Continuing my journey through my MENTZER notebook, today’s discovery is an obituary clipping for Susie May Tunnicliff, daughter of George Mentzer. Thanks to the invaluable efforts of the Kansas State Historical Society to digitize Kansas newspapers, I was able to locate this obituary online, along with two other related clippings concerning Susan Mentzer Tunnicliff.
The first article provides a brief notice of her passing.
Geo. Mentzer of West Center received a telegram Wednesday afternoon that his daughter, Mrs. Susie Tunnicliff, had died that morning at her home in Iowa. The body will be brought here for burial, which will probably be Saturday or Sunday.
Death notice, Yates Center Argus (Yates Center, Kansas), 8 January 1909, page 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 19 October 2024).
Her obituary appeared in two newspapers from Woodson County, Kansas.
TUNNICLIFF
Susie May Mentzer was born Feb. 18, 1873, near Yates Center, Kansas. She became a member of the M. E. church of Yates Center at the age of eighteen.
She grew to womanhood in Woodson county, Kansas and was married to Edward Tunnicliff, of Shenandoah, Iowa, on Sept. 29, 1902, and removed from Yates Center to that place where she has resided since, and she died Jan. 6, 1909, at Shenandoah, aged 35 years, 10 months and 6 days. She leaves a husband, father, mother, one sister and six brothers to mourn her loss.
The body was brought here for burial in the Yates Center cemetery. Funeral services were conducted at the family residence Friday afternoon by Rev. H. A. Church.
“Tunnicliff,” Woodson County Advocate (Yates Center, Kansas), 22 January 1909, page 5; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 19 October 2024).
Obituary
Tunnicliffe
Susie May Mentzer was born Feb. 18, 1873, near Yates Center,Kansas. She became a member of the M.E. church of Yates Center at the age of eighteen.
She grew to womanhood in Woodson county, Kansas, and was married to Edward Tunnicliff, of Shenandoah, Iowa, on Sept. 29, 1902, and removed from Yates Center to that place where she has resided since, and she died Jan. 6, 1909, at Shenandoah, aged 35 years, 10 months and 6 days. She leaves a husband, father, mother, one sister and six brothers to mourn her loss.
The body was brought here for burial in the Yates Center cemetery. Funeral services were conducted at the family residence Friday afternoon by Rev. H. A. Church.
“Tunnicliffe,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 15 January 1909, page 5; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 22 January 2020).
Using a narrative report produced by RootsMagic, ChatGPT produced the following narrative about Susan Mentzer and her husband, Charles
Susan May Mentzer was born on February 18, 1873, near Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas, to George Mentzer and Emiline Minnick. She grew up in Woodson County, where she became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of eighteen. Susan lived with her family in Center Township, Woodson County, and was active in her local community. In 1891, she became a confirmed member of the church and continued to reside in the area until her marriage.
On September 29, 1902, Susan married Charles Edward Tunnicliff in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Charles was born on September 26, 1874, in Page County, Iowa. After their marriage, the couple moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where they would establish their home.
Susan passed away unexpectedly on January 6, 1909, at the age of 35, in Shenandoah. She left behind her grieving husband, her father George, mother Emiline, one sister, and six brothers. Her death was a significant loss to both her family and community. Susan’s body was brought back to Yates Center, Kansas, for burial, where a funeral service was held at the family residence. She was laid to rest in Yates Center Cemetery.
Charles continued to live in Shenandoah after Susan’s death. He registered for the World War I draft on September 12, 1918. He lived to be 89 years old, passing away on December 26, 1963. Charles was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah, Iowa, near the place where they had lived.
Below is the RootsMagic report and the sources used:
. Susan May Mentzer was born on 18 Feb 1873 in Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas.1
She was born on 28 Feb 1873 in Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas.2–7
She was the child of George Mentzer and Emiline Minnick.6,8–10
Susan lived in Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas on 11 Jun 1880.11 Susan was listed as the 6 year old daughter of Geo Mentzer. Susan was born in Kansas.
She lived a 12 year old female born KS and was listed as G. Mentzer in Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas on 1 Mar 1885.12
In 1891, she was a member in Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas.4
Susan lived a 21 year old female born Kansas and was listed as Susan Mentzer in Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas on 1 Jul 1895.13
She lived in Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas on 26 Jun 1900.14 Susan M Mentzer was listed as the daughter of George Mentzer on the 1900 census. According to the census, Susan M was born Feb 1873 in Kansas.
She lived in Sheanandoah, Page County, Iowa after 29 Sep 1902.15
Susan died on 6 Jan 1909 at the age of 35 in Sheanandoah, Page County, Iowa.1,3,5,8,16–21
She was buried after 6 Jan 1909 at Yates Center Cemetery in Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas.1,3–5,16Susan May Mentzer and Charles Edward Tunnicliff were married on 29 Sep 1902 in Fort Morgan, Morgan, Colorado, United States.1,15,22–25
Charles Edward Tunnicliff was born on 26 Sep 1874 in Page, Iowa, United States.26–27
He lived in Sheanandoah, Page County, Iowa after 29 Sep 1902.15
He registered for the military draft on 12 Sep 1918 in Shenandoah, Page, Iowa, United States.28
Charles lived in Grant Township, Page, Iowa, United States in 1920.29
He died on 26 Dec 1963 at the age of 89 in Sheanandoah, Page County, Iowa.26
He was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sheanandoah, Page County, Iowa.261. “Tunnicliffe,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 15 January 1909, page 5; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 22 January 2020).
