A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for John Simon Cheek
Paducah Sun, 22 Mar 1906 (obtained from Find A Grave, listing for Rev John Simon Cheek):
REV. JOHN. S. CHEEK DIES IN WACO, TEX.
Popular Pastor of First Baptist Church Expired at 11:40 p. m.
Had Been Suffering From Nervous Breakdown When Pneumonia Developed.
BURIAL AT MADISONVILLE
Rev. John Simon Cheek, D. D., pastor of the First Baptist church, died at 11:40 o'clock last night at Waco, Texas, from pneumonia. The sad news was received early this morning and was a shock to his hundreds of friends as well as to the members of his congregation.
Dr. Cheek had been ill for several weeks. Soon after the revival began at his church last November his health appeared to be failing, and finally he suffered a nervous breakdown which necessitated his abandoning his work temporarily and going to Hot Springs, Ark. He seemed to improve and returned in about two weeks. Members of his congregation noticed a great change in him, and it was rumored that the work and excitement had made inroads on his mind as well as health. It was decided to send him back to Hot Springs, and he was accompanied this time by his wife.
Reports from there from time to time indicated his improvement, as he was suffering only from a nervous breakdown, and from Hot Springs he and his wife went to Waco, Tex., where they had relatives.
Reports of his condition continued to be encouraging, but last Thursday, while taking an outing at Corpus Christi, he had a chill, and was taken back to Waco Friday. Pneumonia developed and his condition grew worse. Last night a report was received that he was dying, and news of his death reached the city early this morning.
Dr. Cheek was born August 26th, 1863, at Burksville, Campbell [sic] county, Kentucky. When 19 [?] years old he went to Lebanon, O., to attend college, and later went to Madisonville, Ky., and taught school. He was married there 21 years ago, July 21st, to Miss Minnie Lee Wells, and afterwards taught school in Dixon and Kuttawa, Ky.
He was ordained a minister of the gospel when 23 years old, and had been preaching ever since.
After his marriage he attended Bethel college, at Russellville, and his first pulpit was at Earlington, Ky., then to Carrollton, Ky.
He went to Louisville and attended the theological seminary for two years.
From Louisville he went to Salem church, in South Christian, 12 miles from Hopkinsville. He was in charge of the church there for five years, and then took charge of the Baptist church at Russellville, Ky., from which place he came to Paducah last April. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred on him in 1904.
Dr. Cheek was a very popular man as well as minister. He was distinctively a self-made man and had worked hard and long to achieve the position and success he enjoyed in the church. He was never discouraged, and year after year added to his popularity and success, and the past year was the greatest of all. His death is made all the sadder because he was in the prime of life, and had such a promising career before him.
He leaves a wife and five children, four boys and one daughter. The children are: John Frank, aged 20, Major Oswald aged 17, Oscar Henry, aged 12, Lawrence McKenzie, aged 8, and Mary Wells, aged 1 year.
His wife was the only member of the family with him in Texas.
He leaves two brothers in Cumberland county, Ky., J. O. and W. H. Cheek.
Dr. Cheek was a Mason and had his membership transferred to Paducah when he came here.
The second telegram was received this morning stating that the body left Waco at 10 o'clock this morning and would arrive tomorrow at noon. The funeral services will be held in Paducah Saturday morning, interment Sunday morning at Madisonville.
Paducah Sun, 23 Mar 1906 (obtained from Find A Grave, listing for Rev John Simon Cheek):
The remains of the late Rev. John S. Cheek, pastor of the First Baptists church, arrived in the city over the Illinois Central this afternoon at 12:20 o'clock from Waco, Texas, where he died Wednesday night from pneumonia, and were taken to the Baptist parsonage on North Fifth street.
Mrs. Cheek accompanied the body, and has stood the trip fairly well. It was intended to hold the funeral this afternoon, but it was decided after consulting the family to hold it tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the First Baptist church, services by Rev. George Cates and Rev. Gordon Hill, of Louisville.
The burial will be in Paducah, at Oak Grove cemetery, instead of at Madisonville, as at first announced.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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