the following obituary abstracts are from Selected Death Notices From Jackson County, Kansas Newspapers, Vol. V; compiled by Dan Fenton:
The Holton Recorder
May 15, 1902
Samuel Newman, Sr., died at his rooms in the Newman block Tuesday, May 13, 1902...Samuel Newman was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, in the year 1846 and came to this county in 1867. His education was very limited and when he landed in Kansas he possessed a fairly comfortable suit of clothes with nothing in his pockets and with only health and plenty of energy. 
He was married a few months later and worked by the month for a while to support himself and wife. He commenced his remarkable business career by trading horses and dickering with whomever he could get to trade with him. He next became an auctioneer in which he soon became an expert and for years his services were in demand in every part of the county at his own price. 
He soon began to buy and trade in farms as well as in stock and his substance increased rapidly. 
Then he went into the banking business at a time when interest rates were high, in which he took precarious chances for the sake of the big interest he could command. Until his block burned last summer he had been engaged in the dry good business for several years. His estate is variously estimated to be worth from $50,000 to $75,000. He leaves one son, Samuel, Jr. and three daughters. Mrs. Newman died two or three years ago .... His large business block on the north side of the square has twice burned down and once was considerably damaged by fire. On each occasion he arose to the necessities of the situation and had laborers at work almost before the slumbering fires went out .... 

The Holton Signal
May 21, 1902
.... Born at Plummer's county, Kentucky, May Stn 1902, he was 55 years and 5 days old .... he was married, May 16, 1869, to Lydia M. McCoy, a daughter of the late Nelson McCoy, who was at that time a blacksmith in this city. After his marriage he resided in Holton about eight months and then moved to a farm three miles west of Holton, and although he moved back to town some years later, he has ever since been the owner of several farms .... engaged in the mercantile business, in which he was interested, until April, 1901, when his block was burned the second time, it having been consumed and rebuilt in 1887. He also carried on a general merchandise store at Soldier .... His wife died some years ago, and he leaves to mourn his death one son, Samuel D., and three daughters, Estella, Jessie L. and Effie B. Two children died in infancy .... He also leaves an aged 
mother and three brothers and two sisters .... remains to their last resting place in the Holton cemetery. 

The Holton Recorder
May 22, 1902
Soldier. John Newman was at Holton Wednesday and Thursday attending his brother Sam Newman's funeral. 

Jackson County World
May 16, 1902
... a brother of Mrs. Geo. Pope of this place.