Posted on: Bates Co. Mo Obits Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Mo/BatesObits/151 Surname: Biser, Johnston, Branum, Stottlemeyer ------------------------- Cal Biser, First Citizen, Passes Away Cal Biser, Hume’s first citizen, died at his home on east Hume street, shortly after 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Death came suddenly. He had been in poor health for some time, but was able to be up and around the house. After eating his Sunday dinner, he asked for the daily newspaper, and sat down in the parlor to read. A few minutes later when his wife and daughter came in he passed away. He died of chronic nephritis. The funeral was conducted from the home, Tuesday afternoon, by Rev. W. J. Snow, of Kansas City, a close friend of the family. Burial was made in the Hume cemetery with Woodman honors. Deceased had been a member of Hume Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, since 1894. Calvin Biser was born in Frederick County, Maryland, December 30, 1850. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1867, first settling in Jackson County, where they remained until 1873, when they came to Vernon County. He was married to Miss Anna Johnson, January 2, 1876. To this union eight children were born, three girls and five boys, a boy and a girl dying in infancy. The living children are W. M. Biser, Osawatomie, Kas.; W. R. Biser, Hume; Mrs. Rosa Lee Branum, Hume; Mrs. BeNisha Stumph, Jacksonville, Florida; J. L. Biser, Chicago; Ray Biser, Hume. Besides the wife and mother he is survived by one brother, Dan Biser, of Kansas City. When Hume was first started in 1880, deceased was operating a blacksmith shop 2 œ miles south of here on Duncan Creek, just across the creek west of where Adam Hofsess now lives. He moved to the new town and built a shop where the Auditorium now stands. There were only two other business men here where (sic) he came, J. J. Messinger and D. H. Hill. He has always made this his home, there being only two men left who lived here in that day, Joseph Nantz and J. P. Williams. Cal Biser was an industrious man who was painstaking in his profession, a worthy citizen, loyal to his home town, to his friends, to his God. During the Burke and Hobbs revival he made a public profession of faith. Although a poor man in this world’s goods he leaves a rich legacy for his family and friends---an example of fidelity and strict honesty of purpose in all things. He was a friend in whom the writer could impose the utmost trust, and his memory will ever be cherished as long as life shall last. Hume Border Messenger, September 27, 1917, page 1, column 3. (Note: Mrs. Biser's maiden name was actually Johnston, but was more often than not misspelled as Johnson.)