Phillip Casebolt died at a hospital in Fresno, California, Wednesday, May 17, and was buried at Exeter, his former home, Friday, May 19.
The deceased man was a brother of Ed. S. and A. J. Casebolt and Mrs. Polly Erwin, long residents of this vicinity and of Mrs. John Farrell (error Ferril), of California, all of whom have died in the past five years. He is the last of that large family who played so important a part in the early development of this county.
William Phillip Casebolt was born in Pocahontas county, Va., February 15, 1842. He came to Saline county, Mo., in 1844, with his parents, who settled near Miami. At the age of 17, he engaged as a clerk in a store at Carrollton. He afterward engaged in business in various parts of Missouri. He was for a time postmaster at Petra, Saline county, being engaged at the same time in the general store merchandise business. In 1878, he moved to Slater and built the first store building of the town at the corner of Main and Front streets and became the first postmaster of the town.
Mr. Casebolt was married twice, first to Mrs. Roberta Anderson of Tennessee, who died in 1873. His second wife was Miss Celia Graves of Saline county, to whom he was married December 25, 1879.
He had lived in California for about ten years where he had been engaged in the drug business at Reedley.
Source: Miami Weekly News, May 1911
Submitted: Jean Feaster