Obituaries from Butler County, Ohio
Part V

Death stilled the busy and contented hands of a mother and lovable woman when it brought an end to the life of Mrs. Gertrude Pressler, 48, wife of Earl Pressler of 401 Young Street.
Mrs. Pressler passed away at eight o'clock at Middletown Hospital, where she was taken Tuesday when her condition reached a critical stage. Bedfast most of the time during the last five weeks with complications resulting from influenza, Mrs. Pressler sank rapidly.
Exhibiting the same courage which she displayed in her daily life, Mrs. Pressler took her illness uncomplainingly and because of that fortitude the seriousness of her condition was not realized by her family.
Born in Middletown, Mrs. Pressler, was reared, married, and reared her own family here, into these children she instilled the fine principles of womanhood for which she will be remembered by a large circle of friends.
Those who mourn with her husband are eight children, Earl, Russell, Carlton, Majel, Melva, Charles, Bertha and Eileen, two sisters, Mrs. Oscar Stoops and Floyd Ruble, of Middletown, and one brother Edward Monjar of Miamisburg.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock at the late residence. Dr. H. E. Armacost of the Broadway M. E. Church which she attended many years, will officiate. Burial will be made in Woodside Cemetery.

Neal Pressler, 71, 4007 Coles Road, died at his residence Monday at 11:30 following an operation formed a month ago.
He was an Armco veteran, having worked at Central Works for 10 years and at East Side for 28 years. He was born in Miamisburg and removed to Middletown 65 years ago.
He was a devout member of the Holy Trinity Church and the Holy Name Society.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Pressler, and three stepchildren, Bernard A. Smith, Clarence F. Smith, and Mrs. Louise Augspurger.
Friends may call at the residence Tuesday evening. The Holy Name Men's Society will meet at the residence Tuesday at 8 P.M. Services will be conducted Wednesday at 9 A.M. at the Holy Trinity Church. Burial will be in St. Stephens Cemetery, Hamilton.

Levi Pressler, of this city, died last night in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Dayton. He was an old resident of this city, but born in Germantown, Ohio, 77 years ago. He was well known and much esteemed by a great number of people here in Middletown.
The funeral will be held at the residence of his son at 911 Grand Avenue, this city, on Wednesday at 2 o'clock. Wilson and Son are in charge of the arrangements and the interment will be in Woodside cemetery.

Newton Pressler, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Seaberry Pressler, of Bellmount Street, received injuries in the Big Four yards, late last night which resulted in his death at 4:30 this morning. The injured man passed away a short time after his left leg had been amputated by Dr. D. B. Bundy. Pressler with Charles Jackson and another companion whose name cannot be learned, went to Franklin on the 10:40 Big Four train, beating their way to our sister city on the head end of the fast express. They returned on the freight train that leaves Franklin at one o'clock making this city at 1:30. The railroad yards being dark, Pressler and his companions did not notice the approach of a southbound train. Pressler, jumping off in front of the north bound train, being struck by the engine and hurled in under the train from which he had leaped only a minute before. As Pressler jumped he saw the danger before him and in a loud voice yelled to his companions to stay aboard.
When the train stopped in front of the depot, Jackson said the young man who was with him got off and walked back into the yards in search of Pressler. They found his mangled body in front of the freight depot. They notified the operator and the train crew of the accident and the injured man was carried to the depot, later taken to Dr. Bundy's office. His left leg was smashed and broken in two places and his head and face was badly cut. After a consultation between Dr. Bundy and other physicians who were called, it was decided to amputate the leg, the operation proving fatal. After death the body was removed to Wilson's morgue where it was viewed this morning by Coroner McHenry, and later removed to the home of his parents in the east end. The story of the accident as told by the men who were on the train with Pressler is as above related. The dead man was only a short time discharged from the regular army. The accident proved a terrible shock to the parents. The funeral will be held from the residence at 9 o'clock Saturday morning.

