Notes
Note N4277
Index
"WaKeeney Tornado Kills Four -- 40 More Hurt and 45 Homes are Destroyed--WaKeeney (AP)--Four persons were killed and about 40 others were injured early Wednesday when a tornado ripped a five-block residential area of this western Kansas town of 2,000 population. The Red Cross reported that two other persons had died, but latter said the information given it was erroneous. Dead were Mr. and Mrs. James Hladek, both about 65, and Dan Rohrbacher, 60. Wednesday afternoon the body of a fourth victim, identified as Ralph McMillan, 35, was recovered in the stricken area.
The storm ripped the area into a mass of splintered wood and brick, uprooted trees, broke water mains and damaged power and communication lines. Three inches of rain accompanied the wind.
The injured were treated at hospitals in WaKeeney and Hays. Several were reported injured critically.
WaKeeney is 25 miles north west of Hays....
Mr. and Mrs. Hladek died in the wreckage of their home. Rohrbacher was blown from his house. His body was found in the debris on the street."--27 Jun 1951, The Hutchinson(KS) News
"Ralph McMillian, 35, first reported dead, was reported in Critical condition in a WaKeeney hospital....McMillan is a former resident of Hutchinson. McMillan moved from Hutchinson about 10 years ago. Mrs. McMillian is the former June Hartzell. She was a nurse at Grace hospital."-- 28 Jun 1951, The Hutchinson (KS) News
"Ralph E. McMillan. WaKeeney--Ralph E McMillan, 35, who was injured in the tornado which struck this city recently, died of his injuries Monday morning in the WaKeeney hospital. His death brough the storm toll to five.
Mr. McMillan was first reported killed in the storm but was later found alive. He has been in the hospital ever since.
Survivors include the widow, the former June Hartzell, and three daughters, Susan, Betsy and Sharon. Mrs. McMillan formerly was a nurse at Grace hospital in Hutchinson."--9 Jul 1951, The Hutchinson (KS) News
"Ralph McMillan, Former Quanahan, Hurt in Tornado -- Ralph McMillan, Jr., 34, former Quanah resident, was seriously injured in the tornado which struck WaKeeney, Kan., last week.
News reports soon after the twister struck the Kansas townstated that McMillan had died in a Wakeeney hospital eight hours after the storm. Later word received here indicated that the earlier report was in error, and that although McMillan had suffered a broken back and was in serious condition, he stood good chances for recovery.
McMillan is the grandson of the late Mrs. Mary Addison of Quanah. his father, Ralph McMillan, Limon, Colo., is a former Quanah resident. Many other relatives still live in Hardeman county.
The McMillan's brick home in WaKeeney was destroyed by the twister. Mrs. McMillan and their children were out of town at the time. At least three persons were killed and over forty injured in the storm. Fourty-five of Wakeeney's 500 homes were deestroyed, and numerous others damaged."--5 Jul 1951, Quanah (TX) Tribune-Chief
"Ralph McMillan Funeral for Ralph McMillan, who died of injuries in the WaKeeney tornado Monday, will be at 10 am Thursday in the WaKeeney Presbyterian church with burial in Memorial Park cemetery here between 4 and 5 pm Thursday. Masons will have charge of the burial rites."--11 Jul 1951, The Hutchinson (KS) News
Notes
Note N4278
Index
"G. R. Ruby Died Oct. 20 -- Gordon Romeo Ruby, 86, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and a long-time resident of Albany, died Saturday, October 20, 1945, in Okemah, Oklahoma. Mr. Ruby was born in Albany, Missouri, August 20, 1859, the son of Michael Gordon Ruby and Amelia Fritchie Leebrick. He was a merchant in Albany and northern Missouri and southern Iowa for many years, prior to 1905 when he went to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he made real estate investments. he maintained the family home in Albany until 1933.
He married Miss Minnie Hazelrigg of Albany, Missouri, in 1894, and to this union four children were born: Mrs. James W. McMahan, Okemah, Oklahoma, Mrs. A.V. Jones, Albany, Texas, Harold Gordon Ruby, Omaha, Nebraska, and Glenn Russell Ruby, of Oklahoma City. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: James {Philip McMahan, of Okemah, A.V. Jones, Jr., Ruby Jean Jones, John Rex Jones, Albany, Texas, Margorie Sue and David Gordon, children of Harold, and Michael Gordon Ruby and Adrienne Elizabeth, children of Russell.
Mr. Ruby was active in his business in Muskogee until April 1942, when he fell and broke his hip. He remained in the hospital in Muskogee until August, 1942, when he was removed to the hospital at Okemah where he remained until his death.
Mr. Ruby, while in Albany, was greatly interested in Palmer College and the progress of Albany.
Burial was in the cemetery at Okemah, Oklahoma."--25 Oct 1945, Albany (MO) Ledger
Notes
Note N4279
Index
"LIFE'S TROUBLES ENDED. DEATH OF DAVID H HARDING A PROMINENT CITIZEN OF MIDDLETOWN. David H. Harding, a well-known and prominent citizen of Middletown, died after a brief illness, at Mason City, Iowa, Thursday of this week, aged 78 years. The remains will be brought to Middletown on train Eight Sunday evening, and from thence taken to New Vernon for burial. Mr. Harding went West several weeks ago on a visit to four of his children who reside in Mason City.
Mr. Harding was bolrn near Mount Hope, and nearly his entire life was spent there. Nine children survive him, among whom are John K., and E.C. Harding, the latter a conductor on the Eastern division of the Erie, Mrs. Isaac Penny, Mrs. Alfred Hallock and Mrs. Oliver B. Gordon of Port Jervis. Deceased was well and favorably known."--20 Nov 1880, The (Port Jervis, NY) Evening Gazette