Thomas Wigant –

Elder Sutton* was called on Thursday to preach the funeral sermon of Thomas Wigant, who died Oct. 28, at Peter Witheroud’s home south of the Valley. The young people at the Sutton home went along to furnish the music. *J.S. Sutton of the LDS church – HaVage Valley News, The Genoa Sentinel, Genoa, Colorado, November 11, 1914

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Mrs. Mary Jane Burton --

Mrs. Mary Jane Burton died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. R. Wygant, March 17, aged 75 years, and her funeral was conducted by Rev. Rutledge Saturday, internment being made in Walk’s Camp cemetery. – Flat Top Pickups, The Genoa Sentinel, Genoa, Colorado, March 22, 1916

Martin & Zelda Capehart Genealogy Website

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John E. Burton –

John E. Burton died at 6 p.m. yesterday, Oct. 9, 1924 in St. Francis hospital of bullet wounds in his head, self-inflicted yesterday morning after he had attempted the life of his wife by shooting her with a 82-caliber revolver. He was 59 years of age. His wife survived.

John had been unable to find employment for quite some time and his wife had recently filed for divorce. Friends and neighbors believed that he was mentally deranged from brooding over his domestic troubles and lack of employment. His wife had declared that he interfered with the operation of her rooming house and that he was cruel and inhuman. He fought the divorce action and had retained attorneys. Some argument existed as to whom was to blame, the relatives of each standing loyally up for their own. Kin of John said there was no grounds for her divorce action and no witnesses to testify as to his cruelty. Three of their children who lived in Dayton, Oh had recently visited them and attempted a reconciliation between them. John came to the house then but did not enter. He stated that by doing so he would violate the writ of injunction and so be held liable to answer a serious offense. Mrs. Burton had recently informed a Mrs. Nichols that she did not intend to press her divorce suit as the children had already been embarrased.

The morning of the shootings he set out to seek work as he had done nearly every day for many weeks. He visited a former employer, W. C. F. & N. whom he had worked for as a laborer on road and bridge work and was told that there were no jobs available. Mrs. Shepard, his niece whom he was living with, stated that he had been even more doleful than usual lately.

John was born Apr. 7, 1865 in Illinois to William & Mary Jane (Briggs) Burton. The family moved to Missouri sometime between 1865-1869.

John & Elizabeth Cougar were married at Hermitage, Mo, Jan. 8, 1888, moving to Waverly, Iowa sometime before 1910 and from Waverly to Waterloo in 1912. They were the parents of four children who survive: Mrs. W. C. Shackelford and Mrs. Floyd Hammond of Dayton, OH and two sons, Carsen Burton of Dayton, OH and Edwin Burton, Oshkosh, WI. He is also survived by 4 brothers, Richard Burton of Heyworth, Ill; Lewis Alfred Burton of Hermitage, MO; Elmer Burton of Waverly, IA & William Burton of Colorado and a sister, Clarissa Wigant of Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willliam and Mary Jane (Briggs); a brother, James T. and a sister Sarah Elizabeth Capehart.

Services will be conducted in an undertaker’s chapel at Waverly at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow. Burial will be in Harlington cemetery.* – Excerpts from United Press Leased Telegraph Wire, Oct. 9, 1924, Waterloo Library, Waterloo, IA; Waterloo Evening Courier, Waterloo, IA, Waterloo Library, Waterloo, IA; Iowa Cemetery Records; 1910 & 1920 US Federal Census and IA Community Betterment, 1981 Project Book, City, Waverly Library, Waverly, IA

* Note: John is buried in an unmarked grave.

~~ Insight ~~

"Life takes some strange twists and turns and sometimes some can't cope with it. At the age of 59 it would have been hard for him to find work. Today, they would say he was suffering from depression." -- Jenna Scott

Mrs. Clara Wigant -- Dies on Friday at South Canon Home

Mrs. Clara C. Wigant, 76, died at her home, 838 Griffin Avenue, South Cannon, late Friday morning following an illness of about a year and a half.

Mrs. Wigant came to Cannon City about nine years ago from Eastern Colorado where the family formerly resided. They at one time lived in Springfield and Burlington, Colo.

Surviving her are two sons, Albert and Edward, and one daughter, Mrs. Laura G. Plumb, all of Cannon City, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mrs. Wigant, when health permitted, attended the first Christian church here quite regularly.

Her body is in care of the Canon mortuary. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed. – Jan. 22, 1937

Final Rites for Clara C. Wygant Held on Monday –

Final rites for Mrs. Clara C. Wigant, South Canon woman, were held at the Canon Mortuary service room at 10 o’clock Monday morning with the Rev. J. T. Wheeler of the first Christian church, officiating.

Two favorite hymns of Mrs. Wigant, “Abide With Me,” and “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” were sung by Mrs. J. E. Biddle, accompanied at the organ by Miss Juline Robertson.

Pallbearers were Charles W. Stevens, M. F. Mitchell, C. W. Chetwin, Charles W. Griffin, T.N. Wood and C. E. Dazey. Burial was in Lakeside cemetery.

Mrs. Wigant died at her home last week following a lingering illness.

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