His full name was William Volney Baxter, but he went by Volney, which is what is on his stone. His World War I draft registration card (dated 5 June 1917) describes him as tall height, medium build, with blue eyes and red hair. His occupation was cook at the French Lick Springs Hotel. His residence was Walnut Street, French Lick.
He was head chef at the famous West Baden Hotel, which closed circa 1930, during the Great Depression. He then traveled during the seasons. He was Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, for many summers. At the time, the Grand Hotel was the largest resort in the world and served as many as 3000 meals per day. During the winter, he traveled to Clearwater, Florida, where he served as head chef at the Fort Harrison Hotel and at a hotel in West Palm Beach as well.
Married Mabel Pearl Seybold on 24 June 1913 in Orange County, Indiana.
The Springs Valley Herald (November 23, 1944) reported: "Word was received here Tuesday evening of the sudden death of Volney Baxter of French Lick who passed away at Clearwater, Florida following a stroke early in the day. His family had started to the bedside upon word of the stroke, but returned last night from Evansville when notified he had passed away. Mr. Baxter had gone to Florida for the winter. He has been a chef in leading resort hotels of the country for many years, but made his home in French Lick. Funeral arrangements have not been completed at this time. The body will arrive from Florida today. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Helen, Katheryn and Shirley, four brothers and two sisters."
The Springs Valley Herald (November 30, 1944) reported: "Sunday afternoon the Christian church was packed to capacity with friends for the funeral of Volney Baxter, 56, who died at West Palm Beach, Florida, November 21. The rites were conducted by Rev. C. W. Parks. Interment was in the Ames cemetery with Ritter & Son as funeral directors."
The same issue reported: "William Volney Baxter was born October 6, 1886 near French Lick, Indiana. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Case Baxter. He passed away in Palm Beach, Florida November 21, 1944 at the age of 56. One sister, Grace Sanders, and one brother, Everett, preceded him in death. He leaves four brothers and two sisters, Joe and Mrs. Mabel King of French Lick; Morton of Franklin, Ind.; Arthur of Palm Beach, Florida; Mrs. Pearle Eastman of Los Angeles, Calif. and Silver a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippine Islands. He was married to Mabel Seybold in 1913 and being a happy, cheerful father with a good mother, they made a happy home. To this home came Geraldine, Mrs. Helen Smiries, Kathleen and Shirley Ann. Geraldine died in early childhood. He also leaves a little granddaughter, Angela, whom he loved dearly. He became a member of the First Christian Church at French Lick during the pastorate of Rev. N. L. Collins. His work was such that he could not attend church regularly, but he greatly appreciated the fellowship and inspiration of the good things in life and always commented on them. He enjoyed songs and was a singer himself. He was an affectionate and loving father, very devoted, well known and beloved by his family and a large circle of friends. He began as a cook in the French Lick Spring Hotel and as the years went on he advanced until he was an expert in his profession of chef and served some of the largest hotels in a most efficient way. His counsel and advice will be missed from the highest official to the lowest worker. When a friend passes into the Great Beyond we suffer an irreplaceable loss. Something fine and precious goes out of our lives forever. This is particularly the case when a man like Volney Baxter dies for he had a great genius for friendship, and today there is mourning in many households for the man who never forgot his friends, who rejoiced with them in their gladness and wept with them in their sorrows, who stood by them in every time of trouble and whose warm handclasp was that of a brother."
He was head chef at the famous West Baden Hotel, which closed circa 1930, during the Great Depression. He then traveled during the seasons. He was Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, for many summers. At the time, the Grand Hotel was the largest resort in the world and served as many as 3000 meals per day. During the winter, he traveled to Clearwater, Florida, where he served as head chef at the Fort Harrison Hotel and at a hotel in West Palm Beach as well.
Married Mabel Pearl Seybold on 24 June 1913 in Orange County, Indiana.
The Springs Valley Herald (November 23, 1944) reported: "Word was received here Tuesday evening of the sudden death of Volney Baxter of French Lick who passed away at Clearwater, Florida following a stroke early in the day. His family had started to the bedside upon word of the stroke, but returned last night from Evansville when notified he had passed away. Mr. Baxter had gone to Florida for the winter. He has been a chef in leading resort hotels of the country for many years, but made his home in French Lick. Funeral arrangements have not been completed at this time. The body will arrive from Florida today. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Helen, Katheryn and Shirley, four brothers and two sisters."
