Lincoln Beacon
Lincoln, Kansas
Feb. 20, 1896

Darius Calvin Skinner

Feb. 7, 1896, of pneumonia, after an illness of 5 days, D.C. Skinner, of Beverly, Kan., aged 67 years, 11 months and 1 day.

Darius Calvin Skinner was born in Rutland, Meigs county, Ohio, March 6, 1828. When a young man he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1860, when he went to Colorado during the Pike's Peak gold excitement. He worked in the mines and at the carpenter trade until the rebellion broke out, when he joined the Union army, serving in the Colorado Cavalry more than four years, or until the close of the war. He was one of six of his company who made the first permanent settlement in Lincoln county, having settled in Colorado township in 1865. His associated were E.E. Johnson, Isaac DeGraff, R.B. Clark, W.E. Thompson and James Adams. The first three mentioned above are yet living near Beverly, the others have passed away. W.E. Thompson was murdered by the Indians in the Black Hills, about 20 years ago, and James Adams died at Trinidad, Colorado, a few years ago.

The deceased was married to Mrs. Amanda Dart in 1877. He was elected the first probate judge of Lincoln county soon after the county was organized in 1870.

He was an earnest Christian, having been a consistent member of the M.E. church since 1872. He was a kind father, an affectionate husband, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. He was never known to refuse anyone a favor, if in his power to grant it.

The funeral services were held in the Beverly church Sunday, Feb. 9, conducted by Rev. J.H. Kuhn, assisted by Rev. H.S. Barton. He leaves a wife, one daughter, two sons, three stepchildren, two sisters, two brothers, besides many other relatives and friends to mourn their loss.

A large concourse of people followed his remains to the Monroe cemetery, where his brother Thomas was buried less than four months ago.

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D. C. Skinner was with James Peate when they rode to the relief of Col. Forsyth and his scouts at Beecher Island with Carpenter and the 10th Cavalry.