Seabury Pressler is dead at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jacob Snider, New Paris, Ohio.
The deceased was born in Miamisburg, 77 years ago and is survived by two sons and five daughters.
The body will be brought to the home of the son, Earl Pressler, 1207 Askew Street, this city.
Funeral arranements will be announced later. Undertaker Howard A. Wilson in charge.

A final tribute to the love and esteem of a sorrowing community was paid by a large concourse of friends to Mrs. Helen Marie Pressler, wife of Earl Pressler at the First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon. A mass of flowers was placed on the bier of the young wife and mother. In her arms was her infant daughter, Pauline, who passed away one week before the mother.
Rev. W. H. Thompson of the Church of Christ, having had close associations with Mrs. Pressler, through her activities at the Church of Christ, spoke highly of her life in the church and in her home. Rev. F. A. Stiles of First Baptist Church, of which Mr. Pressler is a member, assisted in the service by offering an impressive prayer.
Mrs. Karl Wenzel sang "Abide with Me" very sweetly and tenderly. Acting as pallbearers were the close friends of the deceased: Misses Bess Bowman, Mayrena Fanning, Mildred Logan, Imo Ingall, Irene Murphy and Mrs. H. M. Logan. Interment was made at Woodside cemetery.

Ill only since Friday, Mrs. Martha Louise Pressler, 32, wife of Russell Pressler of 2408 Hill Ave., died at 6 a.m. today at Middletown Hospital from complications of pneumonia and heart disease.
Mrs. Pressler had been in poor health a number of years following a serious illness when her life was despaired. She recovered, however, and devoted herself to her home and church work when her health permitted.
Born and educated in Middletown where she was an outstanding and popular student.
Mrs. Pressler's last illness, beginning with a slight cold, had not been considered serious until Tuesday afternoon when she took a turn for the worse and was rushed to the hospital. Repeated illnesses, however, had so weakened her heart that she was not able to rally.
She was devoted to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Aldie Lloyd of Middletown, and her grandmother, Mrs. John Lloyd of Middletown. Around them and an aunt, Mrs. Alice Lloyd Lawler, Journal writer, Mr. and Mrs. Pressler and their young son, John, centered their lives.
Activities of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension provided her chief outside interest, and she worked zealously to promote its many endeavors.
Friends will be received at the McCoy-Leffler funeral home from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday.
The Rev. Hughes Garvin of the Church of the Ascension will officiate at services to be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery.

Local residents have returned from Bushton, Illinois, where they attended the funeral of Henry Lacy, 90, who died Sunday.
He was the father of Mrs. Powell Craft and A.D. Lacy, whose families attended the last rites Tuesday afternoon.
Born in Wolfe County, he established in Illinois early in life. On frequent visits here, he made many friends.

Less than two hours after he was struck by a car on Route 4 near Lesourdsville, Noel L. Craft, 28, of 1531 Central Aveue, died at Middletown Hospital at 3:20 a.m. Monday, according to the State Highway Patrol.
Patrolman C. H. Brown, who investigated the accident, said that Craft was struck at 1:30 a.m. by a car driven by Lewis H. Hursh, Jr., 20, 417 Yankee Road, as Craft and two companions were pushing a machine onto the highway. Craft was taken to the hospital by Hursh, Brown said.
His companion, Charles Hefflin, 326 Vandeveer Street, and Tom Hall, 107 Canal Street, told patrolmen that as they were pushing Hefflin's car onto the road, Hall called to Craft and told him "to watch out, here comes a car." Craft, they said, evidently became confused and ran directly into the path of Hursh's machine, Patrolman Brown said.
No charges were filed against Hursh.
Craft was employed at Gibby's Smokery.
Survivors are one daughter, Lela Craft, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Powell Craft; one brother, Percy; two sisters, Mrs. Beulah McIntire and Mrs. Lela Boast, all of Middletown.
Possible fractures of the skull and neck were reported to have caused Craft's death, attendants at hospital said.

Mason Lacy, of 311 North Clark Street, employed with the Adams Express company, died last evening at 11 o'clock. He was thirty-one years of age. A widow and two sons survive. The deceased was born in Kentucky. Funeral will be announced later.

