Jacksonville Daily Journal, Wednesday, June 30, 1915
W. R. ROUTT ENDED LONG LIFE TUESDAY
Prominent and Wealthy Citizen Passed Away Following Stroke of Apoplexy - Had Been Resident Here Since Childhood
At 10:30 Tuesday morning William Reuben Routt died at his home in South Jacksonville at the age of 83 years, having been born April 1, 1832. He had not been in very good health for some time, having been afflicted with something akin to paralysis for several years. The shock of the death of his son Harvey accelerated the trouble and he suffered another slight stroke about that time and another a short time since ended his life.
Mr. Routt came of a fine family and in a bible, the valued family property, are the following entries:
Charles Springer, born June 12, 1768.
Catharine runyon, born Nov.l 16, 1775.
Penelope Stout, born Oct. 19, 1778.
Reuben Runyon Springer, born Nov. 16, 1800.
Catharine Maria Springer, born March 5, 1803.
Caroline America Springer, born Sept. 28, 1805.
Charles Crandison Springer, born Dec. 21, 1807.
Charles Gordon Springer, born Feb. 19, 1810.
Mary Runyon Springer, born Jan. 23, 1815.
Samuel Runnells, born Aug. 1, 1812.
Charles L. Routt, born Sept. 13, 1823.
Caroline Routt, born July 5, 1829.
William Reuben Routt, born April 1, 1832.
Reuben R. Springer and Jane Kilgour, married in the Catholic church in cincinnati, Jan. 30, 1830.
Charles and Catharine Springer, married Jan. 2, 1800.
Harvey and Catharine Maria Routt married April 13, 1822.
Samuel M. and Mary Runnells, married Nov. 11, 1835.
These entries are given just as they appear. The one named Samuel M. Runnels was here known as Mr. Runnells,
father of Charles S. Runnells.
Mr. Routt was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, and was the son of Harvey and Catharine Maria Routt, mention in the genealogy. At the age of two years he was brought by his father to Morgan county, which has since been his home. The family settled on a farm eight miles southeast of Jacksonville, and it was there that the children attended the schools of the day.
Mr. Routt was a man who had a great predilection for Morgan county land and an early investment by him was a farm in the neighborhood in which he had been reared. He inherited more from his father, a great deal more from his brother, Charles L., who died in 1894, and also largely from his uncle, Reuben Springer, of Cincinnati, a multi-millionaire merchant. He managed his large interests with skill and wisdom and at the time of his death was regarded as one of the wealthiest men in Morgan county.
In addition to his farm property he owned extensively in the way of city property, at one time was a heavy stockholder in the Jacksonville Gas and Electric Light company; was also a stockholder in the Elliott State Bank and its vice-president. He was politically a democrat, but was not an especially active politician and would not accept nomination to any kind of office.
Mr. Routt was reared in the faith of the Christian church, of which he became a member at the age of 16, and for years held the honorable offices of both elder and deacon, but in 1896 he and his wife decided to embrace the Roman Catholic faith and united with the church of Our Savior of this city. To this organization and its various enterprises he was extremely liberal. He gave the church a fine pipe organ, built an addition to the hospital, gave the property occupied by the Routt clib, gave $15,000 toward the erection of Routt college endowed it with $50,000 the day of its dedication and has done much more besides, amounting in all to probably $175,000 or $200,000.
For upward of thirty years Mr. Routt had been a resident of what is now South Jacksonville, and he and his son Harvey carefully guarded their great interests and managed them well. The death of hsi son, his only child, was a great blow from which he did not recover.
Mr. Routt was married in 1870 to Miss Martha Ann Ransdall of this county and they were the parents of one son, Harvey, who passed away not long since. He was the only remaining member of his family, his brother William having died in 1894, and his sister, Mrs. Lewis, several years ago.
the deceased was a man widely known and respected. He was a person of superior business qualifications and his judgment was excellent. He was scrupulously honorable in his dealings and once his word was given it was a lien on all he owned. His home life was truly beautiful and he as much devoted to his loved ones. He had a fine library and his residence contained all that wealth could supply to make life pleasant. He was a good neighbor and loved to grant favors to those worthy to receive them. His death marks the end of the career of an upright, honorabler man and one who will be missed in many ways.
The funeral will be conducted Friday morning in the Church of Our Savior at 9 o'clock and burial will be in Cavalry Cemetery.