Phil Rector sent the long following passage:342
General Notes: OLA ELMER RECTOR was born on September 30, 1889 in Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri.
Ola was a farmer, carpenter, coal miner, and auto mechanic. He owned an automobile repair shop in Milford, Missouri for a time.
Ola married MARIE ANGELINE HARRIS, the daughter of WILLIAM ALBERT HARRIS and MARGARETTE LOUISA HENDRIX, on September 10, 1910 in Lamar, Barton County, Missouri. Ola and Marie were married by Paul Tucker, Judge of Probate.

The 1910 census shows Ola Rector living with his family in Milford, Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri. Ola E Rector; Age in 1910: 20; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890; Birthplace: Missouri; Relation to Head of House: Son; Father's Name: William D; Father's Birth Place: Missouri; Mother's Name: Adeline M; Mother's Birth Place: Missouri; Home in 1910: Milford, Barton, Missouri; Marital Status: Single; Race: White; Gender: Male; Household Members: William D Rector - 53; Adeline M Rector - 49; Ola E Rector - 20.
In 1911 Ola was living with his wife in Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri.

Ola registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. The World War I Draft Registration Card shows Ola Elmer Rector was 27 years old. He was living at RFD 1, Milford, Missouri. His birthday was September 30, 1889. He was a natural born citizen. He was born in Milford, Missouri. He was a farmer. He was employed in Newport Township, Missouri He was married and had two children. He was described as being tall, medium build, dark gray eyes, black hair, and had the lost of four fingers on his right hand.
Ola became a member of Harmony Baptist Church, Barton County, Missouri on July 22, 1917.

The 1920 census shows Ola Rector living with his family in Doylesport Township, Barton County, Missouri. Ola E Rector; Home in 1920: Doylesport, Barton, Missouri; Age: 30 years; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890; Birthplace: The 1900 census shows Ola Rector living with his parents in Milford Township, Barton County Missouri. Olla E Rector; Home in 1900: Milford, Barton, Missouri; Age: 10; Birth Date: Sep 1889; Birthplace: Missouri; Race: White; Ethnicity: American; Relationship to head-of-house: Son; Father's Name: William D; Father's Birthplace: Missouri; Mother's Name: Belle; Mother's Birthplace: Missouri; Marital Status: Single; Residence: Milford & Newport Townships, Barton, Missouri; Household Members: William D Rector - 41; Belle Rector - 37; Burty L Rector - 15; Freddy Rector - 12; Olla E Rector - 10. Missouri; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's Name: Marie A; Father's Birth Place: Missouri; Mother's Birth Place: Nebraska; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Sex: Male; Home owned: Rent; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes; Image: 832; Household Members: Ola E Rector: 30; Marie A Rector: 27; Orville L Rector: 9; Loren E Rector: 4 3/12; Cecil L Rector: 1 4/12.

The 1930 census shows Ola Rector living with his family in Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri. Olie E Rector; Home in 1930: Milford, Barton, Missouri; Age: 40; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890; Birthplace: Missouri; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's Name: Marie A; Race: White; Occupation: Education: Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace: Household Members: Olie E Rector - 40; Marie A Rector - 38; Orville Rector - 18; Lorene Rector - 13.

Ola enjoyed hunting and fishing. He played the fiddle at barn dances along with John Russell and Delbert Pritchett.
Ola died of a tumor located on the spinal cord on March 2, 1937 in Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri. He is buried in Howell Cemetery, Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri.

Ola's obituary was published in the Lamar Democrat in Lamar, Missouri on March 1937.

