George Washington Holcomb

HOLCOMB, Geo. W. - Just before going to press information is received of the death of Dr. Geo. Holcomb which occurred yesterday at his home at Clinton, Mo. Deceased was a brother of Joe Holcomb and has many other relatives in this section, having resided here in early days. He leaves a wife and several children.

[The Springdale News 9/9/98)

(from The Clinton, Mo. Daily Democrat} Dr. G.W. Holcomb, one of the best known surgeons in Southwest Missouri, died very suddenly at his home in Clinton between 7 and 8 o'clock this morning. For several years the doctor has been in declining health. His indomitable will and nerve force alone kept him up when he knew as a physician that death was likely to come to him at any moment. Last winter he thought that he might not live until spring. He suffered from several maladies including heart trouble. During the past month his sufferings grew rapidly greater, and he freely told his friends that death was likely to occur at any moment. His own bodily feebleness confirmed his words. The doctor was forced to take to his bed Tuesday, but his indomitable will struggle against disease. On Wednesday afternoon he came up to town and on starting to answer a call in the north part of town he realized his dangerous condition and asked G.G. Avery to accompany him. On the way he was taken quite sick to the stomach and told Mr. Avery he was in a "mighty bad fix." At 5 o'clock this morning Dr. Holcomb arose and started downstairs. When within two or three steps of the bottom of the flight he stumbled and fell. His wife and daughter, Leona, hastening to his assistance, found him unconscious and carried him upstairs and laid him on the bed. He did not regain consciousness. As far as could be told he was uninjured save for a contusion which caused his nose to bleed. There were also one or two slight bruises on his face. His family did not at first experience any alarm but because he did not regain consciousness they sent a neighbor girl after his partner, Dr. Poague. Not finding the latter, Dr. J.J. Stephens was summoned but when he arrived life had been extinct from twenty to thirty minutes. The awful blow fell with crushing force on Mrs. Holcomb and her daughters. Though prepared by his warnings and by the visible encroachments of disease, the suddenness of his taking away well-nigh prostrated them. Dr. Holcomb was 48 years of age. He had lived in Clinton for over ten years and in the county for a much longer period. As a surgeon he was noted all over this section of the State, his practice extending into adjoining counties. He was President of the Henry County Medical Association. He leaves a widow, three daughters and a son. The latter, Benson, is a member of Co. F, Second Missouri Volunteers, now in camp at Lexington, Ky. The eldest daughter is the wife of Dr. G.W. Beatty, a well-known physician of Shawnee Mound. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America in which beneficiary order he carried a $2,000 life insurance policy. Dr. Stephens, Vice President of the Henry County Medical Society, requests that all physicians in the county attend Dr. Holcomb's funeral. {The remains were interred Saturday in the

cemetery at Calhoun, a town twelve miles Northeast of Clinton, the former home of D . Holcomb and family. The Woodmen Lodge held a short service at the family residence and notwithstanding the distance quite a few Clinton people accompanied the procession to Calhoun. Services were held there at the church, conducted by a minister of the C.P. Church at Clinton, and the people turned out end masse to pay tribute to their former townsman. There were many handsome floral offerings, and it could be seen that Dr. Holcomb was universally admired and respected. The deceased was born in Springdale and was a son of the old pioneer, Rev. John Holcomb, being the youngest of the family. He was a member of the C.P. church and leaves a wife and four children as follows: Mrs. George Beatty, age 22 years; Benson, age 20 years; Leona, age 17 years and Clara, age 10 years. There is also a son buried at Calhoun who died in his infancy. Benson was unable to be at the funeral, being stationed at Lexington, Ky. with the Second Regiment, Missouri volunteers. He arrived Saturday night however. [The Springdale News 9/16/1898]