“A Premonition Death Was Near”
Fort Scott, Kansas newspaper 16 Mar 1906
(from Pipkin Association newsletter)

H. M. Pipkin worked all night – went home and died 

Called His Children Home
Feeling badly, but condition was not alarming – died in short time
Brother of Mrs. Eph Kepley

H. M. Pipkin, the government contractor who has charge of the transportation 
of mails to and from the postoffice, died suddenly at 9 o’clock this morning. 
The end came at his home, No. 115 South Main street while he was lying on a 
couch and within two hours after he had returned home from his work. The 
announcement of his death was rather a surprise to his many friends, as they 
knew he had not been sick, and they considered the affair strange. Mr. Pipkin 
had worked all night and when Fred Bakeman, night mailing clerk at the 
postoffice, at 1 o’clock this morning said he was in his usual good health.

That the deceased had a premonition of death, there seems to be no doubt. He 
went home about 7 o’clock and going up to his wife, informed her that he was 
feeling badly, but she gave his illness no serious consideration. He laid 
down on the couch, not retiring in his usual way and in a short time he again 
spoke to his wife and asked her to send for the children who had gone to work; 
Miss Laura works at the Famous, Miss Maude at Glaze and Lewis’ and Miss Minnie 
at Kress & Co.’s. When he asked that they be sent for Mrs. Pipkin became 
alarmed, although she could still see nothing serious in his condition. A 
doctor was sent for and when he arrived, Mr. Pipkin was all but unconscious. 
He had fallen into a stupor. Medical assistance was on no avail and he died 
at 9 o’clock. His children arrived home before he died, but life was too far 
gone for him to recognize any of them. The circumstances of his death are 
strange and unusual. The doctor pronounced his death due to kidney trouble. 
There is a probability that there was an attack of apoplexy or heart failure.

The deceased was a man who was well liked in this city by all who knew him. 
During his four years residence in this city he has met with misfortune. 
About a year ago one of his children died and most of the family were sick 
at the same time. The deceased was a native of Missouri, having been born 
near Springfield 47 years ago July 2 next. For twenty-seven years he had 
been a resident of this county, until four years ago when he was given the 
government contract of transporting the mails. He lived on a farm near Devon. 
He was brother of Mrs. Eph Kepley who resides in the northern part of the 
county and one of the prominent women of this section. The announcement of 
his death was a blow to the workmen at the postoffice department, all of 
whom were his warm personal friends.

The deceased is survived by a grief stricken wife who has been sick herself 
for some time, and six children, five daughters and one son. The body will 
be sent to Devon tomorrow morning on the 7:30 Missouri Pacific train, and 
the funeral will occur from the Methodist Church there at 11 o’clock. Rev. 
Caldwell will probably conduct the funeral. Interment will be made in the 
Dayton Cemetery near there.