2. , Center drive, east of gazebo by road (Doc. #: Mentzer.KS.001), Yates Center Cemetery, , .
3. , (Doc. #: Mentzer.KS.007), .
4. , Obituary Clipping (N.p.: saved by Mrs. Pauline Briles, n.d.), [Page].
5. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online April 2017), memorial for Susie May Mentzer Tunnicliff (1873-1909), Find a Grave Memorial no. #67218389, created by RisingSun, citing Yates Center Cemetery, Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States; accompanying photograph by RisingSun, Susie May Mentzer Tunnicliff.
6. George Mentzer (Company C, 24th Regiment Massachuses Infantry), pension no. WC 741.913, Case FIles of Approved Pension Applications, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. Mentzer, George, Family Bible of Emeline Minnick Mentzer (no place: no publisher, no date); Doris Ryan, Yates Center, KS, Susan May Mentzer born Feb 28 1873 Woodson Co., Kansas
8. “Obituary – Mentzer,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 26 January 1912, image 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed onlnie August 2018).
9. , “The George Mentzer Family,” In the Beginning, Woodson County Historical Society, 3 No. 11 (July 1970): p. 9-12.
10. History of Allen and Woodson Counties Kansas (Iola, Kansas: Iola Register, Printers and Binders, 1901), page 712; digital images, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com viewed online 3 September 2023.
11. 1880 U.S. Census, Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas, ED 56, Page 9, Image 3 of 9, household 97, Geo Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication T9
12. 1885 Kansas Census, Neosho County, State Census, Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas, page 1, Image 1 of 31, line 25, George Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2018); Kansas State Historical Society
13. 1895 Kansas State Census, Woodson County Kansas, Kansas State Census, Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas, page 8 (image 12 of 51), Image 12 of 51, Household 5, Geo Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online June 2017); Kansas State Historical Society
14. 1900 U.S. Census, North Township, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas, ED 184, sheet 21B, Image 42 of 46, household 464, George Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); FHL microfilm: 1240503
15. “Yates Center News”, (Yates Center, Kansas), to (), “Married,” 10 Oct. 1902, page 5, column 2 (Doc. #: Mentzer.KS.012); ,
16. , (Doc. #: Mentzer.KS.001), .
17. Mentzer, George, Family Bible of Emeline Minnick Mentzer (no place: no publisher, no date); Doris Ryan, Yates Center, KS, Susie May Mentzer Tunnicliff passed away Jan 6 1909 age 35
18. “Died – Mentzer,” undated clipping, 1927, from unidentified newspaper; Crawford Family Papers, saved by Pauline Briles and passed down to Marcia Philbrick; privately held 2021 by Marcia Crawford Philbrick, 803 N. 8th, Seneca, KS 66538. likely from Yates Center newspaper.
19. “Obituary – Fred Mentzer”, Yates Center News, (Yates Center, Kansas), 27 May 1943, page 8, photocopy Y37; Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS.
20. Death notice, Yates Center Argus (Yates Center, Kansas), 8 January 1909, page 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 19 October 2024).
21. “Tunnicliff,” Woodson County Advocate (Yates Center, Kansas), 22 January 1909, page 5; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 19 October 2024).
22. Entry; , (George Mentzer Notebook); in (Yates Center, Kansas: Woodson County Historical Society). CITATION based on TMG Source
23. History of Woodson County Kansas. (Dallas, Texas: Curtis Media Corporation, 1987) “Mentzer, George Family” p. 198-199.
24. “Local News,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 10 October 1902, page 5; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 13 March 2022).
25. “Colorado, County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006,” Ancestry.com (ancestry.com : Fort Morgan, Morgan County, Colorado, viewed online (13 March 2022), Susan B. Mentzer; Colorado Marriages, State Archives, Denver, Colorado.
26. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online May 2017), memorial for Charles Edward Tunnicliff (1874-1963), Find a Grave Memorial no. #121837738, created by DDavis, citing Rose Hill Cemetery, Shenandoah, Page County, Iowa; accompanying photograph by DDavis, Charles Edward Tunnicliff.
27. Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1940, Charles Edward Tunnicliff, 26 September 1874; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online May 2017). Original Source: Iowa State Historical Society.
28. “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database, Ancestry (Ancestry.com : viewed online May 2017), Charles Edward Tunnicliff.
29. 1920 U.S. Census, Page County, Iowa, population schedule, Ward 3 Shenandoah City, Grant Township, Page County, Iowa, ED 106, Sheet 3B, Image [Image] of [ImageTotal], dwelling 72, Mary E Tunnicliff; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online April 2018); NARA Microfilm Publication T625
Thanks ChatGPT for your help with this blog post!
Fantastic find! And what a helpful obituary…
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