John Phillip Kearbey Sr. (aka: Sheriff "Phil" Kearbey) born: April 8, 1877 to Francis Marion Kearbey II and Melissa Catherine Jones at Ten Mile Creek, Butler County, Missouri. He died May 17, 1915 in Butler County, Missouri at 38 years of age. From the Daily Republican, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, this was the headline: "SHERIFF DIED AT EARLY HOUR MONDAY MORNING ", on Monday morning, May 17, 1915. "John "Phil" Kearbey was fatally shot on Friday, May 14, 1915 by William Wilson, a two time murderer. The young sheriff gave up his life at 2:45 a.m. "Phil" Kearbey was one of the most perfect specimens of physical manhood who ever filled the office of sheriff in Butler County." He was born in Butler County at Ten Mile Creek, April 8, 1877 and had been a resident ever since. He was son of Francis Marion Kearbey II and Melissa Catherine Jones and lived with them in the country until about 18 years before his death. According to the Daily Republican, "Sheriff Kearbey was shot clear through the stomach and body about 3 o'clock in the afternoon on May 14, 1915 by William Wilson, a desperado under death sentence for the murder of Chief Special Agent Logan of the Mobile and Ohio Railway. The bullet entered the sheriff below the breastbone, changed to the right, passed through the liver and came out just below the right hip. Two seconds after the shot was fired, the man who fired it was dead, his body riddled with several bullets f ired by Sheriff Kearbey, after being shot, and Constable Hubert Powell. The hobo was lying along side the fence and soon after Kearbey made toward him, he pulled the gun and blazed away. Wilson was searched after death and found to have three guns in his clothes and 100 rounds of ammunition. Sheriff Kearbey was taken to the hospital in town and his family was sent for and brought to the hospital. Sheriff Kearbey was able to talk to them and if he suffered pain, did not betray it, according to the paper. He told the story of how it happened in a distinct voice but the doctors would not let him do much talking." Before he died, he told his only son, J.P. Kearbey Jr., "The only thing I regret is that I won't get to see you grow up. Listen to your Mother, she is a good woman!" J.P. Jr. remembers those words to this day and he is now 91 years old. John "Phil" Kearbey was married to Etta Edith Roberson in Butler County on December 25, 1900 by brother-in-law P.T. Nance who was married to Etta's sister Pearl Roberson. John and Etta's two children were: Nora Vergal Kearbey (now deceased)and John Phillip Kearbey Jr. Sheriff Kearbey served as sheriff from 1912-1915. Submitted to this site by. Mickey Kearbey