Mrs. Lila Ann Wheeler, 68, of 1332 Woodlawn Ave., died at 7:20 a.m. Monday at Middletown Hospital. She became suddenly ill Saturday and was removed to the hospital Sunday morning.
Mrs. Wheeler was a resident of this community for about 30 years, coming here from Campton, Ky. She was a member of the First Church of God.
In the 30 years she made Middletown her home, Mrs. Wheeler became known in her church as an interested member who gave her utmost to many activities. She endeared herself to a large circle of her own and her family's acquaintance, all of whom found her personable and pleasant company.
She is survived by her husband, John B. Wheeler, one daughter, Cora A. Little, of Middletown; three sons, J. Brack Little, and Odas D. Nickell, both of Middletown; and Murphy M. Little, of Lexington, Ky.; five step-daughters, Mrs. Hazel Phillips, of Middletown; Mrs. Hattie Sewuell of Dayton; Mrs. Rosalee Williams, of Brea, Calif; Mrs. Margaret Fentress, of Laguna, Calif.; and Mrs. Capitoia Demsey of Whittier, Calif.; two step-sons, Homer Wheeler of Montana; and T.C. Little of Whittier, Calif.; four sisters, Mrs. Cora Roberts, Mrs. Joan Rose, and Mrs. Volla Patrick, all of Middletown; and Mrs. Nannie Smith, of Hazelgreen, Ky.; and 10 grandchildren.
Friends may call at the residence after 7 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be conducted at the residence at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. R. C. Caudill officiating. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery.

James Kent, seven-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Brack Little, of 13 Franklin Street, died Saturday morning, a victim of pneumonia. The baby, ill but a short time, expired at 3 a.m. at the family residence.
Two other children, Phyllis and Dale, are in the family and survive with the parents and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Hogg and Mrs. J. B. Wheeler.
The body will remain at the Wilson Funeral Home until Sunday morning when it will be removed to the residence.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. E. R.Turner, pastor of the United Brethern Church, Monday at 2:30 P.M. at the church. Burial will be made in Woodside Cemetery.

William H. Ashton, 80, died at 4:45 p.m. yesterday at Middletown Hospital. He had been making his home with his son, Spencer Ashton, 317 Vandeveer Street for the last several years.
A resident of this community for 30 years, Mr. Ashton had formerly been associated with the J. E. Parker and Company Producing Association and later operated the Ashton Producing company.
For 26 years Mr. Ashton had resided at a Fairmont Street address. He was a former member of the local Knights of Pythias Lodge and the Elks Lodge.
Besides his son Spencer, he is survived by another son, Richard, of Dayton; and one sister Mrs. Mary Appleton, of this city.
The family will receive friends at the J. R. Baker and Sons Funeral Home after 6 p.m. tomorrow. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. S. Hughes Garvin, officiating. Burial will be in College Corner Cemetery.

LEBANON, September 27
Services for John F. Watson, 81, who died at his residence in Lebanon Monday will be conducted at the Vale Funeral Home in Morrow at 2 p.m. Thursday, burial will be in the Taylor Chapel cemetery in Williamsburg, Ohio.
Mr. Watson is survived by three sons, John R. Watson and Perry E. Watson, both of Middletown, and Walter Watson of Honalulu, Hawaii; one daughter Ida Leonard of Lebanon; one sister, Mrs. Stella Malott of Williamsburg and two brothers, William Watson, Williamsburg, and Offie Watson of Beauford.

The funeral service for Mrs. Alpha Watson Stamm, 52,will be held Monday at 2:30 p.m., at the Unglesby Funeral Home. Burial will be in Woodhill Cemetery.
Mrs. Stamm died late Thursday at her home, 605 River Street.
Survivors are her husband, Howard Stamm, Sr., two step-daughters, Mrs. Hazel Smith, of Dayton, and Mrs. Helen Miller, of Franklin; four step-sons, Clifford, of Miami, Florida; Cecil, of Miamisburg, and Robert and Howard Stamm, Jr., both of Franklin; her father, Frank Watson, of Morrow and three brothers, Walter Watson, of Honalulu and Perry and John Watson, of Middletown.

