Person:Wesley Thorpe (1)

1900 U.S. Census shows Wesley Thorpe living in Warrensburg, Johnson Co. MO, as a boarder with Sam and Belle Hunter 1910 U.S. Census shows Wesley, age 32, living in Union Twp. Kiowa Co., KS, with wife Fannie E. (Adams), age 30, and son, Francis A., age 1, and daughter, Gwendolyn, age 2 mos. Occupation noted as farmer. Born in Denton, TX, 1877. His mother died when he was about 4. His father, Silas, remarried and his stepmother, Mary, was mean to Wesley and his brother, Walter. At one time, the stepmother hit Walter in the head with a cast iron skillet and his hearing was impaired for the rest of his life. Soon after moving back to Knob Noster, MO (c. 1886), he went to live with Samuel and Belle Hunter in Warrensburg, MO, where he made his home until age 25. The 1900 U.S. Census shows him living with Sam and Belle in Warrensburg, and working as a farm laborer. Encouraged by Jack Lemon, a Pratt, KS, banker and landowner, and trading on his experience working in grocery stores in his youth, Wesley came to Cullison, KS in about 1902, to open a general mercantile establishment. After two years, due to problems in getting his customers to pay their bills, he moved to Haviland, KS to begin farming and shipping and brokering livestock, . He pursued this occupation until his death. Last Will and Testament I, Wesley Thorpe, of Haviland, Kiowa County, Kansas being in sound health and of disposing memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and and all Wills heretofore by me made at any time, my Will is as follows: (1) I direct that my funeral expenses and just debts be paid by my executrix hereinafter named as soon after my decease as in convenient. (2) I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Fannie E. Thorpe all the property of which I may die seized and possessed both real and personal or mixed, to have and to hold, to be hers absolutely. (3) I do hereby nominate and appoint my wife Fannie E. thorpe the executrix of this my last Will and Testament and direct that se he not required to give bond. Witness my hand this 17th day of August 1934 at Haviland, Kansas s/Wesley Thorpe Signed by said Testator, Wesley Thorpe, as and for his last Will and Testament, in our sight and presence, who at his request and in his sight and presence and in the presence and sight of each other, have signed our names as attesting witnesses this 17th day of August 1934. s/ H. H. Beck s/ Willard A. Matthews s/ Bard E. Matthews

1. ↑ Silas Thorpe Family Bible.