The Springs Valley Herald (November 30, 1944) reported: "Sunday afternoon the Christian church was packed to capacity with friends for the funeral of Volney Baxter, 56, who died at West Palm Beach, Florida, November 21. The rites were conducted by Rev. C. W. Parks. Interment was in the Ames cemetery with Ritter & Son as funeral directors."
The same issue reported: "William Volney Baxter was born October 6, 1886 near French Lick, Indiana. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Case Baxter. He passed away in Palm Beach, Florida November 21, 1944 at the age of 56. One sister, Grace Sanders, and one brother, Everett, preceded him in death. He leaves four brothers and two sisters, Joe and Mrs. Mabel King of French Lick; Morton of Franklin, Ind.; Arthur of Palm Beach, Florida; Mrs. Pearle Eastman of Los Angeles, Calif. and Silver a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippine Islands. He was married to Mabel Seybold in 1913 and being a happy, cheerful father with a good mother, they made a happy home. To this home came Geraldine, Mrs. Helen Smiries, Kathleen and Shirley Ann. Geraldine died in early childhood. He also leaves a little granddaughter, Angela, whom he loved dearly. He became a member of the First Christian Church at French Lick during the pastorate of Rev. N. L. Collins. His work was such that he could not attend church regularly, but he greatly appreciated the fellowship and inspiration of the good things in life and always commented on them. He enjoyed songs and was a singer himself. He was an affectionate and loving father, very devoted, well known and beloved by his family and a large circle of friends. He began as a cook in the French Lick Spring Hotel and as the years went on he advanced until he was an expert in his profession of chef and served some of the largest hotels in a most efficient way. His counsel and advice will be missed from the highest official to the lowest worker. When a friend passes into the Great Beyond we suffer an irreplaceable loss. Something fine and precious goes out of our lives forever. This is particularly the case when a man like Volney Baxter dies for he had a great genius for friendship, and today there is mourning in many households for the man who never forgot his friends, who rejoiced with them in their gladness and wept with them in their sorrows, who stood by them in every time of trouble and whose warm handclasp was that of a brother."
His full name was William Volney Baxter, but he went by Volney, which is what is on his stone. His World War I draft registration card (dated 5 June 1917) describes him as tall height, medium build, with blue eyes and red hair. His occupation was cook at the French Lick Springs Hotel. His residence was Walnut Street, French Lick.
He was head chef at the famous West Baden Hotel, which closed circa 1930, during the Great Depression. He then traveled during the seasons. He was Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, for many summers. At the time, the Grand Hotel was the largest resort in the world and served as many as 3000 meals per day. During the winter, he traveled to Clearwater, Florida, where he served as head chef at the Fort Harrison Hotel and at a hotel in West Palm Beach as well.
Married Mabel Pearl Seybold on 24 June 1913 in Orange County, Indiana.
The Springs Valley Herald (November 23, 1944) reported: "Word was received here Tuesday evening of the sudden death of Volney Baxter of French Lick who passed away at Clearwater, Florida following a stroke early in the day. His family had started to the bedside upon word of the stroke, but returned last night from Evansville when notified he had passed away. Mr. Baxter had gone to Florida for the winter. He has been a chef in leading resort hotels of the country for many years, but made his home in French Lick. Funeral arrangements have not been completed at this time. The body will arrive from Florida today. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Helen, Katheryn and Shirley, four brothers and two sisters."
The Springs Valley Herald (November 30, 1944) reported: "Sunday afternoon the Christian church was packed to capacity with friends for the funeral of Volney Baxter, 56, who died at West Palm Beach, Florida, November 21. The rites were conducted by Rev. C. W. Parks. Interment was in the Ames cemetery with Ritter & Son as funeral directors."