Lewis Watson, 67, died at 10:25 a.m. today at the home of Mrs. Grace Fink of 100 South Sutphin Ave., where he had mad his home the past 13 years. Mr. Watson has been in failing health since October and bedfast the past five weeks.
Mr. Watson was a veteran of Armco for 27 years, retiring in 1948. He was a member of hte Odd Fellows of Monroe.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Gertrude McKinley, Mrs. Lula Lacey and Mrs. Grace Post; a son Ray Watson, all of this city; three brothers, Jimmie and Nelson Watson of Middletown and Walter,of Williamsburg, and several grandchildren.
Services are incomplete. Friends may call after noon Tuesday at the Joseph R. Baker and Sons Funeral Home.

Funeral services for John Nelson Watson three and one-half years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson D. Watson, of 817 Stanley Street who died at his home Friday noon, will be conducted at the residence at 2 p.m. Monday with the Rev. Reuben Pieters officiating. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery.
Surviving in addition to the parents are a brother, Aubrey, and a sister, Mrs. Madge Kindred, of Carlisle.
Friends may call at the residence after 8 p.m. Saturday.

Seburn W. Post, 1510 Penfield Avenue, died at Middletown Hospital at 1:15 p.m. Monday following an illness of several weeks. He was removed to the hospital two weeks ago from the Veterans Hospital, Dayton.
Mr. Post spent his entire life in the vicinity of Middletown and was for 19 years an assembler at Shartle Brothers Machine Company. He was a member of the Spanish American War Veterans Camp 58.
He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Edith Post; two sons, James and Albert; three daughters, Mary, Mrs. Tom McCain and Mrs. Robert Thomas; five grandchildren; three brothers, Harry, Ernest, Leonard, all of Middletown; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Smith, Middletown, and Mrs. James Binley, Franklin.
Friends may call at the J. R. Baker and Son Funeral Home after 7 p.m. Tuesday and the funeral will be conducted from the funeral home at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. H. H. Jung will officiate. Burial will be made at Woodside Cemetery.

Services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Mt. Pleasant Church for Charles Morrow Carver, 46 years old, 1917 Manchester Avenue.
Mr. Carver, who was superintendent of the R. D.Stevens company, died at 1:05 o'clock yesterday morning at his home. He had been active with the Stevens company until last November when he was taken sick.
He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church, Alpha council, Junior Order and Middletown Moose lodge 301. Surviving him are the widow and four children, Clarence, Lester, Raymond,and Carl; one grandaughter; one brother William Carver district Dayton fire chief, and one sister, Mrs. Lelia Johnson of Dayton.
Burial is to be made at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Poastown.

Burns suffered December 13, when gasoline exploded at her home, 120 Franklin Street, proved fatal to Mrs. Susie Ashton, 51, wife of George H. Ashton, Saturday morning.
Mrs. Ashton died at 7:15 o'clock at the Middletown Hospital, where she was removed following the explosion. A leaking tank to the kitchen stove, allowed fumes to escape and caused explosive fumes when Mrs. Ashton struck a match.
She was spared being burned to death by Joseph Brinkley, a resident in the Ashton home, who heard Mrs. Ashton's screams and beat the flames from her dress. The severity of the burns was known from the first and for three weeks she waged a losing battle for life.
Mrs. Ashton was a native of Dayton, but had resided here many years. She is survived by her husband and three foster children, Mrs. Marjorie Miller, and Emery Ashton of Richmond, Indiana, and Miss Edna Mae Ashton, of Middletown, three sisters, Mrs. Callie Wolf of Miamisburg, Mrs. Dolly Blair and Mrs. Christina Riley of Dayton.
The body will remain at the McCoy mortuary until Monday afternoon when funeral services will be held at Methodist Protestant Church of which she was a member. Rev. I. M. McVey will officiate. Place of burial is undecided.

The John Ashton who died Saturday at Princeton, Ohio, from a dog bite is a cousin of George Ashton, residing in this city and not his father as was at first stated. John Ashton, father of George Ashton, of this city resides on Shafor Avenue, this city.

