Eugene "Grandpa" Clement Kendrick
Funeral Services Held Here for Eugene Kendrick, Last Pony Express Rider
Funeral services were held Friday afternoon from the Peet Chapel in Lusk for Eugene C. Kendrick, 85, of Lance Creek, who is said to be the last pony express rider. He rode as a pony express messenger between Sidney and Niobrara Roadhouse in Nebraska back in the days when the west was young.
Mr. Kendrick died October 8 of exposure, pneumonia and the infirmities of old age. He had been the object of a three day search in the area north of Lance Creek earlier this month. He had wandered away from the home of his son, Irvin Kendrick.
Eugene Clement Kendrick was born September 7, 1872 at Avena, Ill. and moved with his family to the Niobrara Valley in the vicinity of Marsland, Nebr. in 1885.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Jacob Nein and interment was in the Lusk cemetery.
Mrs. Carl Peterson and Mrs. Otha B. Holcomb sang "Beautiful Isle" and "Old Rugged Cross," Mrs. J. P. Watson was organist. Pall bearers were James Groves, George Hepner, Olin Kerns, Fred Henton, Mike Miller and D. F. Wilson.
Survivors include one son, a daughter and two sisters. His wife Rose, a brother and one sister previously died.
The Lusk Herald
Oct. 10, 1957
Lost Man Dies 4 Days After Being Found
Eugene C. Kendrick, 84, died in the Spencer Hospital in Lusk about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday as a result of exposure and pneumonia. He was the object of a search which started Thursday evening and lasted until he was found Saturday morning.
He was spotted from a plane piloted by Grady Criss. Richard Hoy was in the plane as a spotter. He was brought to Lusk by the Highway Patrol.
Thursday evening Mr. Kendrick, commonly called Grandpa, wandered away from the home of his son, Irvin Kendrick, in Lance Creek. He was found alive but in poor condition, in a canyon near a sheep pasture on the Leo Thompson ranch about five miles north of Lance Creek.
Many people from Lance Creek and surrounding community joined the search that started intensively Friday and continued through Saturday morning. Every means was used in covering the area where he was believed to be after Leo Thompson, flying over his sheep, saw Mr. Kendrick Friday morning about 8:00. Six planes were used from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, including those of Art Joss, Jr., Mr. Criss, Charles Christian, Jim Thompson, Leo Thompson and Leslie Huff.
Of the two nights spent out in the open the second night, Friday, was wet and cold. It is believed he spent that night under a ledge in the canyon where he was found. He was wearing only a light blue, cotton shirt and cotton Khaki pants.
The only accident reported among the searchers happened when one of the searchers picked up what he thought was something that Mr. Kendrick might have dropped. It was a cyanide gun for killing coyotes and the searcher suffered acid burns on the hand but no other ill effects.
Funeral service for Mr. Kendrick will be held from the Peet Chapel in Lusk at 2:00 p.m. Friday with Rev. Jacob Nein officiating. Interment will be in the Lusk Cemetery.