Death Follows Five Years of Suffering From a Disease, That was Long, Mysterious and Beyond Solution
Ola Rector 47, who died, Tuesday at his home, on the old Judge Isenhower place, two and a quarter miles northeast of Milford, suffered terrible tortures, from a cancer of the spinal cord in the lumbar or lower region of the spine. Ola was six feet tall, and powerfully built, industrious and successful when his trouble came. He first began to complain of a severe pain in his back. He still looked the picture of health, and went about his work, in spite of his suffering. Friends and neighbors, as the weeks went by began to conclude there wasn't much the matter with Ola. Dr. Claude Duckett, who treated Ola during his long illness, says when his friend first came to see him, complaining of his back, he looked so well and so strong that he didn't really believe there was anything seriously wrong.

As the months went by the pains not only continued in the back, but they ran down the backs of the thighs. Dr. Duckett then for a time thought Ola had sciatic rheumatism. But in time he concluded it was not rheumatism. What it was however, he frankly said, he couldn't tell. Ola went through Dr. Herbert Smith's clinic, at Pittsburg. Dr. Smith was pretty sure he had sciatica. He punctured the sciatic nerves administering a special treatment.

A year and a half after Ola began to suffer, he had to take to his bed. He suffered so much, he ate little. It got to the point he had to have mild sedatives to sleep.

Dr. Duckett had Ola taken finally to the Bell Memorial Hospital. The diagnosticians were absolutely unable to determine the cause of his trouble. He was brought back to suffer for months, then he was taken again to the great Bell Memorial Clinic. The specialists still shook their heads. Finally Dr. Duckett had him taken again, last May, when representatives of the American Medical Association from every state in the Union had gathered. It was during this visit that an examination of the patient's spinal fluid, convinced the doctors that he was suffering from a cancerous growth, in the lower part of the spinal cord. It was then that Dr. Francisco, a noted bone specialist, performed an operation on Ola called stabilizing the spinal column. It consisted of taking a piece of bone from the patient's leg, and grafting it along on the processes in the lumbar region of the spine, where it was apparent the cancer was in the cord. As the bone attached itself to the column, it made this part of it absolutely rigid or stiff, so that as he moved this part
of the spine would remain immobile. Before as the column "gave" to the motions of the body, it disturbed the diseased part of the cord. With the bone attached to hold it stable, this did not occur.

For about two months Ola was much easier. He could sleep and he ate quite well. He very perceptibly gained in weight. But the time came, when the malignancy grew on past the "stabilized" area. The terrible pain came back. The cancerous growths began to extend through the bowels. At one point, at least the intestine was stopped up by the growth. In addition to suffering all of the pain, Ola began to vomit. He could hold nothing on his stomach. His only relief was the most powerful opiates. Just before the end, two and quarter grains of morphine were administered every hour. Even this would not produce sleep. It had to be accompanied by another powerful lethal drug. He was emaciated to skin and bone. All that he suffered, during the long period of his affliction, no man can conceive. His wife, ever at his side, saw all of this anguish. It was an experience that made death a thrice blessed relief.
The body was taken to the Beeny Mortuary to be prepared for burial. Funeral services, conducted by Geo. Beeny, were held at the Milford Christian Church, at 2 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon, with interment in Howell Cemetery.

Before her marriage to Ola, in 1910, Mrs. Rector was Miss Anna Harris. Ola leaves her with four sons, Orville, who is married, lives at Nevada; Loren, who has a position in Nevada; Cecil 18, and Leon eight, both at home.

Ola's obituary was published in the Sheldon Newspaper in Sheldon, Missouri on March 4, 1937.
Ola Rector, a resident of the Milford community where he was born and spent his entire life, died on Tuesday morning at his home, known as the old Isenhour place. He had reached the age of 47 years, five months, and 2 days. He had been confined to his home the last 2 years with serious spinal trouble. Services were held Wednesday at the Milford Christian Church with the G B Beeny Funeral Home in charge. Interment was in Howell Cemetery. Survivors include his widow, 4 sons, Orvil, Loren, Cecil, Leon and his father Bill Rector. Ola Elmer Rector born on September 18, 1889 in Barton County. On September 28, 1910 he was married to Miss Marie Angeline Harris. To this union 4 children were born. He became a member of the Harmony Baptist Church.342