Willard Wilber Padgett ^42,43

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  General Notes:

1) William G. Cutler's "History of the State of Kansas", BOURBON COUNTY, Part 13

W. W. PADGETT, attorney, was born in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, November 16, 1856, and came to Kansas in March 1869, with his parents, James S. and Adeline Padgett, and settled in Marion Township, Bourbon County. He received his education in the schools of the county, and after studying law at home for three or four years, he was admitted to the bar in May, 1882. He has since been associated in practice with Judge Limbocker.

From William G. Cutler's "History of the State of Kansas"


2) Kansas Legislators, Past and Present, surnames: Paa through Pez, A service provided by the State Library of Kansas compiled by Rita Haley, Sherrie Schulte and Lois Delfelder.

Name: Willard W. Padgett
Born:
Died:
Occupation:
County: Bourbon
Town: Fort Scott
Party: Republican
District: 21
Chamber: House 1907, SS1908
Notes:
_______________________________

3) Judge William Wilbur Padgett

William Wilbur Padgett was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, on November 16, 1855, and passed away in his home at Fort Scott on March 11, 1936. He came to Kansas and Bourbon County in 1869 when about 14 years old, and lived on a farm south and west of Redfield. His schooling was such as he could obtain in the country school and, I am told, in the Central School at Fort Scott. But he had the ambitions and dreams of all normal youth, and notwithstanding his limited education, resolved to prepare himself for the profession of law.
He began his study and preparation in the office of Judge J. M. Limbocker and was admitted to the bar sometime in 1886 or 1887.He entered into partnership with Judge Limbocker, which partnership lasted I think until Limbocker removed to Texas. Sometime after this he became a partner of the late W. P. Dillard, and this partnership was remained until about 1897 or 1898.
During his professional career he was City Attorney of Fort Scott for two years; member of the State Legislature from 1905 to 1907; and Judge of our Probate Court for two terms beginning in January, 1915 and ending in January, 1919. His services in all these positions were marked with faithfulness and ability.
He was a 32 degree Mason in the Scottish Rite, had received the honorary degree of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and had been elected at Washington to the 33rd degree but had never had in conferred. He was married in 1882 to Miss Laura A. Wood who still survives him.
He was a staunch Republican and believed firmly in the principles of his party, was active in its conventions and influential in its councils.
He was a great reader and a wonderfully industrious student, not only of the law, but also of other branches of useful learning. He mastered his cases and handled them skillfully and with more then the ordinary success. He made of himself a competent and able lawyer.
He was a good citizen - public spirited, with good judgment and a safe counselor.
About 1919 he sustained a serious accident from which he never recovered, and to add to his misfortune he lost his sight and for years before his decease, he was totally blind. But he continued to take great interest in all current events and got much satisfaction in listening to discussions over the radio.
He was honest, sincere, able and square, and reliable in all his dealings. He was modest and unassuming, methodical in his work, reasonable but firm in his convictions. He was a self-made man, a good lawyer and an honor to his profession.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and believed in the fundamental truths of the Christian religion.
He was 80 years old and about 4 months when he passed away.
If the court please, I much prefer to use the expression that he passed away rather then that he died. I have long been persuaded that the life in the body and which animates the body cannot end. The manifestations of life in the body certainly do end, leaving the body inert as in all other matter. But matter itself, though inert, is indestructible; and to my mind that which animates matter - the soul, the life, the something we do not see but which surely is, like matter, must be eternal and immortal.
During the long years of his affliction, Judge Padgett probably obtained a keener perception of the future than men engaged in the active affairs of life and in the consideration mostly of only material things. The long hours and days and years of quiet reflection, no doubt brought to him a larger comprehension of what life is, and its persistency after the physical body is no longer fit and adequate for its habitation. I have reason to believe that physical death long had no terror for him. He believed in God, the soul and its conscience immortality of non-ending progress and achievement under the guidance of Supreme Intelligence, infinite and eternal.
What is called death came to him as it will to all. He long fearlessly waited for the ship which was to take him into a benignant unknown. When it came to be embarked and sailed, he has crossed the bar. He has gone down in the ship to the sea, but
"When men go down to the sea in ships,
Tis not to the sea they go;
Some isles or pole the mariners' goal,
And tither they sail through calm and gale,
When down to the sea they go.

When souls go down to the sea by ship,
And the dark ship's name is Death,
Why mourn and wail at the vanishing sail?
Though outward bound, God's world is round,
And only a ship is Death.

When I go down to the sea by ship,
And Death unfurls her sail,
Weep not for me, for there will be
A living host on another coast
To beckon and cry, 'All Hail'."
Our brother Padgett and the other brothers we remember here today have seen the beckoning host. They have heard the cry "All hail". They have safely reached the shore, and are now among the countless number of departed souls immortal.

******************************************************
The State of Kansas, County of Bourbon, SS

I, Geo. T. Farmer, Clerk of the District Court, of the Sixth Judicial District within and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of Memorial to judge William Wilbur Padgett by John H. Crider as the same appears from the records of said court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Fort Scott, this 12th day of May, A.D. 1936.

