18. Eugene[4] Vohs (Caspar[3] Vohs, Georg Joseph[2] Voos, Caspar[1] Voos) He was born in 31 July 1844 at Oberselters in the Dukedom of Nassau.[88] He was shot and killed on 24 November 1906. Funeral services were held 27 November 1906 in the Wea Catholic church, conducted by the Rev. Father Hohe. Interment was in the Wea Catholic Cemetery. He is buried in row 7, lot 28 of the Wea Cemetery.[89]
Eugene Vohs came to America in 1866, coming directly to Miami County, Kansas, and locating on Sec. 32, Township 15, Range 25, where he engaged in farming. In the year 1876 he bought out the general store at Wea, then owned by Homer Mayer, and later was appointed postmaster of Wea post office.[90]
On 24 November 1906, Eugene Vohs went to Louisburg, Kansas, with his son, Lawrence, with two loads of hogs to sell. After the sale, Lawrence returned home early to do the evening chores. Having some trading to do, Eugene Vohs did not leave Louisburg until about six o'clock. No one was seen with him on his departure, but in passing the Fitzgerald farm, 1 mile south of the Vohs place, Mrs. Fitzgerald noticed two men in a wagon and recognized Eugene Vohs as one of the occupants. About eight o'clock, Lawrence, hearing the team at the gate, came out of the house and found the body of his father in the bottom of the wagon bed. He had been shot four times, two bullets entering the left side of his head near the temple, another penetrated his breast and the other passed through the top of his head. The murderer had evidently been in close range as the hair on the side of the head was scorched. Upon hearing that her husband had been shot, Mrs. Vohs remembered hearing two or three pistol shots a half hour prior to the finding the body. It was thought that the assailant, knowing Eugene Vohs had sold hogs in Louisburg and was traveling with a lot of money, obtained a ride with him, and when the opportunity looked best, killed him, but was too close to the dead man's home to rob him and his money was found intact in his pocket.
Carl Baker, sometimes called Carl Warnecke, was arrested last Sunday morning by Andy Weir and brought to Paola, where he was lodged in jail. Baker, about twenty years old, had been working for Herman Speilbusch. Suspicions were aroused by Baker being seen walking in the road north of Louisburg about the time of the murder. When taken into custody, a revolver of 38 calibre was found on his person and the bullets which caused Eugene Vohs' death were of this size.[91]
He died intestate. His estate was valued at approximately $1,500. His estate consisted of money he was owed for land that he had sold, livestock, corn, wheat and assorted farm equipment [92]
Eugene Vohs was married at Wea, 9 January 1872, to Margaret (Maggie) Goebel, daughter of Peter Goebel and his wife Anna Maria Miller. Since both the mothers of Magaret Goebel and Eugene Vohs were Miller, it is possible that the mothers were sisters, making Margaret and Eugene cousins. Margaret Goebel was born in March 1854 in Prussia (Germany). She died on 15 October 1935 and was buried with her husband in the Wea Cemetery.[93]
Her estate was valued at $1,304.01. Her will gave the Catholic church $100 for low masses to be said for the repose of her soul. Her son Lawrence Ferdinand Vohs $500 in cash. She gave Henry McNutt, an orphan who was taken in by the family, the sum of $200. She gave the remainder of her estate, in equal shares, to her children Margaret Mary Schwartz, Albert Peter Vohs, Jasper Joseph Vohs, Lawrence Ferdinand Vohs and Ida Frances McGuirk.[94] Since her son Jasper died before her death, the Probate Court divided Jasper's share of the estate to his children: Eugene L. Vohs, Arthur Joseph Vohs, James Raymond Vohs, Alma K. Rosner and Mary Edna Vohs. Since Arthur and James were minors, the court assigned their mother Katherine B. Vohs to be the guardian of their estate.[95]
William and Lawrence were recorded as living with their widowed mother in the 1910 census.[96]
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[88] Mikrofilme aufgenommen von manuskripten im diozesanarchiv Limburg, Katholische Kirche Oberselters, Transcript of parish records of births, marriages and deaths, Church of the Latter Day Saints microfilm # 1,271,941.
