Barber County Kansas

URIAH CLAYTON HERR (1873-1944)

Uriah Clayton Herr
At right: Uriah Clayton Herr

b. 11 Nov 1873, Hummelstown, PA
m. 14 Jan 1897, Medicine Lodge, KS
d. 25 Feb 1944, East Palo Alto, CA
Spouse: Lillian Vicury Painter
Father: Abraham R. Herr (1848-1886)
Mother: Elizabeth Shenk

 

U.C. 'Clayt' Herr and Lillian (Painter) Herr


At left: U.C. "Clayt" Herr and Lillian (Painter) Herr

Uriah Clayton Herr was a direct descendant of the Rev. Hans Herr, who founded the Mennonite Church and community in Lancaster, PA in 1710. He was always known as U.C. "Clayt" Herr. His father and mother had brought the family by train to Kiowa, KS in 1886 but his father died shortly after arrival. The Herr boys participated in the famed 'run for the Cherokee strip' and acquired a farm. Clayt became a newspaper owner and editor of the Barber County Index in Medicine Lodge, KS in the late 1890s. He retired to Chehalis, WA but came out of retirement in the late 1920s to edit the Ely Daily Record, Ely, NV. He got his start in the newspaper business as a printer's devil in Kiowa.

When the Medicine Valley Bank was robbed in 1884 the Bank President and publisher of the Index was shot and killed. Clayt Herr and Charley Painter eventually took over the paper and Clayt married Charley's sister, Lil. Clayt was a kind man, loved by all.

( Sources: Family oral history, Theodore Herr, Genealogical Record of Rev. Hans Herr..., History of Barber County, KS ,Biographical History of Kansas and Kansans.)

Home of U.C. 'Clayt' and Lillian (Painter) Herr
Home of U.C. 'Clayt' and Lillian (Painter) Herr
Photo courtesy of Marilou West Ficklin.


Barber County Index, March 2, 1944.

Former Index Editor Dies In California

U. C. Herr Was Long Time Barber County Resident

U. C. Herr, Barber county pioneer and editor of the Index for a number of years, died Friday, February 25 in Palo Alto, California, according to word received here Saturday by his brother, Allen E, Herr. He was 71 years of age at the time of his death. Uriah Clayton Herr who was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Nov. 11, 1873 was a long time resident of Barber county as he moved here with his parents in March 1886, where they resided on a farm two and a half miles west of Kiowa.

In the early 90's he took employment with the Barber County Index. Later in partnership with C. C. Painter, he purchased the plant and edited the paper until about twenty-two years ago when he sold out and went to the state of Washington, where he worked in a lumber yard for a few years. From there he went to Ely, Nev., and became the editor of the Ely Record. A few years later he went to Palo Alto, California, where he purchased a small fruit farm and operated it until his death.

In January, 1897, he was united in marriage with Lillian Painter. To this union three children were born, Roland dying when about seventeen months old, and Opal and Jewell, both with families of their own now residing in California.

During this short period that Barber County had a special law authorizing the election of a county printer he held that office. He also served as postmaster for Medicine Lodge during the Wilson administration.

He leaves to mourn his loss, the widow and daughters, several grandchildren, three brothers, one sister, one half-sister and one half brother. The surviving brothers and sisters are Allen E. Herr of Medicine Lodge, A. L. Herr, Oklahoma City, J. N. Herr, Hutchinson, Miss Ada Herr, Winfield, Mrs. Mabel Hood, Kiowa and Lyman Sommer whose location we are unable to learn. There are also a number of nephews and nieces surviving.

Although gone from Medicine Lodge nearly a quarter century he still has many personal friends here who are grieved to learn of his departure. While here he was very active in public life. He served many years on the school board and always took an active interest in city and county elections. He was considered an efficient newspaper man and generally good business man. A host of friends here extend sympathy to the bereaved family.

Funeral services will be held in Palo Alto, Thursday, Mar. 2, and burial in the cemetery at that place.


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Thanks to Marilou West Ficklin for contributing the above genealogical information and image to this web site and to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the obituary!




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