Barber County Kansas


Barber County Index
, February 24, 1938.

WILLIAM HENRY COLBURN DEAD

W. H. Colborn, resident of the Gerlane community, died last Thursday morning at his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a twelve gauge shotgun. The charge entered the left breast causing instant death. Mr. Colburn had been in ill health for the past two or three years and despondency over his physical condition is believed to be responsible for his act. A coroner's jury composed of Bruce Hensley, Mrs. J. Hensley, Rev. R. T. McMinning Dr. K. R. Grisby, C. C. Lambke, and Mrs. C. C. Lambke was impaneled by Charley Gordon county coroner, and returned a verdict of death by self-inflicted gunshot wound.

OBITUARY

William Henry Colborn was born Sept. 3, 1886, three and one half miles northeast of Gerlane and passed away at his home near Gerlane on Thursday, Feb. 17, 1938, at the age of 54 years, 5 months and 14 days.

He was married July 4, 1919 to Margaret Bayliffe of Medicine Lodge. To this union four children were born, Dywaine passed away, April 3, 1934 while Ruth, Frank and Margaret Jane live at home with their beloved mother to mourn the passing of their kind and loving father and husband.

His parents, Frank C. and Alice Colborn came to Barber County in May 1884 and came overland in wagons from Harper as that was the end of the railroad at that time, and settled on a claim three and one half miles northeast of Gerland which they later proved up and the family still lives in the same community where a large family was born and raised.

William Henry Colborn's father, the late Frank C. Colborn, passed away at the farm home April 1, 1932. One brother, Lester H. passed away in infancy, and one sister, Florence A. Cavin, departed this life Feb. 15, 1915. His dear old mother survives his passing as do four brothers and five sisters; George W., Frank F., and Arthur H., of Medicine Lodge and Ernest H. of St. John, Kans.; Dollie S. Cavin of Guymon, Okla., Ethel Mo_baugh of Westville, Okla., Nellie A. Melton of Gerlane, Daisy Strasburgh of Kiowa, and Marjorie, at home with her mother.

In early life he accepted his mother's spiritual training and was converted and joined the Church of God at Gerlane and later changed his membership to the Assembly of God church with which he kept the faith until the final calling.

He was a considerate and conservative home builder and home protector, a painstaking and dutiful husband, a kind and loving father, a cheerful and obliging neighbor and a friend to everyone.


Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!




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