[89] Thomas H. Kinsella, A Centenary of Catholicity in Kansas 1822-1922 The History of Our Cradle Land (Kansas City: Casey Printing Co., 1921), p. 170.; Western Spirit (Miami Co., KS), 30 Nov. 1906, p. 1; Cemeteries of Miami County, Kansas (n.p.; Miami County Genealogy Society, 1988), Vol. 2, p. 185; copy of Western Spirit article from Miami Co. Gen. Soc.; article references the death of Eugene Vohs, gives names of his brothers and other relatives, and provides other background information.
[90] History of the State of Kansas (Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1883) p. 894; seen at the Louisburg, Kansas, public library.
[91] Western Spirit (Miami Co., KS), 30 Nov. 1906, p. 1; copy from Miami Co. Gen. Soc.; article references the death of Eugene Vohs and provides other background information.
[92] Statement of all goods and chattel of the estate of Eugene Vohs, Records of the Probate Court of Miami County, Kansas, dated 14 June 1907; copied from the files of the Miami County Genealogy Society, copy in possession of writer.
[93] History of the State of Kansas (Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1883) p. 894; Western Spirit (Miami Co., KS), 30 Nov. 1906, p. 1; 1900 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, V. 34, ED 138, Sheet 15, Line 74; this census lists month and year of birth, and place of birth; Cemeteries of Miami County, Kansas (n.p.; Miami County Genealogy Society, 1988), Vol. 2, p. 185; Petition for Probate of Will of Margaret Vohs, dated 12 October 1935; 1900 census provides month, year and place of birth. Newspaper article copy from Miami Co. Gen. Soc.; newspaper article references the marriage of Eugene Vohs and Margaret Goebel, and provides information about her parents, brothers and sisters. Petition for Probate copied from the files of the Miami County Genealogy Society lists the date of death, copy in possession of the writer.
[94] Will of Margaret Vohs, dated 4 August 1930, copied from the files of the Miami County Genealogy Society, copy in possession of the writer.
[95] Final Journal Entry, Estate of Margaret Vohs, dated 11 December 1936, copied from the files of the Miami County Genealogy Society, copy in possesion of the writer.
[96] 1910 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, V. 46, ED 143.
[97] 1875 Kansas Census, Miami Co., Wea Township, p. 21; Family Histories and Stories of Miami County, Kansas, p. 335; Maxine Kircher to author, letter of Jan. & Feb. 1992, in possession of writer; Marriage referenced in Family Histories. Letter from Maxine Kircher notes date of birth, baptism and marriage.
[98] 1900 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, V. 34, ED 138, Sheet 15, Line 74; 1910 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, V. 46, ED 143; Maxine Kircher to author, letter of Jan. & Feb. 1992, in possession of writer; 1900 census lists month and year of birth, and place of birth. 1910 census lists wife's name. Letter from Maxine Kircher notes dates of birth and baptism.
[99] 1880 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, p. 11; Cemeteries of Miami County, Kansas (n.p.; Miami County Genealogy Society, 1988), Vol. 2, p. 185; his age is listed as 4 (born ca. 1876) in 1880 census.
[100] Family Histories and Stories of Miami County, Kansas, p. 262; Cemeteries of Miami County, Kansas (n.p.; Miami County Genealogy Society, 1988), Vol. 2, p. 167; Family Histories lists birth, marriage, death dates, and cemetery, Cemeteries of Miami County lists birth and death dates, and burial location.
[101] 1900 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Ten Mile Township, V. 34, ED 136, Sheet 3; 1910 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, V. 46, ED 141; Cemeteries of Miami County, Kansas (n.p.; Miami County Genealogy Society, 1988), Vol. 2, p. 182; Petition to Probate Court of Miami County, Kansas, for the estate of Jasper J. Vohs, dated 20 July 1934, copied from the files of the Miami County Genealogy Society; Maxine Kircher to author, letter of Jan. & Feb. 1992, in possession of writer; 1900 census lists month and year of birth, and place of birth. Date of death noted in petition to Probate Court. Letter from Maxine Kircher notes dates of birth, baptism, death, marriage and wife's name.
[102] 1900 U.S. Census, Kansas, Miami County, Wea Township, V. 34, ED 138, Sheet 15; Cemeteries of Miami County, Kansas (n.p.; Miami County Genealogy Society, 1988), Vol. 2, p. 185; 1900 census lists month and year of birth, and place of birth.
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