DEATH, D. J. STIPE

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Aged Pratt County Pioneer,

Succumbs to La Grippe After

Brief Illness.

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David Jewel Stipe, one of Pratt county’s most respected citizens died at the family home, on North Oak street, early last Friday morning, from the effects of la grippe. Funeral services were held from the First Presbyterian church, Sunday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. M. J. Crocker at 3 o’clock, with interment at Greenlawn. The deceased was 73 years, 6 months and 29 days of age.

D. J. Stipe has been associated with the growth and development of this county for more than a generation. He was until a few years ago, a successful farmer of this county, having settled upon a claim and improved it upon his coming to this state, in November 1883. During his residency in this city, he met and made a large circle of friends, and he always identified himself with social, educational and church progress, and contributed generously to such undertakings. For a number of years, David J. Stipe served the Pratt First Presbyterian church as Clerk of the Session. David J. Stipe helped build the fist house in Pratt.

The funeral services were participated in by the Grand Army of the Republic, the Masonic lodge and many of his church fellowship and friends. The pastor preached from the text: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” and the verse immediately preceding it: For, “I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.” Rev. Crocker drew his lesson from the closing life of Paul and made the application of his final charge to Timothy, as a favorable comparison of the life of D. J. Stipe and discoursed upon the manliness and courage of the Apostle as he faced death, and assured his hearers that the deceased, like Paul of old, was ready to go and passed beyond unafraid and with the calm assurance of the devout man of God.

David J. Stipe will be missed, especially in the church. He was always present at its sessions and services and had never missed a Session meeting or prayer service preceding the morning service and always on hand to teach his Sunday School class. As his pastor said: David J. Stipe was certainly a loyal and consistent servant of Jesus Christ.”

Besides the wife are one son, Rev. H. E. Stipe, pastor of the Methodist church of Minneola, one daughter, Mrs. Rieniets of the Glendale neighborhood, and one brother, James W. Stipe, of Kirkland, Washington. A sister of Mrs. Stipe, Mrs. E. K. Clark, and her husband and daughter of Seymour, Ia., came last Thursday. A nephew, H. T. Middleton of Bucklin, came last Sunday to attend the funeral. Two grand children, Miss Grace Rieniets who is attending State Normal school of Emporia, and G. C. Rieniets, of Neosho Falls, came last Thursday and remained for the funeral. The son and family were present when the end came.

David J. Stipe was born near Berryville, Clark Co., Va., Aug. 25, 1842. In October 1861, he enlisted in Co. “B” 74th O. Vol. Inf., and served during the entire war. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea and was wounded in front of Atlanta. He was mustered out at Washington, 1865. The same year he located in Ottumwa, Iowa, where he married Miss Alice A. Goldsberry, April 4th, 1867. Three children were born to this union. In 1871 Mr. Stipe located at Seymore, Iowa, where he lived until November 1883, when he moved to Kansas, pre-empting a claim in what is now McPherson township, this county. The deceased united with the Presbyterian church at Ottumwa in 1865 and served as Elder there for a number of years, and later at Seymour. He joined the Presbyterian church at Saratoga upon his removal to this county and after its dis-organization united with the Pratt Presbyterian church, where he served as Elder and Clerk of Session for a number of years. Mr. Stipe was a member of the G. A. R. R. B. Hayes Post, No. 171 and of the local Order of Free Masons.