/s/ Geo. T. Farmer
Clerk of the District Court

4) The Fort Scott Weekly Tribune Monitor, Thurs., 19 Mar. 1936

Career of Judge W W Padgett is Closed by Death

The Former Probate Judge and Member of Kansas Legislature Dies at 80

Delay Plans for Rites

The Funeral Has Not Been Set Pending Arrival of a Son From Pennsylvania; In Ill Health 4 Years

Judge Willard Wilber Padgett, 80, a resident of Bourbon County since 1869, member of the Kansas legislature from 1905 to 1907, and probate judge of Bourbon County from 1914-1916, passed away last night at 9:30 o'clock at the home, 601 South Osbun Street, occupied by the family for more then half a century.
Judge Padgett had been in failing health for the past four years following a crucial attack of pneumonia. He had been bedfast about a month. His devoted wife is a semi-invalid. A foster daughter, Mrs. Anna B. Matthews, has been with the family constantly.
Mr. Padgett is survived by his wife. Mrs. Laura A. Padgett, and one son, Frederick Warde Padgett of 15 East Ridley Road, Ridley Park, Pa. Mr. Padgett is with the chemical laboratories of the Sun Oil Company. He is expected to arrive here Saturday, when definite funeral arrangements will be made. Mr. Padgett also leaves four grandchildren and a foster granddaughter. Two children are deceased, a son, Raymond, and a daughter, Agnes. His brother, the late John Padgett, died two years ago.
Judge Padgett was one of the leading attorneys here, being a member of the Bourbon County Bar Association. He started his legal career as a young man, studying in the law office of J. M. Limbocker, probate judge about 1880. He was admitted to the bar about 1887. He first hung out his shingle in an office in the McCord brothers' building on Market Street.
In 1888 he formed a partnership with the late Judge W. P. Dillard and they were prominent as a firm until 1897, when the partnership was dissolved. The offices were located in the present Calhoun building. Two young attorneys who had office room there were State Senator Harry Warren and Ernest C. Blincoe, a member of the Kansas corporation commission.
Judge Padgett was a "dyed in the wool" Republican, as he expressed it. He was elected to the state legislature in 1905. Former Governor Stubbs was speaker of the house and it was during this time the Kansas primary law was passed. Speaker Stubbs several times called on Mr. Padgett to preside during discussion of the bill, as he was skilled in parliamentary practice. Judge Padgett server Bourbon County as probate judge form 1914 to 1916.
In 1919 he suffered a very serious accident when he was struck by a car while en route to a Methodist church meeting on that corner. His hip socket and the bone were badly injured. At this time his sight became impaired and for the past ten years he had been totally blind.
Despite his affliction, he kept in touch with world events. Others read to him complete accounts of cases, such as the Lindbergh case. Through the radio, too, he followed the changing political events, which he discussed with visitors. He took a deep interest in the Italian-Ethiopian War.
Mr. Padgett was made a Mason by Rising Sun Lodge No. 8 A. F. and A. M., July 16, 1893. He advanced to K. C. C. H. thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, being a member of the local consistory.
W. W. Padgett was the son of James and Addaline Carey Padgett. He was born near Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, on November 16, 1855. His age was 80 years, three months and 25 days. He came with his parents to Kansas in 1869. They traveled by rail as far as Kansas City, where they bought horses, wagons and farm equipment. Pushing on, they settled on a farm southeast of Uniontown. Mr. Padgett attended the Goff School and completed his schooling at the old Central School in Fort Scott.
His marriage to Miss Laura A. Wood took place in this city June 22, 1882. The couple celebrated their golden wedding at their home four years ago, when they received the tribute of hundreds of friends. Mr. Padgett was a devoted member of the Methodist Church. Many times he expressed the desire to once more attend church services, but for three years he has not even been out of doors.
Relatives here are two sisters-in-law, Miss Adda Ross of Redfield and Mrs. Allie Padgett. Others are expected.
The body is at the Konantz Funeral Home, as Mrs. Padgett has to be very quiet. Private services will be held at the home for her benefit. The public services will be announced later.
The interment will be in Evergreen cemetery. Masons will be in charge.
Judge Padgett had been elected in Washington to receive the thirty-third degree honorary, but it was not conferred.

5) Census 1900

Ward 4, Fort Scott, Bourbon Co., KS, p. 94a

Wm. W. PadgettNov 185544OHOHOH Attorney
Laura W.Dec. 185841ILVAVA
RaymondJune 188316KSOHIL
Fred W.Oct 188712KSOHIL
Agnes E.July 18945KSOHIL
AddalineNov 183767OHNJPAMother ^42,43

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Lawyer & Judge. ^42,43

• Health: Blind From Glaucoma. ^42,43

Willard married Laura Amelia Wood, daughter of Benjamin Wood and Mary Chamberlain, on 22 Jun 1882 in Redfield, KS ⁴².^,43 (Laura Amelia Wood was born on 30 Dec 1858 in Adams Co., IL,^42,43 died in 1937 in Fort Scott, Bourbon Co., KS ^42,43 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetary ^42,43.)