Obituary of Dr. Richard Williams Chenault, Pulaski Co, AR

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Submitted by: Larry Chenault <chenault@airmail.net>
        Date: 1 Oct 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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From the Arkansas Gazette on January 1, 1907:

"Dr. Richard Chinault found dead in bed

"Well known Planter who resided on the Fletcher Place Dies Suddenly  
from Heart Failure

"Dr. Richard Chinault, a well know planter who has lived on the  
Fletcher place, 16 miles southeast of Little Rock, for the past 14  
years, was found dead in bed yesterday morning. An inquest held  
yesterday afternoon by Coroner E. P. Vaughter resulted in a verdict  
finding heart disease to have been the cause of his death.

"H. L. Fletcher, who accompanied the coroner to the Chinault home,  
stated that Dr. Chinault complained of heart trouble a week ago when  
he visited him, and Dr. Thibault, a physician who resides near Scott's  
Crossing, testified at the inquest that Dr. Chinault had asked his  
advice on several occasions. He stated that the deceased was afflicted  
with inflammation of the muscles round the heart.

"Mrs. Chinault stated that her husband went to bed early Sunday night  
and that she retired later. He got up about 10 o'clock and went out  
into the yard attired only in his night robe, saying that someone was  
bothering the chickens, but came back and went to bed in a few  
minutes. When Mrs. Chinault awakened yesterday morning she found him  
dead in his bed.

"Dr. Chinault was born in Jefferson county and would have been 48  
years of age today if he had lived. He had been a resident of Pulaski  
county for 36 years and had a wide circle of friends in this section.  
He is survived by his wife and six children. Fletcher Chinault, Miss  
Jennie Chinault, Mrs. Bernard Hoff, Miss Molly Chinault; George  
Chinault and Robert Chinault. Miss Jennie Chinault has been visiting  
relatives in Covington, Tenn. but has been notified of the death of  
her father and will reach the city today.

"The funeral will be held in Oakland cemetery this afternoon at 2  
o'clock and interment will follow there. The pallbearers will be  
______, Jack Gilbert, Dr. O.P. Robinson, Thomas Steele, John W. Mast,  
and Max Helman.

"Dr. Frederick von Keller and wife, relatives of Mrs. Chinault, will  
arrive this morning from Ardmore, I.T. to attend the funeral."

Other information:

Dr. Chenault was the 5th child of Stephen Jackson Chenault born in  
Taladega, Alabama and wife Jeanette (Jane) Williams who was born 1830  
in Saline County, Arkansas. Stephen Jackson died in the Civil War  
while serving with Dockery's Arkansas infantry (Company C. 19th  
regiment).
Dr. Chenault was born January 1, 1859 (or 1860) and married Sophia  
Clay Fletcher on January 28, 1881. She had been earlier married to  
John S. Fletcher who had died.
Besides the surviving children listed in the obituary, the following  
children were born to them but did not survive Dr. Chenault's passing.  
They were William Richard, William Oliver, Charles W., John McClure,  
and Sallie Elizabeth.


In the photo below, Dr. Richard Williams Chenault and wife, Sopia Clay  
Fletcher Chenault.

The photo is included at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/photos/people/chenaultrw.jpg