Francis Rich 1834-1912

RICH, HUGHES, BONSALL, BALL, BRANSON, COWGILL, MACK, DARLINGTON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/16/2018 at 09:14:12

19 December 1912 - West Branch Times

Francis B. Rich died at his home on East Main street Wednesday morning, Dec. 18, at 12:40, after an illness of a few weeks duration.

The funeral will take place Friday morning at 10:00 o'clock at Friends Meeting House. Interment in the West Branch cemetery.

26 December 1912 - West Branch Times

Francis B. Rich, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Hughes) Rich, was born 8th Mo., 11th, 1834, at Catawessa, Pa., his parents dying when he was quite young left him to be reared in the home of his relatives, Edward Bonsall and wife of Salem, Ohio.

In 1855 he came to Iowa in company with John Leech, Lewis Hollingsworth, Sam Williams and Joe and Levi Bonsall, settling in Keokuk county until in 1857 when he removed to Kansas.

He was married to Anna Ball in 1858. They spent 12 years in Garden City, Kansas, where his wife died in 1900. Of the six children born to them only three are left. He married Sina A. Branson in 1906. His two daughters, who were at his bedside during his last sickness, were Mrs. Lewis Cowgill of San Francisco, Calif., and Mrs. George Mack of Garden City, Kansas, with her two children, Francis and George. His son, Edward, of Phoenix, Arizona, was not able to come on account of poor health. There were also two grandsons not present, Wm. Darlington of Kansas City and Glen Cowgill of San Francisco.

Francis Rich was a man universally loved on account of his congenial disposition, and has left a host of warm friends in each neighborhood where he has resided. He was a life long, consistent and useful member of the society of Friends, and the language seems to echo, "Follow me as I followed Christ."

His wife and many friends mourn the loss of a tender husband, a faithful and affectionate father, and the community one who was ever ready to lend a helping hand. Yet we do not mourn as those without hope, as he left the consoling evidence of being redeemed of the Lord.

He died 12th Mo., 18th, 1912, aged 78 years, 4 months and 7 days. The funeral took place at 10 a.m. at the Friends Meeting House (Conservative) the 20th. Interment in West Branch cemetery.