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Chase County Obituaries


1863 - 2008



Umbarger, Martin D

M D Umbarger Seriously Hurt

While driving from this city to their home at Hymer yesterday afternoon. M. D. Umbarger's team became frightened at J. D. McNee's automobile and ran into a ditch by the roadside throwing out Mr. Umbarger, also Frank Maybell who was riding with him.

The accident happened near the State. road crossing. Mr. Umbarger was rendered unconscious from a blow on his head and his condition this morning is believed to be very serious as he had not yet recovered consciousness. Mr. Maybell was not hurt. Mr. McNee hurried to Strong City with Mr. Umbarger as soon as the accident occurred where the latter was put under the care of Drs. Hinden and Corbin. The greatest injuries seem to be about Mr. Umbarger's head and face although he is bruised about the body. He is now at the Fritzie home in Strong City where he was joined by his wife and daughter from Hymer this morning. Dr. Hinden says he showed signs of regaining consciousness this morning and that in that ease his recovery would probably be soon.

Death of M D Umbarger

Following the injuries of last week when his team became frighened at an automobile and ran away, throwing him from the buggy, M. D. Umberger, 68 years of age of Hymer, died in this city early Friday morning. The accident occured several miles northwest of Strong City when J. D. McNee of Cottonwood Falls attempted to pass the Umbarger buggy. Mr. Umbarger was with a companion who was unhurt although the buggy to which the two were riding was utterly torn to pieces by the terrified horses.

On his removal to this city, the injured man never regained consciousness and death from a fractured skull came 35 hours later. The funeral was held Monday at the family home in Hymer. Burial was then made in the cemetery at Elmdale. Besides his wife, Mr. Umbarger is survived by two daughters and two sons. He was born in York County, PA., on September 04 1843 and came to Kansas in 1855 where he had since lived and been actively engaged in farming and stock raising.

Chase County Courant, Oct 12 1911.

Martin D. Umbarger was born Sept. 4, 1844, at Lisburn. Pa., and died at Strong City. Kansas, Oct. 6, 1911, aged 67 years, one month and two days.

He was the oldest of a family of nine, the children of John and Susan Umbarger from whom he inherited many sturdy Pennsylvania German qualities.

Five of his brothers and two sisters are still living. They are Mrs. Jennie Sweeney of New Cumberland, Pa., Mrs. Ellen Brubaker of Philadelphia, Pa., George of Williams Grove, Pa., Lewis C. of Elmdale, Kansas, William of Lincoln, Nebraska; Charles of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Clarence of Oklahoma.

Mr. Umbarger came to Lawrence, Kansas, in 1866 and after attending school there a short time he came to Chase county in 1867. After remaining on Diamond creek for a few months, he went to the western Kansas plains, where he and his partners established a supply trading post on the line of the Kansas Pacific, now the Union Pacific railroad.

While engaged in this business he and his associates were robbed by the Indians. He then returned to Chase county and later returned to Western Kansas, where in July 1868 he enlisted in the 18th Kansas Cavalry under Major Forsythe. During his service in this regiment he was at the famous Arickaree river fight in which about fifty men were repeatedly attacked by probably one thousand Indians. He was one of two men who were sent out to summon assistance and after successfully eluding the Indian pickets met a detachment of soldiers from Fort Hays, with whom they returned to the rescue of their Comrades, about half of whom had been killed by the Indians or had perished from hunger. After some further service he was mustered out with his regiment and soon after returned to Chase county.

In August 1869 he bought from Henry Hegwer the farm on which he has continuously resided. He was married Nov. 24, 1880, to Sarah E. Hartlert. To this union were born four children, Harry, Grace, May and Lewis, all of whom are living.

In his earlier life he endured the hardships and privations of a new country and while not wealthy he had by close application and rigid economy gained something of a competence. For some months he had been in declining health and at the time of the accident which hastened his death he was planning with his wife and daughter, Grace, to go to San Antonia, Texas, hoping that in that milder climate he might in some measure regain his former vigor.

He was an honest and upright man and highly esteemed by all who knew him, having at times been chosen by his fellowmen to fill offices of trust and profit. In his death, the wife and children and brothers and sisters have lost a kind and loving husband, father and brother and the community at large a helpful friend and neighbor.

Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Oct 06 1911.



Chase County Death Notices and Obituaries,
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant and Chase County Leader Newspapers
by your Chase County Host, Lorna Marvin.
Please submit your obituaries and death notices.




Chase County Host
Lorna Marvin



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