in the ground.

Mrs. Rippee brought a note which she thought he had written that morning stating that she could not read and didn’t know what was on it. The note was addressed to "you people" and conveyed the idea that "this woman" his wife was in a conspiracy against him and his people, but that if he didn’t have a right to know, who in the world did?" On his person was found a number of partial letters which had been written by him, some dating back to may 1910. All were addressed to the people and showed he was laboring under the hallucination that his wife was conspiring with others to get his property.

He was a hard worker and had settled on a forty acre tract of Schuyler County school land and had fenced and cleared nearly the entire forty, some of which he put in meadow. He also had planted a small orchard which is bearing. He had made no attempt to make any crop this year not even planting a garden.

He would be gone days at a time the past year and when he returned would say he had been to Springfield. The supposition is that he had been there working as he always had some money.

James Rippee, a brother arrived from the West the night before but did not get to see his brother alive.

Wedding Bells

Guy E. Wood and Miss Emma E. Rippee were married at the home of the bride’s mother Mrs. G. W. Rippee on Rolla Street Christmas day at eleven o’clock, Rev. Carnett officiating. The bride is a daughter of the late Geo. W. Rippee and is teaching the intermediate department of the Hartville school. The groom is the youngest son of Sheriff and Mrs. W. S. Wood. Both young people are industrious and genial and have a host of friends all of whom join us in congratulations and good wishes.

Walter L. Rippee of Rayborn and Miss Dessie Wynne of St. George were married here Christmas day Rev. Carnett officiating. Mr. Rippee is a son of the late Harrison Rippee and is one of Wright County’s promising young school teachers. The bride is the eldest daughter of John Wynne one of Elk Creek’s most prominent farmers.

Marriage Licenses

The following marriage licenses have been issued by Recorder of Deeds Robt. F. Adams since out last report.

Noah Gimlin and Julia Rippee, both of Hartville.

Mrs. John Rippee who has been ailing for some time of a complication of diseases died at her home seven miles southwest of Hartville last Saturday evening at 5 o’clock. She leaves a husband and seven children, ten brothers and sisters besides relatives and friends to mourn her loss. Funeral services were conducted last Monday by Rev. J. A. Russell after which the remains were laid to rest in the Newton Cemetery.

Obituary

Louisa Anis Rippee, nee Newton, was born October 10^th, 1850 and departed this life at her home on Gasconade River September 6^th, 1913.

She was married to John Rippee, November 23^rd, 1876, and to said union were born seven children: Flora, Dora, Foster, Hosea, Sarah, Ira and Lou, all of whom are living, and six grandchildren.

Sister Rippee was converted about the year 1870 and joined the M. E. Church at time of her conversion in which she was a faithful member at the time of her death. During her seven week’s sickness she remarked "that if it was the Lord’s will for me to get well, I will be with you for a while." Before she was taken sick, she had forebodings of her death, the impressions were so strong that she told the children how she wished to be dressed and how she wished to be put away, all of which was faithfully performed by the family. During her last illness, at different times, she said that she would not recover unless different remedies were used.

Besides her own husband and children, she leaves six sisters, and four brothers and a host of friends to mourn their loss, she is the first of her family to go. Sister Rippee was a noble christian, lady, a very helpful and obliging neighbor, a true and faithful wife, and, an affectionate and kind mother.

The funeral services were conducted at the Newton school house, in the presence of a large congregation of friends and relatives, by Rev. L. W. Hensley and the writer, and then the body was burried to await the resurrection morning.

Day after day we think what she is doing,

In those bright realms of air;

Year after year, her tender steps persuins,

By grace I’ll meet her there,

J. A. Russell.

Obituary

Moses F. Rippee was born July 5^th 1833 and departed this life, December 21^st 1913 at 8 a.m. He was married to Miss Mary Spence (date not known) and to said union were born four sons and one daughter, one son Robert, and his wife, having gone before him.

Brother Rippee gave his heart to the Lord and in October 10^th, 1852, joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Valley. In 1873 or 74 he was elected a ruling elder of Pleasant Valley.

He transferred his membership to Mansfield C. P. Church when it was organized, but when he moved back to his farm, he placed his membership back in Pleasant Valley and remained a faithful member until his death. He was a church member for 61 years and a ruling elder for 40 years and was faithful as a member and true to his church as an elder. Many were the times he represented his church in Presbytery leaving his work at home to wait his return and bearing his own expenses to and from Presbytery. He told brother S. W. Hopper that he wanted his funeral services at the church, and that he wanted Rev. Davis and the writer to conduct the funeral service, that he wanted to be buried by the masons, he requested that brother Hopper see that his wishes were kept. He said before going that there was not a cloud in the way, that his time here was short, but when he leaves this old body, I will be in a Happy world. He was a neighbor in good standing, a mason in good standing, a church member in good standing, a good christian, and is now in Heaven. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Ross and the writer in the Mansfield C. P. Church and his body placed in the Mansfield cemetery. He leaves one daughter, three sons, a brother and a sister to mourn their loss.

J. A. Russell.

Obituaries

James Rippee was born in Monroe county, Indian July 5, 1830 and died June 18, 1915 at 3:40 p.m. He came to Missouri when eight years old and lived here until his departure. He was married to Julia Ann Tucker about the year 1850 and to this union three children were born, Elizabeth, John and Louisa all of whom are still living. In September 1856 his wife died and left him to care for the children and in 1857 he was married to Miss Lucretia Ridens. He was converted in 1888 but never joined any church.

His second wife departed this life July 10, 1894. He has nineteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren and a host friends to mourn for him. He was borne by his sons to the grave. The services were conducted by the writer.

Uncle Jim lived in a house near his son John and was cared for by him and his grandsons until his death. The grandsons gave special care to him watching day and night until God said "come home!" Uncle Jim said to the writer "that he was ready to die and it was grand to think of stepping out of a world of darkness and sin into a world of light and rest to live with God, angels and friends forever".

He is gone but not forgotten.

P. Davis