J C CLAFLIN IS TAKEN BY DEATH

J C Claflin 74 a resident of southwest of Manchester since 1909 died Sunday in a hospital at Anthony Rev Robert Jessup pastor of the Wakita Methodist church conducted funeral services Tuesday afternoon in the Sand Creek Methodist church Burial was in the Manchester cemetery by the Thomas funeral home

Jeptha Clark Claflin was born the 4th child of Giles and Trypheny Claflin He was born in Fillmore county Nebraska April 2 1875 He passed this life on the 4th of December 1949 being at that time 74 years 8 months and two days old He moved from Nebraska to Republic county Kansas in his early boyhood and lived there until 1908 He was united in marriage on July 4 1895 to Miss Celeste Mae Weld in Bellville Kansas To that union were added ten children These are: Irene now Mrs Joe Moore of Paradise Calif., Edna L Claflin of Manchester ,Mrs Ted Humphreys (Gertrude) Jefferson and Mrs John Pratt of Wakita, (Myrtle) Beatrice Folger of Manchester, Hattie Johnson of Jet, Charlie Claflin of Branough Mo, Avery Claflin, Homer Claflin, Mrs Virginia Gillaspy and Dallas Claflin all of Sand Creek all these are still living to mourn his passing He came to Oklahoma in 1909 and settled on a farm southwest of Manchester He has resided in the near vicinity ever since until his passing He was baptized in the United Brethern church upon profession of faith when he was a small boy He has always been a good friend of the church in his community Many items of furniture in the church and parsonage at Sand Creek and Wakita were made by his skillful hands He said up to the very last that he regretted not being able to give three week's work on the cabinets of the new Methodist church in Wakita After the death of his wife Celeste Mae in November 1918 during the influenza epidemic Jeptha remained a widower with several children to rear After some time had elapsed he took as his bride Mrs Elizabeth Burke of Wakita on April 17 of 1920 Her ministry of service to the rearing of all but the two oldest children is a tribute to her she became to them a real mother In addition to his wife and the ten children he is survived by 4 step-children whom he counted as his own: Mrs Ila Milligan of Okeene Okla, Ocie Burke of Oklahoma City Okla Mrs Inez Lipsky Enid Okla and Mrs Ardis Wolfe of Portland Oregon Two brothers John of Manchester and Melvin of Cherokee three sisters Mrs Mary Hunt of Curtis Nebr, Mrs Mel Hime of Manchester and Mrs Otto Burghardt of Manchester Also 33 grandchildren several neices and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends all of whom morn his passing.

The Wakita Herald
Wakita, Oklahoma
08 Dec 1949, Thu • Page 1