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1. Obituary, St. Marys, KS, newspaper, 11 August 1932

Crossed Plains Behind Oxen
Mrs. Louis Vilven, who died July 29, Saw Utah in its Earliest Days

Mrs. Louis Vilven died at her home July 29 following a lingering illness. She was 76 years of age and would have celebrated her 77th birthday August 21.

Ann Raine was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1855. With her parents she crossed the plains to Camp Douglas, Utah, in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. Later the family returned to Pennsylvania. Coming West again, they settled near Alma, Kansas.

She was married March 29, 1879, to Louis Vilven of Wamego. They made their home near Wamego for fifteen years and since then have lived in or near St. Marys. Mr. and Mrs. Vilven celebrated their golden wedding anniversary three years ago.

She is survived by her husband, four sons, Joseph, William, Archie, and Walter, one daughter, Mrs. Florence Wimberly, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also two brothers, Joe Raine of Maple Hill and Frank Raine of Wamego.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, July 31, at the Methodist Church, Rev. H. J. Beadle officiating. Burial was in Greenwood cemetery in Kaw valley.

Besides her many relatives, Mrs. Vilven leaves a host of friends to mourn her loss. Her cheerful disposition endeared her to all who knew her. She was a tireless worker and spent a life of unselfish service to her family and friends.

The out-of-town relatives who attended her funeral were: Mr. & Mrs. A. R. Vilven [probably her son Archie Vilven], Kansas City; Mrs. Florence Wimberly [her daughter], Beaumont, Texas; Mrs. Orrin Campbell, Ellis, Kansas; Mrs. & Mrs. M. K. Jolley, Topeka; Mr. & Mrs. Joe Raine [Joseph Raine, her brother, & Addie Cowan], Jessie Raine [daughter of her brother Joseph], Mr. & Mrs. Lee Raine [George Lee Raine, son of her brother Joseph], Mr. Lester Raine [son of her brother Joseph], Mr. Francis Raine [son of her brother Joseph], Maple Hill; Mr. Harry Raine [son of her brother Frank], Mr. Frank Raine [her brother], and Mr. Lloyd Raine [Francis Loyde Raine, son of her nephew Harry Raine], Wamego; Mr. & Mrs. Roy Morton, Mrs. Rosa Thierolf, Mr. Arthur Vilven, Mr. Ed Vilven, and Mr. & Mrs. Frank Vilven, Wamego; Mr. & Mrs. Frank Sanders [Annie Raine, daughter of her brother Joseph], Alma; Mrs. Jim Ross [Ella Raine, daughter of her brother John], Mr. & Mrs. Frank Weeks [son of her sister Hannah & Lewis Weeks], Belvue; Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Simon, Mrs. Anna Jolley, Mr. & Mrs. W. P. Jolley, Topeka; Mrs. LaVerne Spears, Rossville; and Mrs. Fowler, Topeka.

This page is a part of the ever-expanding Eclectic Synapse, copyright 1999–2000 by M. E. Cowan. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to link to this page or to reproduce the contents if (and only if) proper credit is given to the author.

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