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Facts and Events
| Name |
Riley Oratio Laughner |
| Alt Name |
William Riley Oratio Laughner |
| Gender |
Male |
| Birth? |
12 Oct 1868 |
Boone, Iowa, United States |
| Marriage |
24 Sep 1890 |
Boone, Indiana, United Statesto Lula Etta Ottinger |
| Death? |
25 Dec 1969 |
Whitestown, Boone, Indiana, United States |
| Burial? |
|
Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, Boone, Indiana, United States |
Riley lived with his parents during the 1870 and 1880 US Federal Censuses.
Given name William comes from wife Lula's Death Certificate.
References
- Riley Oratio Laughner, in Find A Grave.
Riley married Luetta Ottinger Sept 24, 1890 in Boone Co, Indiana.
Family Members
Parents
Ambrose Miller Laughner
1835–1921
Roanna Nease Laughner
1839–1904
Spouse
Luetta E. Ottinger Laughner
1875–1930
Siblings
Sarah Laughner Goodwin
1859–1952 (m. 1878)
Fidella Caroline Laughner Etter
1860–1940
Centrilla Laughner Shoemaker
1862–1944
Children
Verner Rushton Laughner
1891–1962
Audra Marie Laughner Hull
1895–1981
Mardelle Imogene Laughner Kouns
1915–2003
- Boone, Indiana, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T623)
Worth.
RI* Laughner 31
Lula E Laughner 25
Verner R Laughner 8
Audra M Laughner 5
- Boone, Indiana, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T624)
Worth.
R O Laughner 42
Lula E Laughner 35
Verne R Laughner 18
Audra Laughner 14
- Boone, Indiana, United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T625)
Worth.
Riley O Laughner 51
Lulu E Laughner 45
Audra M Laughner 24
Mardelle J Laughner 4 [4 5/12]
- Boone, Indiana, United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T626)
Worth.
Riley O Laughner 61
Mardelle Laughner 14
- Boone, Indiana, United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T627)
Worth.
Riley O Laughner 71
Charles V Kouns 24
Mardelle Kouns 24
Patricia Lou Kouns 4
- Indiana, United States. Death Certificates, 1899-2011. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015).
Name: Riley O Laughner
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 101
Birth Date: 12 Oct 1868
Birth Place: Ind
Death Date: 25 Dec 1969
Death Place: Lebanon, Boone, Indiana, USA
Marital Status: Widowed
Father: Ambrose Laughner
Mother: Roanna Deese
- Roush, Lester Le Roy. History of the Roush (Rausch) family in America. (Strasburg, Virginia: Shenandoah Publishing House, 1928-1979)
p.285.
Riley O. Laughner died Dec. 25. 1969, aged 101. after only a month's illness, the only serious illness he had ever had. He had been a farmer retiring at the age of 85. He was buried at Oak Hill Cem., Lebanon, Ind. He had been an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Whitestown, and had taught Sunday School until he was 94. He was on the building committee when the present church was built and formerly sang in the choir. He also played in the Whitestown Band. He was an avid reader keeping abreast of the times. His outward appearance defied his years; his laugh was infectious; and he was an inspiration to all who knew him.
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005693656
- Riley Oratio Laughner 12 October 1868 – 25 December 1969 • KD3D-JVK, in FamilySearch Family Tree.
Riley Oratio Laughner
1868–1969 • KD3D-JVK
Marriage: 24 Sep 1890
, Boone Co., IN
Lula Etta Ottinger
1875–1930 • LCMS-9R4
Children of Lula Etta Ottinger and Riley Oratio Laughner (3)
Verner Rushton Laughner
1891–1962 • K4DY-XWY
Audra Marie Laughner
1895–1981 • KDS1-KJ7
Mardelle Imogene Laughner
1915–2003 • L27W-LNV
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KD3D-JVK
- Riley O.Loughner "Swappy".
He was a Lutheran, a democrat, a farmer, and a musician -- probably in that order. He was one of Whitestown's most upstanding citizens, and he lived to be 101 years old. He was Riley O. Laughner. He was born on October 12, 1868; and he died on Christmas Day in 1969. He was as faithful, too, in his church attendance as he was in his appearances at the polls. In fact, he taught Sunday school until he was 94 years old. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Whitestown and was a member of the original committee which planned the erection of the church in 1904 He attended church every Sunday until he was one hundred years old. (After that he watched services on television.) He sang in the church choir for many years and was a member of the quartet. He spent some time as a member of the church council.
Concemed about the spirit and welfare of youth, Mr. Laughner once made a promise to his Sunday school class.
“I'll give $100,” he said, “to any student of mine who goes on to become a minister.“
That was a promise he had to keep,
Many years after making the offer, when Riley was 91 years old to be exact, he paid that $100 to Rev. Lewis Westenbarger, who was himself 66 years old at the time. (Riley had forgotten his promise, but had come across a note among some papers that reminded him. He sat down immediately and wrote a check.)
Rev. Westenbarger, needless to say, was a bit surprised to hear from his old teacher and friend. He used the money to buy a new robe, surplice, and set of stoles.
Riley O. Laughner was a man of his word.
He was a very curious man who always kept -- and read – both the dictionary and the Bible, side by side. His loves were simple: his wife, his family, his church, his garden - children, books, words, and music. He loved birthday parties with the glee of a child, and the entire family celebrated everyone's birthday with joy The family all had pet names, and Riley's was “Swappy” which is what the grandchildren always called him.
His own life was a happy one for the most part, though tragedy did strike twice. His wife Lulu (Ottinger) died at the age of 54, leaving Riley with three cilldren: Verner, Audra, and Mardelle, Mardelle, the youngest, was a freshman in high school when her mother died.
Verner died in 1962, and Mr, Laughner never really got over the fact that a child had preceded him in death,
The son of Ambrose and Roanna (Nease) Laughner, Riley was himself one of 11 children. A number of the children lived to be octogenarians and nonagenarians.
He was the only one to reach the century mark.
As to what be attributed his longevity to, Mr. Laughner did not say, except to state that “I don't drink or smoke. I figure that I should take care of this body that God gave me.
He never worked on the Sabbath, and he always felt it was sinful to do so. Stern in faith, he was kind in spirit. Mr Laughner was “into” ecology long before the word became used.
Page 12 - Boone Magazine - October 1978
http://whitestownhistory.com/peoplefamilies.html
- Boone, Indiana, United States. 1950 U.S. Census Population Schedule
Worth.
Riley O Laughner 82 Head
Charles V Kouns 35 Son-in-law
Mardelle Kouns 34 Daughter
Patricia L Kouns 14 Granddaughter
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