Hugh McDermitt Caton

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jun 6 2022, 0:49:28 UTC

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HUGH M. CATON

Hugh M. Caton, deceased, was the son of Noah Caton, who was born in North Carolina, and when about four years old accompanied his parents to Kentucky, from whence they subsequently came to Warren county, Missouri. After attaining manhood he married Miss Fanny McDermid, who was a Kentuckian by birth, her father also being an early settler of Warren county, this state. Up to the age of seventeen years, Hugh M. lived at home in Warren county, then moving with his family to Carroll county in 1834, where he resided until 1837. While a resident of that locality, and during the season of 1837, he and his mother made a trip on horseback to Little Osage, in Vernon county, and became so favorably impressed with the locality that it was not a great while until their permanent settlement here. Previous to this time two sisters of Mrs. Caton had become resident of this county, one having married Moses Summers and the other Jesse Summers, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. January 1, 1839, Mr. Caton decided to remove to this section, which he did in March following, the father locating north of Nevada. Of his large family of children, ten grew to maturity: Christopher P.; Hugh M.; Jesse H., who went to Oregon in 1842; William S.; Elizabeth; Susan, wife of Thomas Myers; Roselle, who married first Isaac Jones, and after his death Sylvester Fuller; Nelson B.; Caroline, Mrs. John Wray; and Hester, wife of James Moore. After remaining here two years our subject returned to Carroll county, but in 1854 again came back. August 22, 1842, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Harvey, a native of Alabama, daughter of Ebenaezer and Sarah Harvey. Mr. and Mrs. Caton had a family of six children: Frances, wife of A. J. Longacre; Charles; Theresa, Mrs. William P. Barnett; John W.; Mary, wife of W. H. Parman; and Lee. Mr. Caton and wife were members of the M.E. Church South.

[History of Vernon County, Missouri, 1911; page 717. Transcribed by NThompson.] _________

DEAD IN BED.
Sudden Death of the Venerable Hugh M. Caton.
Attended the Old Settler's Reunion and Then Returned Home.
His Last Meeting with Earthly Friends -- The Wife's Terrible Discovery -- He Passed Peacefully Away.

Yesterday the old settlers of Vernon county held one of the most enjoyable meetings in the history of the county.

Among the pioneers in attendance was Hugh M. Caton.

Today he is a corpse. This announcement will tinge the horizon of happiness of that meeting with sorrow, as his death was so sudden and unexpected.

                   FOUND DEAD IN BED.

After Mr. Caton had attended the old settlers' meeting he returned home in Drywood township, and, up to the hour of retiring for the night, was feeling well for a man of his advanced years, but before retiring he remarked to his venerable wife that he felt a strange feeling about his heart. The couple occupied separate beds in a room at the time. The wife was not the least apprehensive of the terrible realization that was to follow. Upon her arising this morning, and, after getting breakfast and doing other morning routine work, she went to awaken her husband. He was apparently peacefully sleeping, but it was the calm sleep of death. He did not respond to her calls--he was dead. He had died peacefully, there being no evidence of pain or struggle. In his hand was a handkerchief, as though in life.
__________* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 29 2022, 19:16:13 UTC