SHERIFF RAPER IS SUDDENLY STRICKEN

Sheriff Raper is suddenly stricken, people of Pawnee County have seldom, if ever, been more shocked than they were Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock when word was received that Sheriff Raper had dropped dead in a field near Summerfield, Kans. He was stricken in death while in performance of his official duties early Monday afternoon. He had left Pawnee City at 11 o'clock going directly to Summerfield, Kans., where he took lunch and visited with his son, Charles. After lunch he went to the Allison farm , a couple of miles east of Summerfield, where they were engaged in appraising the corn in a field when death overtook him. The sudden death of Sheriff came so unexpected as to be almost unbeliveable, and was an awful shock to the community as well as a terrible blow to the family. Son of Andrew Robert & Elizabeth Isabella (Christy) Raper, born in Greene county, Ind., near Bloomington, Sept. 12, 1850. He died at 1:30 p.m. October 5, 1914 at the age of 64 years. He came here from Indiana in January, 1867, at the age of 16 years, settling in Pawnee City, where he has resided for over forty-seven years.
On January 1, 1869 he was married to Miss Cerelda A. Baughn, at Pawnee City. To this union were born eight children, four sons and daughters, of them three have preceded him to the other land, two in infancy, one Mrs. Dilla Bolton, a few years ago. His wife died March 25, 1888, leaving the care of the family on his hands. He was married to Miss Eliza McCance September 18, 1889, with whom he spent the last twenty-five years, and who survives him. To this union were born five children.
When a young man before his marriage he became a Christian, he belonged to the Christian Church of this city of which he has ever since been a member. He was a member of the A.O.U.W. for nineteen years, and of the I.O.O.F. sice January 3, 1880.
he was elected Sheriff of Pawnee County three years ago, which position he filled with fidelity and honor unitl the time of his death.
Besides his wife and ten children he leaves one brother, W. Brown Raper, of this city, four sisters, twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
All the children were present at the funeral except one daughter, Mrs. Etta Hare, of College Spring, Iowa, who was detained by illness. The brother and one sister, Mrs. Della Smith, a son-in-law, J. M. Bolton and his daughter, Mrs. Tomlinson, of Smith Center, Kans., were also present.
The other sisters live in Indiana, and were prevented by age and distance from attending.