Obit For Messer, Melville Caldwell
Headline M. C. Messer Dead: One of Barry County Prominent Citizens Passes Away.
Text M. C. Messer, for many years an influential public official and business man, quietly passed into the sleep which knows no waking at his home in Cassville at 1:50 o'clock on the morning of Thursday, April 11, 1912, from heart failure.

Melville Caldwell Messer was 62 years, 6 months and 26 days old and was born at Blue Mound, Livingston County, Mo, Sept 16, 1850. When a small child his parents moved to Benton County, Arkansas where they lived until 1863 when they moved to Cassville. Cassville and vicinity has continued to be the family home since that time. The father and mother, James C. and Arbella Messer, having lived there until their deaths. He was married in 1883 to Miss Mary P. Bayless, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Bayless northwest of Cassville. He is survived by his wife and four children, Mrs. Will Priest, Misses Blanche, Mabel and Maco Messer and a sister Miss Tina Messer.

The funeral ceremony was held at the family residence Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. A short and most appropriate sermon was delivered by Rev. James Lokey, pastor of the M. E. church, music by select quartet consisting of Mrs. C. C. Chandler, Mrs. J. L. Rawhouser, Ross Stuckey and Ernest Ferguson. Following the impressive service led by the pastor was the home funeral ceremony of the I.O.O.F. Lodge and the beautiful Masonic Ceremony at the cemetery. One hundred twenty two Odd Fellows and Mason marched in the funeral possession.

Until about two years ago the deceased was enjoying the best of health and was an excellent specimen of physical manhood. Rheumatism made its appearance and the once strong manly form began to decline. Only temporary relief came and during the past few months a general decline became evident to this family and associations and deceased planned to sell his business and devote himself for a time to his business and devote himself for a time to the regaining of his health. His devotion to this family and anxiety concerning their welfare, in view of his falling health caused him to decide to sell at once, and visit this summer at well known health resorts. These plans were about all arranged when suddenly death called him away.

M. C. Messer was during his young manhood a teacher, having taught for several years in the public schools of the county. He served as postmaster in Cassville from 1889 to 1893. In 1898 he was elected county clerk and served one term of four years. For many years he was actively entered in public affairs and always discharged every duty with fidelity. He made a good record as a public official conducting the business of his office for the best interest of the people whom he served. He was engaged in the drug business in Cassville for a number of years and has also been engaged in the hardware and in the dry good business.

The large concourse of people, one of the largest ever assembled at a funeral in Cassville among whom were citizens from nearly every part of the county, was a strong testimonial of the respect and esteem in which he was held as a citizen and as a man. For a number of years he had been a member of the M. E. Church and was a faithful church and Sunday school worker. He had for sometime been superintendent of the M. E. Sunday School. He was tenderly devoted to his family and to his sister who has made her home in the family. In his death the county and Cassville loses a good citizen and one who will be missed especially in Cassville where he has lived for so many years.
Newspaper or Funeral Home Cassville Republican
Date April 18, 1912, Thursday
Death Cert Link https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1912/1912_00012450.PDF
Resource State Historical Society of MO Microfilm
Submitted by Donna Cooper