AMOS WALTERS, OLDEST CITIZEN, OF PERRY COUNTY PASSES AWAY

Amos Walters, oldest citizen of Perry County, died at the home of his youngest son, Anderson Walters of Gatchel, this county last Sunday. If he would have lived until the thirteenth of next August he would have reached the century mark.

Mr Walters was born in Germantown, Ohio, on the thirteenth of August, 1828.  At the age of eighteen he united with the Christian church and throughout his long, as well as useful and eventful life remained a true Christian gentleman.

In the year 1848 he was united in marriage to Mary Anne McPeak.  To them were born six children, Margaret, Anary, Madison, Addison, Kathryn and one infant that died unnamed.

Having lost his wife he was married the second time to Harriett McElfresh.  To this union were born ten children, Ella Julia, James, Milton, Kidwell, Frank, Abbie, Evan and Anderson and one infant who died without named.

In 1881 he was married to Felitha Grammen.  This union was blessed with three children, Ola, Hattie and Ida.

Of his nineteen children only seven remain to mourn his departure.  They are: Anary of West Virginia, Eve and Anderson of Gatchel; Julia and Kidwell of Oklahoma: Ola and Ida of Texas.

Not a great deal is know of Mr. Walters’ early history, as he lived in a time that is so long gone that there are but few living today who have any memory of the times in which he was engaged in the active pursuit of life.  However, we do know that he was a pioneer in every sense of the term.

He lived in a time when the men and women of America literally carved their homes out of the wilderness.  Where the youngsters of today are restless in their search for one giddy pleasure and then another, the old pioneer spirit drove them from one place to another.  They considered themselves crowded if they could see smoke coming from a neighbor’s chimney.  And so they moved on.

When then part of Ohio in which he lived became settled he moved over into the wilds of West Virginia and built a home there, After a while that didn’t suit, and so he went back to Ohio.  The plains of Kansas were being populated about that time and so he cast his lot with the covered wagon caravan.  From Kansas he went down into Arkansas.  We haven’t learned what prompted him to leave there but sickness doubtless caused him to move again and so he came to this county where other members of the family had settled.  Again we find the spirit of the pioneer asserting it self and again we find him a member of the covered wagon caravan, this time destined for the unsettled county of eastern Texas.  From Texas he went back to West Virginia and his last move came about ten years ago when he migrated to Perry County to spend the remainder of his earthly days with his son Anderson.

It is indeed unfortunate that some writer did not spend some time with Mr Walters a few years ago when his mind was yet keen and alert and composed a history of this grand old man.  He no doubt could have imparted much information of historical value, as well as material for a good story.

At the time of his death Mr. Walters was 99 years, 4 months and 5 days of age.  The funeral was held Monday afternoon, with burial in Blue Rim Cemetery

This was transcribed from the Tell City, In. News dated Dec. 23, 1927