Death of a Late Ancestor

It's odd when going through family history that a man who died almost a hundred years ago can bring so much emotion and warmth to me. To know that he lived in the same area I do and find stories of his life. Tilman Naylor existed as one of my ancestors. He was a living, breathing person, and this is only a glimpse at his story.

Platte County lost an old and highly honored citizen on Monday June 16^th when Tilman Naylor, after a long illness, was called to his reward, aged 79 years 5 months and 21 days.

He was born in Bath county, Kentucky, but has been a citizen of Platte County by far the greatest portion of his life. His farm, about two miles north of Waldron, is one of the best in eastern Platte County, and this with a comfortable portion of the worlds goods he accumulated through untiring energy, strict honesty, and sterling integrity. He was universally respected, and counted his friends by the hundred, and when called to pay their last respects to their friend and neighbor of so many years, the spacious grounds about his home would hardly accommodate the great throng which came to do him honor.

He was the father of thirteen children, ten of whom survive him to be a comfort and solace to the aged wife who has been confined to her bed for a year past. There are 79 grandchildren and 24 greatgrandchildren.

The funeral services were conducted at the late home of the deceased on Tuesday by Rev. Tucker of Platte City, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Naylor cemetery. The sorrowing family has the sympathy…(unreadable).

Paxton, William M. Annals of Platte County, Missouri: Addendum – July 1897 through July 1916. (Platte City, Missouri: Platte County Historical & Genealogical Society, 2001), 227d.

Unfortunately the end of this obituary is lost, but what is available is a family treasure.