Daniel Weikel, one of Butler County's pioneer residents and prominent farmers died late Tuesday at his home, "the Weikel Farm," where he resided with his son, David, on the West Middletown-Trenton Road at the age of 99 years and seven days.
Born in Jacktown July 13, 1844, Mr. Weikel was the youngest of 10 children born to Elizabeth and Elizabeth Weikel, who moved to West Middletown from Allentown, Pa., in 1816. They were one of the first families to settle in what is now Madison Township. His family has resided there continuously for the past 127 years.
Married to Mary Ann Fall September 26, 1876, he brought his present farm on Christmas Day in 1876, three months after his marriage. Cultivating his farm from that time, Mr. Weikel retired in 1910.
One of the first stockholders in what is now Oglesby-Barnitz Bank, Mr. Weikel recalled many times for his friends the meager beginnings of the present organization.
Known as the only person who could describe the bank when it was a grocery store, he told of how farmers would give their money to George C. Barnitz to "store in the cash box." He was one of the first depositors with Barnitz in a bank that consisted of the grocery store's safe.
Vitally interested in the well being of community and national life, Mr. Weikel never missed voting except once in'76 when he was on his honeymoon. His wife died in 1918.
Having witnessed almost a century of growth and change in Middletown, the farmer moved to Middletown in 1910 where he lived until the death of his wife. He then returned to the Weikel farm to live with his son, David.
Year after year, his birthdays were celebrated by his family and friends and were anticipated by all as days of reminiscences when Mr. Weikel would tell of his boyhood days before the machine age revolutionized town and country.
Survivors include three sons, Charles, of National City, Calif.; David and Earl Weikel, of Dayton; three daughters, Mrs. Edna Graff and Mrs. Edith Schwab, of Middletown, and Mrs. Mamie Foley, of Covington, Ky.; 21 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
The funeral will be held Friday at 2:30 P.M. at the residence with the Rev. R. R. Weed officiating, assisted by Rev. S. A. Livingston. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery.

Mr. Joseph Stearns, aged 57, who died at the country home of Mr. and Mrs. John Iutzi, Western Slope farm near Lesourdsville yesterday morning, will be buried from the Iutzi home Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock. Rev. W. Hamil Shields will conduct the services. The interment will be in Woodside cemetery.
The deceased was a bachelor and went to work in this city in 1880 for Mr. Iutzi in the livery business and has lived ever since with Mr. Iutzi. He has been sick for about four years with a blood disease. He has two sisters living in this city, Mrs. Adam Miller and Mrs. Daniel Dietz, with a brother Mr.Charles Stearns, and one sister Mrs. Louise Zellers of Hamilton.

Daniel Dietz, 84, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lena Watson, Maple Park, yesterday at 3:30 p.m.
The deceased is survived by three daughters, Lena Watson, Mary Stork, and Lydia Weikel; five sons, John, Charles, Joseph, and Willie, of Middletown, and George, Honolulu; one brother Philip Dietz, and one sister, Mrs. Louise Overschmidt of Cincinnati.
The funeral will be held from the home of the daughter in Maple Park Monday at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Krumm officiating and Undertaker Joseph Baker in charge. Burial in Woodside cemetery.

Ralph Butterfield, 57, resident of Middletown until a year ago, passed away Wednesday morning from a heart attack at his home in Harbor City, Calif.
Mr. Butterfield was the son of the late Wendell Butterfield and of Elizabeth (Bessie) Butterfield of N. Broad St., Middletown.
He was born and raised in Middletown and was employed as an electrician at the American Rolling Mill Co. and by the Middletown Gas and Electric Co. He was a member of the Calvary Methodist Church.
Survivors include his mother; his widow, Zella; one brother, Charles of Arizona; seven sons, one daughter and 19 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday morning from the Gamby Mortuary at Lomita,Calif.

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� 1998, 1999, 2000 by David J. Endres
This site was created on August 12, 1998.

This site was updated 15 May 2000.