Obituary of Luther H. Root of Kansas

This obituary was probably clipped from a Kansas news­paper by my grandmother, Estella M. (MEHAFFEY) BUNCE. There’s no date on it but I think it was published Wednesday, February 8, 1911, when taking into account his date of birth, the age at which Mr, Root died, and there is a date on the reverse side of the clipping, which quotes the prices for farm produce for February 7. Mr. ROOT was the second husband of my great-grandmother, Martha Jane (JACKSON) MEHAFFEY and therefore stepfather of my grandmother. I do not know the date they married, but it was after April, 1886, since my great grand­mother obtained a divorce from her first husband in Shawnee Co., Kansas at that time. For anyone interested in the ROOT family, Luther H. Root’s name and some stories about the Beecher Bible-Rifle Colony appear in the chapter on Wabaunsee County, Kansas in the book, History of the State of Kansas, edited by William G. Cutler, and published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas of Chicago, a copy of which is available online at the Kansas Heritage Server.

SHAWNEE PIONEER GONE
Luther H. Root Lived on the Same Farm for 55 Years

Luther Holt Root, 87 years of age, and a pioneer of Shawnee county, died at his home ten miles southeast of Topeka, Tues­day night, at 10 o’clock. The funeral services will be held at 1 o'clock this afternoon at the Emanuel Episcopal Church, near Watson. Mr. Root has lived on his farm for 55 years which he pre-empted in May, 1856. He was active until a few months ago, when he suffered a paralytic stroke, since which time he has been gradually failing until he passed away.

He was born in Farmington, [Hartford Co.,] Conn., August 24, 1824, his ancestors having lived in that state since 1636. In 1846, he married Miss Angeline Smith, a daughter being born to them. Two years later his wife died and in 1859 he married Miss Elizabeth Beach. She died in 1884. Mr. Root was married the third time and for many years had lived with his wife and daughter on the farm. There he raised his seven children all of whom are living except the eldest daughter who died last year. Hiram C. Root, an attorney, who lives at 1525 Topeka avenue, is a son.

In 1856 when the slavery question was the absorbing topic in New England Mr. Root decided to join an immigration colony bound for the territory of Kansas. He was a member of the “Beecher Bible-Rifle Colony,” which took an active part in the early settlement of the state and especially Shawnee county. The colony came from Kansas City to Shawnee county in covered wagons drawn by ox teams, and Mr. Root built a log house in the clearing on his homestead. Until recently when his eyesight failed Mr. Root was a great reader and was well informed on topics of current interest.