Lenora
1864-1909
“Dr. J R. Gunston suffered a stroke of paralysis, last Saturday night a few minutes past 12 o’clock; his entire right side being affected.
“The doctor and his family had just returned from witnessing “A Bachelor’s Honeymoon” at the opera house and were preparing to retire when he remarked to his wife about a queer feeling in his head and in a few minutes he was both helpless and speechless. Dr. Mattie Day and Dr. Williams were called and the neighbors were summoned and every thing that human hands could do was done to relieve him. Sunday morning Dr. Wilson and Cole of Norton and Dr. Lottie Finley of Hill City came and a consultation of the five doctors were held, they thought he had a fair chance to recover. Dr. Lathrop of Norton, has since been called to consult with the other doctors, and it was felt he could be saved, but it would be a long hard pull and require good nursing.”—Lenora News, Thursday Feb. 4, 1909
*It was January 30 that Dr. Gunston had the stroke, and he passed away Monday night February 8, at 9:15 o’clock.
Joseph R. Gunston was born in Ontario, Canada, April 4, 1864. He was 44 years, 10 months and 4 days. He first came to Kansas in 1885 and settled at Kirwin, where for several years he practiced medicine. On Feb. 11, 1891 he was married to Miss Dora Miller. He came to Lenora in September 1904 which every since has been his home and where he has acquired the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He is mourned by his wife and two children, an aged mother, four brothers and three sisters, and all his friends.
The funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon at one o’clock, Feb. 11, at the opera house, which was packed with friends and relatives. Rev. W. C. Littell of the Methodist Church officiated. The Masonic order had charge and conducted the service at the grave. Buried in Lenora South Cemetery
His wife Dora Miller Gunston, was born in Linn, Decatur County, Iowa, on October 14, 1871 and died at Hoxie, Kansas, January 29, 1921, she was 49 years, 3 months and 7 days. In 1877 she moved to Smith County, Kansas and was married to Dr. J. R. Gunston, in February 11, 1891. Three children were born to this union, one child died in infancy and a son, Carl, died for his country, at Camp Funston, November 5, 1917, leaving but one child living, Mrs. Violet Pratt of Hoxie. After the doctor’s death Dora moved to Hoxie, so her children might have access to a high school, and her daughter Mrs. Pratt was graduated from the county high school and became one of the county’s highly successful teachers. Besides her daughter, she is survived by brothers, Ira Miller, of Gaylord, Dr. Miller of Kansas City, Will Miller of Omaha and Alvah Miller of Penokee, Kansas.
Rev. Aldoph Haberly officiated at her funeral at the Presbyterian Church in Hoxie, and she was buried beside her husband in the Lenora South Cemetery. From Hoxie Sentinel reprinted in Lenora news.
Family Archives Genealogical records of Deceased American Physicians:
Name- Gunston, Joseph R. Death-Feb. 8, 1909, Practice-Electic
State and years of license- Kansas—1904
School- Electic Medical University, Kansas City—1904 (G)
Journal of the American medical Association. Citation-52:791