Surname : Agnew

Given name : William H.

ID # : Not sure if related.

Current date : 24 September 1988

Location of Source : Patrick J. Henry

Date of record : Unknown

Source : newspaper clipping (obituary)

Death of Former Jefferson Co. Man

We have been requested to print the following account of the death of William H. Agnew, who was so well and favorably known by friends in Jefferson and Clarion counties :

The tragic death of W. H. Agnew, one of the most useful and prominent citizen of Texon, Texas, is indeed most deplorable.

Mr. Agnew was an oil well drilling contractor and supervised much of the drilling himself. He was not on duty at this time, but had gone out to the well to see how the work was progressing. It was at an early hour Monday morning when a rig collapsed crushing his skull. He was rushed to the Texon hospital where an emergency operation was performed, but it was of no avail. He passed away at about 8:30 that morning.

It appears that "death loves a shinning mark" for Mr. Agnew was a leader in his community in those things that mean progress in right living and conduct. He was outspoken and outstanding for the right, the noble, and the good at all times. He was instrumental, in a large measure, for the success of the Community Church at Texon. He helped organize the Sunday school there and had filled the superintendent’s office from the beginning.

There is a pall of sadness over the community that will not be overcome for some time for a great and good man has fallen. Mr. Agnew was universally loved by both adults and by children for he was the embodiment of kindness and consideration of all.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning Community church at Texon, the church that he loved and had helped to build. The pastor of the church, Rev. W. E. Sampson, who was so beloved by Mr. Agnew and in turn who loved him so much, conducted the services using that beautiful scripture, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," as a basis for his talk in which he paid such a splendid tribute to the life and usefulness of this good man. The business houses and all the drilling activities and the school were closed for the funeral. The church was filled to its capacity and there was an immense array of rare and costly flowers, mute testimony of the sorrow of friends and loved ones.

The body was carried immediately after the close of the services to the church of San Angelo, in charge of the Robert Massie funeral company, and was tenderly laid to rest in Fairmont cemetery beside that of his brother who passed away about eighteen months ago.

Mr. Agnew was a young man, just thirty-seven years of age. He was a member of the Methodist church, the Masonic and I. O. O. F. lodges.

He is survived by his wife and six children: Billy, 12; Betty and Bee, 11-year-old twins; John, 9; Bernice, 8; and Barnell, 6; his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Agnew, of Texon; two brothers, T. W. Agnew, also of Texon, and H. G. Agnew, of Coleman, and one sister, Mrs. L. P. Mathews, of Los Angeles, Calif.