1901 saw the end of an era with the closing of the post office at Guy, Missouri. Not long after, the postmaster and general store owner, Hiram Knepper, also left this mortal coil.
From the July 12, 1901 Skidmore Standard, page 1:
Obituary
Hiram Knepper was born August 7, 1839 in Quince, Franklin county, Pennsylvania; died June 30, 1901, at his home, Guy, Mo., aged 61 years, 10 months and 23 days.
In 1862 he came to Osle county, Illinois, where he lived 15 years.
He was a volunteer in the Civil war, enlisting at Dixon, Illinois, and serving three years.
He was married in Oregon to Fredericka Stull in 1867.
In 1877 he moved to Atchison county, Mo., where he resided until death called him away.
He was made postmaster at Guy when the office was established, some 15 years ago, which position he held till recently abolished.
During this time he ran a country store and tended his farm.
In February he was taken with la grippe and had been failing since, though he had never taken his bed, and had sat on the porch on Sunday afternoon visiting with his neighbors, apparently better than for some time.
Death came suddenly and unexpected. He was stricken with paralysis of the heart and died sitting in his chair at 8:30 p.m. before relatives and friends could arrive.
He was buried at Walkup’s Grove cemetery July 3. His funeral services were conducted by Rev. Reuben Barrett of Skidmore.
Mr. Knepper was a quiet, unassuming man, an honorable and upright citizen and respected by all who knew him.
The relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were D. H. Knepper of El-Reno, Okla., and Mrs. Wolfkill of Garnett, Kansas. One daughter, Mrs. James Turner, of Seneca, Kansas arrived after the funeral.