From the obituary in the Smith County Pioneer: "Death calls beloved pioneer citizen" Although he had been a shut-in for many years, the entire community was especially shocked and grieved last Thursday when announcement was made of the death of that fine old pioneer and beloved citizen, Peter Franz Mathes. ..........Funeral services were conducted Nov. 19, 1944, ....with burial in the Fairview cemetery. The pallbearers were old and close friends of the deceased: Bert Loofbourrow, Frank Johnson, Giles J Hunt, Roy Rubendall, Lee Pennington, and Clarence Hinshaw.

Peter F. Mathes, fourth son of William Christopher Franz Mathes and wife was born in Huron county Onterio, Canada, April 21, 1873, and died at his home in Smith Center, Kansas at the age of 71 years, six months and 26 days. In the early days his parents came to Smith county when Pete was only a year old.

Mr Mathes was united in marriage to Dora Burr, daughter of Charlie Burr and wife on March 16, 1902, who died May 25, 1902. .........Mr. Mathes went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in the fall of 1917. Here he learned that the dread disease arthritis was his ailment and that there was no known cure for it. ...Through his long illness, he was tenderly cared for by his wife, Mrs. Alice Mathes. ........

He leaves in mourning his wife, Mrs. Alice Mathes: three sisters, Mrs. Anna Bell and Mrs. Clara Pilcher of Smith Center, and Mrs. Lena Beam of Oskaloosa, Kansas; three brothers, Frank Mathes, Topeka, Jess Mathes, Kansas City, and Ed. Mathes of Smith Center.

(The obituary is quite lengthy, a full page column and a half, and has not been completely transcribed here.)

Interestingly, Pete erected a white marble column in Fairview Cemetery for his beloved wife, Dora Marilla Burr. Its inscription reads "Dora Burr, wife of Peter Franzmathes"
After his death, Peter's second wife followed his instructions and buried him next to Dora, but with the inscription "Pete Mathes, husband of Alice". A visitor to Fairview Cemetery would have no way of knowing that Peter Franzmathes who had been married to Dora was the same person as "Pete Mathes the husband of Alice".