OWENSBORO MESSENGER INQUIRER OBITUARY – 12/28/1923
WM. F. RAPIER DIES AT HOME, HEART FAILURE - WELL KNOWN BUSINESS MAN HAD BEEN UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE 2 WEEKS - SELF MADE MAN - BEGAN ON FARM, MET REVERSES, FINALLY OBTAINED COMPETENCE
William F. Rapier, one of the best known business men of Owensboro and the Green River section, died at his home, 1531 Frederica street at 10:30 o'clock this morning of heart failure. He was in his 54th year and had been confined for the last two weeks under close watch of his physicians. The end came, however, much more suddenly than was expected. Born on a farm near Curdsville, W.F. Rapier attained to his present high position in business by hard work, sterling integrity and square dealing with the public. He lived until 30 years of age on a poor farm, and on the old farm 25 years ago experienced his first severe business reverse. He had loved high bred stock and from the little community stock shows, developed into a fair, which almost rivaled the county fair for some time, when by the peculiar turns of fortune it exploded, leaving Will Rapier covered up under a burden of debt and many sad experiences.
STARTED WITHOUT CAPITAL
Coming to Owensboro, without capital, he began almost as a day laborer, but so assiduously did he apply himself to the study of real business methods that he soon launched out, with his brother, James L., into a small grain business. After he had obtained a foothold and gained some independence in the business world and had acquired a sufficient sum of money, his fine integrity again came forward, for he hunted up every man and woman to whom he had owed a dollar in his earlier days and paid them off, with interest. It is known that he traveled over several states hunting the heirs of older men who had befriended him and lost money on his venture in the fair business, and paid off his debts to them, Will Rapier was married in 1905 to Miss Christine Hart, daughter of the late Simon Hart, who survives him, together with their six children, Mary Ellen, at home during the Christmas holidays from college, William F. Jr., Catherine, Sylvester, Dorothy and Grace; also two brothers, G.N. Rapier and James L., of this city; and two sisters, Sister Mary Aloysius, of the Visitation Home, Louisville, and Sister Mary Xavier, of Paducah.
BUILT BIG BUSINESS
W.F. Rapier with his brother James L. Rapier, own the Rapier Sugar Feed company, and the Rapier Grain and Seed Co., two widely known business organizations of this section, and which extend into many of the other states of the union. He was the moving spirit in the building of the fine annex to the Knights of Columbus home, at Seventh and Frederica Street, and he served as grand knight of that organization for two terms, an unusual honor accorded to one of its members. He was chairman of the board of the corporation which owns the property, at the time of his death. During all of his life W.F. Rapier had been a staunch and devoted Catholic, and since living in the city a member of St. Paul's Church from which funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Monday morning, The Rev. E.S. Fitzgerald, pastor, in charge, with Fathers Mensa and Richard Maloney as deacon and subdeacon, in celebration of high Requiem Mass. The Knights of Columbus will conduct their part of the ceremonies in connection with the funeral, and attend in a body.
OWENSBORO MESSENGER INQUIRER OBITUARY – 12/30/1923
FUNERAL OF W.F. RAPIER
The funeral of Mr. W.F. Rapier, who died Friday, will be held from St. Paul Church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Burial will be at Catholic cemetery. The active pall hearers will be S.N. Ewing, Henry O'Bryan, Fred Arnold, August Graf, J.Z. Aud and Lavega Clements; honorary pall bearers: H.S. Berry, Leo Monarch, Charles Dorn, W.E. Whitely, C.A. Rogers, J.S. Field, O. H. Williams, E.R. Bennett, W.J. Hanning, J.A. Wood, J.J. Baney and R.E. Flaherty.
William married Chrissa M. Hart on January 17, 1905 in Daviess Co., KY.
WM. F. RAPIER DIES AT HOME, HEART FAILURE - WELL KNOWN BUSINESS MAN HAD BEEN UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE 2 WEEKS - SELF MADE MAN - BEGAN ON FARM, MET REVERSES, FINALLY OBTAINED COMPETENCE
William F. Rapier, one of the best known business men of Owensboro and the Green River section, died at his home, 1531 Frederica street at 10:30 o'clock this morning of heart failure. He was in his 54th year and had been confined for the last two weeks under close watch of his physicians. The end came, however, much more suddenly than was expected. Born on a farm near Curdsville, W.F. Rapier attained to his present high position in business by hard work, sterling integrity and square dealing with the public. He lived until 30 years of age on a poor farm, and on the old farm 25 years ago experienced his first severe business reverse. He had loved high bred stock and from the little community stock shows, developed into a fair, which almost rivaled the county fair for some time, when by the peculiar turns of fortune it exploded, leaving Will Rapier covered up under a burden of debt and many sad experiences.