The same issue reported: "William Volney Baxter was born October 6, 1886 near French Lick, Indiana. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Case Baxter. He passed away in Palm Beach, Florida November 21, 1944 at the age of 56. One sister, Grace Sanders, and one brother, Everett, preceded him in death. He leaves four brothers and two sisters, Joe and Mrs. Mabel King of French Lick; Morton of Franklin, Ind.; Arthur of Palm Beach, Florida; Mrs. Pearle Eastman of Los Angeles, Calif. and Silver a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippine Islands. He was married to Mabel Seybold in 1913 and being a happy, cheerful father with a good mother, they made a happy home. To this home came Geraldine, Mrs. Helen Smiries, Kathleen and Shirley Ann. Geraldine died in early childhood. He also leaves a little granddaughter, Angela, whom he loved dearly. He became a member of the First Christian Church at French Lick during the pastorate of Rev. N. L. Collins. His work was such that he could not attend church regularly, but he greatly appreciated the fellowship and inspiration of the good things in life and always commented on them. He enjoyed songs and was a singer himself. He was an affectionate and loving father, very devoted, well known and beloved by his family and a large circle of friends. He began as a cook in the French Lick Spring Hotel and as the years went on he advanced until he was an expert in his profession of chef and served some of the largest hotels in a most efficient way. His counsel and advice will be missed from the highest official to the lowest worker. When a friend passes into the Great Beyond we suffer an irreplaceable loss. Something fine and precious goes out of our lives forever. This is particularly the case when a man like Volney Baxter dies for he had a great genius for friendship, and today there is mourning in many households for the man who never forgot his friends, who rejoiced with them in their gladness and wept with them in their sorrows, who stood by them in every time of trouble and whose warm handclasp was that of a brother."
He was head chef at the famous West Baden Hotel, which closed circa 1930, during the Great Depression. He then traveled during the seasons. He was Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, for many summers. At the time, the Grand Hotel was the largest resort in the world and served as many as 3000 meals per day. During the winter, he traveled to Clearwater, Florida, where he served as head chef at the Fort Harrison Hotel and at a hotel in West Palm Beach as well.
Married Mabel Pearl Seybold on 24 June 1913 in Orange County, Indiana.
The Springs Valley Herald (November 23, 1944) reported: "Word was received here Tuesday evening of the sudden death of Volney Baxter of French Lick who passed away at Clearwater, Florida following a stroke early in the day. His family had started to the bedside upon word of the stroke, but returned last night from Evansville when notified he had passed away. Mr. Baxter had gone to Florida for the winter. He has been a chef in leading resort hotels of the country for many years, but made his home in French Lick. Funeral arrangements have not been completed at this time. The body will arrive from Florida today. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Helen, Katheryn and Shirley, four brothers and two sisters."
The Springs Valley Herald (November 30, 1944) reported: "Sunday afternoon the Christian church was packed to capacity with friends for the funeral of Volney Baxter, 56, who died at West Palm Beach, Florida, November 21. The rites were conducted by Rev. C. W. Parks. Interment was in the Ames cemetery with Ritter & Son as funeral directors."
The same issue reported: "William Volney Baxter was born October 6, 1886 near French Lick, Indiana. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Case Baxter. He passed away in Palm Beach, Florida November 21, 1944 at the age of 56. One sister, Grace Sanders, and one brother, Everett, preceded him in death. He leaves four brothers and two sisters, Joe and Mrs. Mabel King of French Lick; Morton of Franklin, Ind.; Arthur of Palm Beach, Florida; Mrs. Pearle Eastman of Los Angeles, Calif. and Silver a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippine Islands. He was married to Mabel Seybold in 1913 and being a happy, cheerful father with a good mother, they made a happy home. To this home came Geraldine, Mrs. Helen Smiries, Kathleen and Shirley Ann. Geraldine died in early childhood. He also leaves a little granddaughter, Angela, whom he loved dearly. He became a member of the First Christian Church at French Lick during the pastorate of Rev. N. L. Collins. His work was such that he could not attend church regularly, but he greatly appreciated the fellowship and inspiration of the good things in life and always commented on them. He enjoyed songs and was a singer himself. He was an affectionate and loving father, very devoted, well known and beloved by his family and a large circle of friends. He began as a cook in the French Lick Spring Hotel and as the years went on he advanced until he was an expert in his profession of chef and served some of the largest hotels in a most efficient way. His counsel and advice will be missed from the highest official to the lowest worker. When a friend passes into the Great Beyond we suffer an irreplaceable loss. Something fine and precious goes out of our lives forever. This is particularly the case when a man like Volney Baxter dies for he had a great genius for friendship, and today there is mourning in many households for the man who never forgot his friends, who rejoiced with them in their gladness and wept with them in their sorrows, who stood by them in every time of trouble and whose warm handclasp was that of a brother."
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