COLUMBUS C. PROCTOR      GRAVESTONE PHOTO                      

The Miami Republican, Friday, Feb. 23, 1894, Pg. 3

Died:  Feb. 20, 1894

C. C. Proctor

  With feelings of deep regret and sorrow we record the death of our esteemed and respected citizen, Columbus C. Proctor, which occurred at his late residence in Paola at 10 o’clock A. M., Tuesday, February 20th, after an illness of ten days with pneumonia complicated with heart trouble.  Sunday, the 11th, while at church he was suddenly taken down and failed rapidly, all that medical skill could do to prolong life being of no avail.

  Mr. Proctor was born in West Liberty, Iowa, January 13th, 1846, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age, when he enlisted in Company K, 14th Iowa Regiment.  He served three years and after the war returned to his Iowa home.  With his father and mother he removed to this county in 1869, locating in Valley-twp.  In November, 1872, he married Miss N. L. McClure, a niece of Col. Alexander McClure of the Philadelphia Times.  He resided on his farm in Valley-twp. until 1881, when he received the nomination in the Republican county convention and was elected Register of Deeds.  In 1883, he was again elected, and in 1885 declined the nomination for a third term.  Numerous times he had been elected a member of the board of education and city treasurer of Paola, and was holding the latter office at his death.

  The deceased was a plain, unassuming business man, who valued truth, and his word above all things.  His integrity was of the highest order, he was a friend upon whom to depend.  His manner was gentle, quiet and unostentatious.  His purity of life and character, his honesty and integrity none ever questioned.  He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church and was for thirty years a member of the church.  He was a brave soldier who never shirked a duty, a public official who never betrayed a trust and a citizen whom all honored.  Stricken down in the vigor of life, his memory will live in the hearts of all who knew him, and in his death the community has lost one of her best citizens.  The funeral services, under the auspices of McCaslin Post G. A. R. were held at the Presbyterian church Thursday afternoon.  Rev. H. A. Cooper, pastor of the church delivered the address.  The remains were buried in Oak Grove cemetery.  Mr. Proctor leaves a wife, father and an adopted son, who have the sympathy of the community.