STARTED WITHOUT CAPITAL
Coming to Owensboro, without capital, he began almost as a day laborer, but so assiduously did he apply himself to the study of real business methods that he soon launched out, with his brother, James L., into a small grain business. After he had obtained a foothold and gained some independence in the business world and had acquired a sufficient sum of money, his fine integrity again came forward, for he hunted up every man and woman to whom he had owed a dollar in his earlier days and paid them off, with interest. It is known that he traveled over several states hunting the heirs of older men who had befriended him and lost money on his venture in the fair business, and paid off his debts to them, Will Rapier was married in 1905 to Miss Christine Hart, daughter of the late Simon Hart, who survives him, together with their six children, Mary Ellen, at home during the Christmas holidays from college, William F. Jr., Catherine, Sylvester, Dorothy and Grace; also two brothers, G.N. Rapier and James L., of this city; and two sisters, Sister Mary Aloysius, of the Visitation Home, Louisville, and Sister Mary Xavier, of Paducah.
BUILT BIG BUSINESS
W.F. Rapier with his brother James L. Rapier, own the Rapier Sugar Feed company, and the Rapier Grain and Seed Co., two widely known business organizations of this section, and which extend into many of the other states of the union. He was the moving spirit in the building of the fine annex to the Knights of Columbus home, at Seventh and Frederica Street, and he served as grand knight of that organization for two terms, an unusual honor accorded to one of its members. He was chairman of the board of the corporation which owns the property, at the time of his death. During all of his life W.F. Rapier had been a staunch and devoted Catholic, and since living in the city a member of St. Paul's Church from which funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Monday morning, The Rev. E.S. Fitzgerald, pastor, in charge, with Fathers Mensa and Richard Maloney as deacon and subdeacon, in celebration of high Requiem Mass. The Knights of Columbus will conduct their part of the ceremonies in connection with the funeral, and attend in a body.
OWENSBORO MESSENGER INQUIRER OBITUARY – 12/30/1923
FUNERAL OF W.F. RAPIER
The funeral of Mr. W.F. Rapier, who died Friday, will be held from St. Paul Church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Burial will be at Catholic cemetery. The active pall hearers will be S.N. Ewing, Henry O'Bryan, Fred Arnold, August Graf, J.Z. Aud and Lavega Clements; honorary pall bearers: H.S. Berry, Leo Monarch, Charles Dorn, W.E. Whitely, C.A. Rogers, J.S. Field, O. H. Williams, E.R. Bennett, W.J. Hanning, J.A. Wood, J.J. Baney and R.E. Flaherty.
William married Chrissa M. Hart on January 17, 1905 in Daviess Co., KY.
OWENSBORO MESSENGER INQUIRER OBITUARY – 12/28/1923
WM. F. RAPIER DIES AT HOME, HEART FAILURE - WELL KNOWN BUSINESS MAN HAD BEEN UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE 2 WEEKS - SELF MADE MAN - BEGAN ON FARM, MET REVERSES, FINALLY OBTAINED COMPETENCE
William F. Rapier, one of the best known business men of Owensboro and the Green River section, died at his home, 1531 Frederica street at 10:30 o'clock this morning of heart failure. He was in his 54th year and had been confined for the last two weeks under close watch of his physicians. The end came, however, much more suddenly than was expected. Born on a farm near Curdsville, W.F. Rapier attained to his present high position in business by hard work, sterling integrity and square dealing with the public. He lived until 30 years of age on a poor farm, and on the old farm 25 years ago experienced his first severe business reverse. He had loved high bred stock and from the little community stock shows, developed into a fair, which almost rivaled the county fair for some time, when by the peculiar turns of fortune it exploded, leaving Will Rapier covered up under a burden of debt and many sad experiences.
STARTED WITHOUT CAPITAL
Coming to Owensboro, without capital, he began almost as a day laborer, but so assiduously did he apply himself to the study of real business methods that he soon launched out, with his brother, James L., into a small grain business. After he had obtained a foothold and gained some independence in the business world and had acquired a sufficient sum of money, his fine integrity again came forward, for he hunted up every man and woman to whom he had owed a dollar in his earlier days and paid them off, with interest. It is known that he traveled over several states hunting the heirs of older men who had befriended him and lost money on his venture in the fair business, and paid off his debts to them, Will Rapier was married in 1905 to Miss Christine Hart, daughter of the late Simon Hart, who survives him, together with their six children, Mary Ellen, at home during the Christmas holidays from college, William F. Jr., Catherine, Sylvester, Dorothy and Grace; also two brothers, G.N. Rapier and James L., of this city; and two sisters, Sister Mary Aloysius, of the Visitation Home, Louisville, and Sister Mary Xavier, of Paducah.
