Shelby County Indiana History and Genealogy, Obituaries

Shelby County Indiana
Obituaries

Midkiff

The Shelbyville News
August 1, 1959
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Mrs. Helena F. Midkiff, 82, died 4:00 a.m., R. R. 6, Liberty township, her home.
Born March 5, 1877, d/o Greenbury and Margaret Anne Burgess.
Married William R. Midkiff December 5, 1894; he died October 3, 1949.
Survivors: a number of nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by one sister and three brothers.
Lifelong resident of Shelby county.
Member Mt. Pisgah Church and Aid Society of the church.
Ewing Mortuary.
Services: Rev. John Morris and Rev. R. C. McNeely officiating.
Burial: Mt. Pisgah Baptist church cemetery.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville News
Mon., Aug. 9, 1954
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Mrs. Midkiff Succumbs at 85
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Funeral Wednesday For County Native
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Mrs. Florence Midkiff, 85, county native, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Harry E. Bingham of Downers Grove, Ill., early Sunday morning after an illness of one year. She had been in a serious condition for two weeks.
Born August 5, 1869, she was the daughter of Liberty and Margaret (Newton) Seely. She was married to John Midkiff who preceded her in death in 1935. Survivors with the daughter include two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Fox of Waldron and Mrs. May Fox of this city; two cousins, Mrs. Frank House of this city and Mrs. Fred Washburn of Waldron, and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Midkiff was a lifelong resident of the Waldron community and was a member of the Waldron Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at the church Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Kenneth Neuenschwander officiating. Interment will be in Temple Hill Mausoleum. Friends may call at the Carmony Funeral Home in Shelbyville after 2:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 11:00 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the church.
Contributed by Carolyn Hoffman

The Shelbyville News
Monday, October 3, 1949
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RETIRED FARMER DIES NEAR CITY
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William Midkiff Succumbs After Lengthy Illness
----------           An illness of several years resulted in the death of William R. [Riley] Midkiff, retired farmer, at 9:00 o'clock this morning. Mr. Midkiff , whose death occurred at his home on rural route 6 near the Mt. Pisgah Church was 74 years of age.
          He was born in Liberty township on August 10, 1875, and was a lifelong resident of Shelby county. He was the son of Kimball E. and Amanda (Chapman) Midkiff.
          MR. MIDKIFF was an active member of the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church so long as his health permitted and had several official posts in the church.
          In 1894 he was married to Helen Burgess who survives with two sisters, Mrs. Louella Eubank of Liberty township, and Mrs. Linnie McLaughlin of Morristown. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
          Funeral rites will be held at the late home Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock. Burial in charge of the Ewing mortuary, will be in the Mt. Pisgah cemetery. Friends may call at the late home after noon Tuesday.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming for Carl Midkiff

The Shelbyville News
Monday, February 28, 1949
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MRS. MIDKIFF DIES AT HOME
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Local Woman Dies After
Illness of Four Months
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   Ill since last November with a complication of diseases, Mrs. Ethel P. Midkiff, age 66, died at her home at 516 S. Miller St., Sunday morning at 11:10 o'clock.
          Mrs. Midkiff, the widow of Scott Midkiff, was a native of Shelbyville. She was the daughter of Lewis C. and Izora Gulley Harney and was born on September 14, 1882.
          HER MARRIAGE to Mr. Midkiff took place on February 19, 1900, and his death occurred in 1927. Five children were born to the union and three survive. They are Mrs. Myrtle Ash of this city; Mrs. Paul Maxwell of Cincinnati, O., and Carl Midkiff of near Indianapolis. A son, Capt. Kimble Midkiff, was killed in action of World War in Italy on February 3, 1944, and a daughter, Helen, died in 1934.
          Surviving with the children are three sisters, Mrs. John Kuhn of this city; Mrs. Albert Banschbach of Florida and Mrs. Robert Fair of Greenfield; 11 grandchildren and an aunt, Mrs. Ora Youngsman of Shelbyville.
          Mrs. Midkiff was a member of the First Baptist Church, the local American Legion auxilliary and the Shelby county chapter of War Mothers.
          Funeral services will be held at the Murphy Mortuary Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. with Dr. Walter r. Hand officiating. Burial will be made in the Mt. Pisgah cemetery. Friends may call at the mortuary.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming for Carl Midkiff

The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday, March 23, 1944
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MEMORIAL PLANNED
FOR CAPT. MIDKIFF
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Rite Will Be Held Sunday Afternoon
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   Memorial services for Captain Kimble Midkiff, son of Mrs. Ethel Midkiff, who was killed in action in Italy on February 5, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at the First Baptist Church.
          Rev. Walter Hand, pastor of the church, will be in charge of the services and will be assisted by Dr. A. E. Cowley, of Cincinnati, former pastor of the church, and Dr. C. A. Bowler, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming for Carl Midkiff

The Shelbyville Republican
Tuesday, February 29, 1944
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CAPT. MIDKIFF
COUNTY'S 18TH
WAR CASUALTY
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Young Man, Son of Mrs. Ethel Midkiff,
Killed in Italian Campaign Feb. 5
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Capt. Kimble Midkiff, son of Mrs. Ethel Midkiff, of 518 south Miller St., has been killed in action, according to a telegram received last night by relatives from the War Department.
          No details connected with the young officer's death were revealed in the War Department notification. The young man, who was graduated from the local high school with the class of 1938, was a member of the regular army prior to war and has been in service five years. He was commissioned soon after the outbreak of the war.
Killed on Feb. 5
          Capt. Midkiff who served in the north African and other sections of the Mediterranean theater during the past two years, was killed on February 5, the War Department announcement said.
          He is the eighteenth young man from Shelby county to make the supreme sacrifice.
          Survivors, besides the mother, are two sisters, Mrs. William Ash, with whom the young man and his mother made their home during his boyhood, and Mrs. Paul Maxwell, Cincinnati, and a brother, Carl Midkiff.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming for Carl Midkiff

