Mystery Monday - Who tells the family?

This question was always there, it just had not shown itself to me until now. What is the question you ask?

Well, before I tell you, let me ask you a question.

A person moves away from their family to the other side of the country, settles down but doesn't get married or have children, and lives the rest of their life in this "new" area. When this person dies, who let's the family know that this person has died? You know, the family that they left behind to move out west, back east or just simply away.

So that question sparked the question that I finally asked myself...Who let my Kentucky ancestor know that his brother had died in Genoa, Nevada?

The answer to this question...I don't know. But someone sure as shooting did!

How do I know that my Kentucky ancestor knew about the death of his Nevada living brother? Well, it's right there in the family bible, written in my ancestor's handwriting and everything.

Sorry for the blurry picture. Garland Slemmons, in the left column, age 74 yr. Died Apr 25, 1898

But Deborah, it doesn't say that Garland died in Nevada, how do you know that?

Excellent question my dear Watson! (can you tell that I watched the last Sherlock Holmes movie last night?)

Anyway, I have Garland's obituary and death record that prove when he died in Genoa, Nevada. But while reading his obituary the above question crossed my mind again:

"Death of Another Pioneer -
Garland Slemmons, better known as "Major Slemmons," died at his home in Genoa last Monday morning about 3 o'clock. Deceased was a native of Kentucky and 75 years of age.

He was a bachelor and a warmhearted old man, a great reader and a life-long Democrat, Well informed and deeply interested in the affairs of the nation, he was always ready to enter into a political disenssion, expressing his views and convictions firmly, earnestly and emphatically. He went into a political debate with the same energy an ordinary man displays in putting out a fire. His speech was earnest, his actions forcible and impressive. He was a searcher after truth and he longed to solve the mystery of things, especially things of a political nature. A good, honest, true-hearted old man was Major.

Mr Slemmons came to California in early days and engaged in placer mining in El Durado county. In 1860 or '61 he came to Genoa and resided here ? from that date.
He leaves no relatives in this section. He said a few days before his death that he had relatives years ago in Kentucky, but that he had not heard from them for years and he did not know whether they were alive yet or not.

He leaves a small amount of property and ?? old house and lot in Genoa.
The funeral took place Tuesday evening at 1 o'clock from the M. E. Church, Rev. George ??. The remains were buried in Genoa cemetery, beside the graves of ? V. Spencer and George ? {two old friends of the deceased.}"
April 29 1898 R.C. newspaper."

Did they (the settlers of his estate, his local friends or someone else) put an inquiry into a Kentucky paper to locate the family of Garland Slemmons long ago resident? I don't know, but I would really like to find out.

How long did it take for them (the Kentucky family) to hear of the death? I don't know, but there was a "hunt" for Kentucky family members, it couldn't have taken to long because Asher (my Kentucky ancestor) died almost two years later on 21 Apr 1900.

Do you have any unexplained cross-country notifications? If so, how were they worded? How long did it take for word to make it back of the death?

Hope you enjoyed, glad you stopped by and please come back again ;)