BUILT BIG BUSINESS
W.F. Rapier with his brother James L. Rapier, own the Rapier Sugar Feed company, and the Rapier Grain and Seed Co., two widely known business organizations of this section, and which extend into many of the other states of the union. He was the moving spirit in the building of the fine annex to the Knights of Columbus home, at Seventh and Frederica Street, and he served as grand knight of that organization for two terms, an unusual honor accorded to one of its members. He was chairman of the board of the corporation which owns the property, at the time of his death. During all of his life W.F. Rapier had been a staunch and devoted Catholic, and since living in the city a member of St. Paul's Church from which funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Monday morning, The Rev. E.S. Fitzgerald, pastor, in charge, with Fathers Mensa and Richard Maloney as deacon and subdeacon, in celebration of high Requiem Mass. The Knights of Columbus will conduct their part of the ceremonies in connection with the funeral, and attend in a body.
OWENSBORO MESSENGER INQUIRER OBITUARY – 12/30/1923
FUNERAL OF W.F. RAPIER
The funeral of Mr. W.F. Rapier, who died Friday, will be held from St. Paul Church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Burial will be at Catholic cemetery. The active pall hearers will be S.N. Ewing, Henry O'Bryan, Fred Arnold, August Graf, J.Z. Aud and Lavega Clements; honorary pall bearers: H.S. Berry, Leo Monarch, Charles Dorn, W.E. Whitely, C.A. Rogers, J.S. Field, O. H. Williams, E.R. Bennett, W.J. Hanning, J.A. Wood, J.J. Baney and R.E. Flaherty.
William married Chrissa M. Hart on January 17, 1905 in Daviess Co., KY.
WM. F. RAPIER DIES AT HOME, HEART FAILURE - WELL KNOWN BUSINESS MAN HAD BEEN UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE 2 WEEKS - SELF MADE MAN - BEGAN ON FARM, MET REVERSES, FINALLY OBTAINED COMPETENCE
William F. Rapier, one of the best known business men of Owensboro and the Green River section, died at his home, 1531 Frederica street at 10:30 o'clock this morning of heart failure. He was in his 54th year and had been confined for the last two weeks under close watch of his physicians. The end came, however, much more suddenly than was expected. Born on a farm near Curdsville, W.F. Rapier attained to his present high position in business by hard work, sterling integrity and square dealing with the public. He lived until 30 years of age on a poor farm, and on the old farm 25 years ago experienced his first severe business reverse. He had loved high bred stock and from the little community stock shows, developed into a fair, which almost rivaled the county fair for some time, when by the peculiar turns of fortune it exploded, leaving Will Rapier covered up under a burden of debt and many sad experiences.
STARTED WITHOUT CAPITAL
Coming to Owensboro, without capital, he began almost as a day laborer, but so assiduously did he apply himself to the study of real business methods that he soon launched out, with his brother, James L., into a small grain business. After he had obtained a foothold and gained some independence in the business world and had acquired a sufficient sum of money, his fine integrity again came forward, for he hunted up every man and woman to whom he had owed a dollar in his earlier days and paid them off, with interest. It is known that he traveled over several states hunting the heirs of older men who had befriended him and lost money on his venture in the fair business, and paid off his debts to them, Will Rapier was married in 1905 to Miss Christine Hart, daughter of the late Simon Hart, who survives him, together with their six children, Mary Ellen, at home during the Christmas holidays from college, William F. Jr., Catherine, Sylvester, Dorothy and Grace; also two brothers, G.N. Rapier and James L., of this city; and two sisters, Sister Mary Aloysius, of the Visitation Home, Louisville, and Sister Mary Xavier, of Paducah.
BUILT BIG BUSINESS
W.F. Rapier with his brother James L. Rapier, own the Rapier Sugar Feed company, and the Rapier Grain and Seed Co., two widely known business organizations of this section, and which extend into many of the other states of the union. He was the moving spirit in the building of the fine annex to the Knights of Columbus home, at Seventh and Frederica Street, and he served as grand knight of that organization for two terms, an unusual honor accorded to one of its members. He was chairman of the board of the corporation which owns the property, at the time of his death. During all of his life W.F. Rapier had been a staunch and devoted Catholic, and since living in the city a member of St. Paul's Church from which funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Monday morning, The Rev. E.S. Fitzgerald, pastor, in charge, with Fathers Mensa and Richard Maloney as deacon and subdeacon, in celebration of high Requiem Mass. The Knights of Columbus will conduct their part of the ceremonies in connection with the funeral, and attend in a body.
OWENSBORO MESSENGER INQUIRER OBITUARY – 12/30/1923
FUNERAL OF W.F. RAPIER
The funeral of Mr. W.F. Rapier, who died Friday, will be held from St. Paul Church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Burial will be at Catholic cemetery. The active pall hearers will be S.N. Ewing, Henry O'Bryan, Fred Arnold, August Graf, J.Z. Aud and Lavega Clements; honorary pall bearers: H.S. Berry, Leo Monarch, Charles Dorn, W.E. Whitely, C.A. Rogers, J.S. Field, O. H. Williams, E.R. Bennett, W.J. Hanning, J.A. Wood, J.J. Baney and R.E. Flaherty.
William married Chrissa M. Hart on January 17, 1905 in Daviess Co., KY.
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