The news of the recent unexpected death of Capt. Henry Best, Nov. 19, 1922, at 9 a.m at his home near McAllen, Texas, came as a distinct shock to his brother Aaron Best and other Effingham relatives and friends, for he has been in his usual good health. The cause of his death was apoplexy.* Capt. Best was born near Salona, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, on May 19, 1842. At the time of his death he was exactly 80 years and 6 months old. Henry Best came to Kansas in 1861 with his parents. In the same year, he enlisted in the 18th Kansas Infantry and after serving in that regiment for some time, he was made a second lieutenant in the 83rd U. S. Cal. He spent most of his service in Arkansas and after the close of the war came to his home near Effingham. In the winter of 1867, he married Miss Mary Shaw, of Valley Falls. To this union were born four children, three girls and a boy. A girl and the boy died in infancy. Besides his widow, the two daughters who survive are Mrs. Flora Shea of McAllen, Texas, Mrs. Laura McCall, of Kansas City. He is survived by a grandson, Henry Shea, a brother, Aaron Best, Effingham, and a sister, Mrs. Nettie Lambertson, of Little Rock, Arkansas. There were seven brothers and three sisters in the Best family and the only survivors are Aaron Best, the oldest of the family and Mrs. Lambertson. After Henry Best was married, he and his bride lived two years on a farm two miles northeast of Effingham. In 1869 he went south to Texarkana and ran a hotel. From there, he went to Port Arthur, Texas, where he prospered. Nine years ago, he left Port Arthur and moved to McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley where he had a lovely home. He sold the home at a nice profit three years ago and just before his death had started the erection of a $5000 modern bungalow to be his and Mrs. Best's home the remainder of their days. Three days before his death, he wrote his brother Aaron a most interesting letter, in which he stated that he thanked God for sparing him long enough to see the errors of his ways, and that he was trying to live so that he might be ready whenever the summons came and asked for the daily prayer of his brother. It was a most comforting epistle and to Aaron Best means much more than silver and gold. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Effingham, Wednesday afternoon where a combination service was held by Rev. H. E. Ballou and the Masons. O. L. Porr, Mrs. J. A. Harmon, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Cummings, with Mrs. Rob't Pinder at the piano, furnished appropriate music. The pall bearers were Arthur Schurman, Rob't McPhiliny, A. E. Mayhew, George and Charles Snyder. The widow, two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Riley Wood and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Gillispie, of Council Grove, and several friends from Kansas City came to Effingham to attend the funeral services. Interment was made in the family lot in the Monrovia cemetery.
*Death certificate says cause of death: suicide — throat cut. His brother Lewis committed suicide in the same way.

Children of Capt Henry Franklin Best and Mary "Molly" Adaline (Shaw) Best:
Flora B. Best Shea, 1/10/1867 - 2/13/1960
Nellie Best, 11/12/1870 - 11/14/1870
Virgil "Virgie" Best, 9/16/1874 - 9/20/1877
Laura Best McColl, 3/04/1876 - 3/26/1950