The Shelbyville Republican
Monday, November 12, 1934
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APOPLEXY FATAL TO JOHN MIDKIFF
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Widow, Daughter, Brother, Sisters
Survive Liberty Township Farmer
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FUNERAL RITES TUESDAY
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John R. Midkiff, farmer of Liberty township, dropped dead in the community hall in Waldron Saturday night at 9:30 o'clock. Coroner Thomas Cartmel was called and he stated that death was due to apoplexy. Earlier in the evening Mr. Midkiff had said that he did not feel well, but he joined in the dancing of a quadrille, after being "dared" to do so by a friend. The dance was sponsored by the merchants of that community.
Mr. Midkiff was born May 15, 1870, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Midkiff, being at the time of death 64 years of age. On October 13, 1892 he was married to Miss Florence Seeley, who survives. Besides the widow, the deceased leaves one daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Amos, of Detroit, Michigan; two sisters, Mrs. John Reese and Mrs. Bertha Mahan, both of Liberty township, and one brother, Alvin Midkiff, of Shelbyville. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Waldron and the Encampment.
Funeral services will be held at the late home Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock, with the Rev. E. E. Weaver and the Rev. Leo S. Lovell, both of Waldron officiating. Burial will be in the Mausoleum, in charge of Ezra Carmony, funeral directors. The Odd Fellows lodge, No. 197, of Waldron, will be in charge of the closing service at the mausoleum.
Submitted by Barb Huff for Carolyn Hoffman

The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday afternoon, July 19, 1934
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HELEN B. MIDKIFF, 22
LOCAL MUSICIAN, DIES
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Following an illness of a month's duration, Miss Helen B. Midkiff, 22 years old, daughter of Mrs. Ethel Midkiff and well known musician of this city, passed away at the home of a sister, Mrs. Will Ash, 518 South Miller street, last night at 5:30 o'clock. Her death is the cause of deep sorrow to her many friends and relatives.
          Miss Midkiff was a graduate of the Shelbyville high school with the class of 1930 and was quite active in its music organizations, having been awarded the music medal for outstanding work and ability in this department. She was a member of the Midkiff orchestra and a voice student of Mrs. Jane Johnson Burroughs, of Indianapolis. The young woman was an active member of the First Presbyterian church, and for many years, sang in the church choir.
          The deceased was born in Liberty township on October 7, 1912, and was at the time of death 22 years, 9 months, and 16 days of age. Besides the mother, she leaves two brothers, Carl Midkiff of Seattle, Washington, and Kimball Midkiff at home; and two sisters, Mrs. Will Ash, at whose home she died, and Mrs. Paul Maxwell of South Tompkins street, this city.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming for Carl Midkiff

The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday January 26, 1911
Page 2     column 1
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Relatives in this county have received word of the death of John M. Midkiff, which occurred at his home in Arkansas City, Kansas, last Sunday. Death was caused by an attack of pneumonia. He was born August 11, 1836, on the farm now occupied by his brother, K. E. Midkiff, and located about four miles east of this city. Mr. Midkiff left Shelby county about thirty years ago, but has frequently visited relatives here since moving to Kansas.
Contributed by Barb Huff

A Crawford County Newspaper
Crawford County, Illinois
May 4, 1907
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Mrs. Jane Midkiff whose maiden name was Keck was born in Longehalia, Va., Oct. 27, 1829 and died at her home May 4, 1907 aged 77 years, 6 mos. and 7 days. Moved from Va. to Shelby Co., Ohio with her parents. Married Samuel Midkiff Jan. 13, 1848 at Shelbyville, Indiana. She leaves 2 brothers Reason and George Keck and a sister Mrs. Lucinda Haworth. Moved in 1853 from Indiana to their farm southeast of Robinson. Here they lived and raised their family. In the year 1882 they moved to Robinson. Had 7 children, all living: Mrs. Henrietta Noe (might be Nee) of Richland Co., Dr. Midkiff of Newton, Wm.H. Midkiff of Washington; D.K. Midkiff of Robinson; Benj. H and Samuel Porter Midkiff of Missouri and Mrs Lucinda Apple of this city.
Contributed by John Addison Ballard

MIDKIFF, Lee (of Shelbyville) / Accidental death of, N. 1-9-1885. p 2, c 3.
From the Indianapolis Newspapers Database, 1848-1991

The Shelby Democrat
Thursday January 8, 1885
Page 3 column 2
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Newton Cooper received a dispatch from Robinson, Illinois, Monday morning announcing the death of Lee Midkiff, of Liberty township. His remains arrived here that evening and the funeral will take place Tuesday at Mt. Pisgah.
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Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
Lee Midkiff
July 23, 1864 - January 4, 1885
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Submitted by Barb Huff

The Shelby Democrat - Volunteer
Thursday, March 18, 1880
Page 3 column 2
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DEATH OF JAMES L. MIDKIFF
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James L. Midkiff , a prominent farmer of Liberty township, died at his residence on last Tuesday morning. The deceased was well known to many of our readers as one of the most correct and substantial citizens in the county. We attended the funeral on yesterday which was one of the largest ever seen in the county. The Odd Fellows took charge of the remains and buried him with ceremonies of the order. Rev. John Reece preached an able and pathetic sermon on the occasion.
[Buried Mt. Pisgah Cemetery]
Submitted by Barb Huff

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