Obituaries from the Batesville Record, Batesville, Independence Co., AR, for 5 Apr 1907 and 19 Apr 1907-10 May 1907 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Regina Weaver ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Mrs. Mary Baker William Aikin Mrs. Ben Watkins Mrs. Evaline McGee boy Ponder Ben Davis Mrs. M.E. Jessup Charles Campbell Lon Wilson girl Smith Ed Carthel Thomas Snellgrove Louis Bryant Abe Tate Chales G. McColloh John W. Sims Ed Kitchens ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Batesville Record Friday, April 5, 1907 (Supplement page) DEATH AT CAVE CITY Mrs. Mary Baker died at Cave City Sunday night, of typhoid fever, and the husband, John W. Baker is very low with the same disease while a son is very low with pneumonia at Newport. Mrs. Baker was 45 years old. The remains were taken to Newport Tuesday night for burial, accompanied by Miss Maud Baker, a daughter, Miss Jessie Ellis and George V. Foushee and James Lucre, relatives. (Same page) THE LATE CAPT. AIKIN A SKETCH OF HIS LONG LIFE, SPENT IN THIS PART OF ARKANSAS (Melbourne Times) William Aikin was born in North Carolina and when 14 years old his parents moved to this state and settled in Izard County. At the age of about 25 years he was married to Miss Kate Rudolph. To this union three children were born - two boys and a girl, all of whom are now dead. In 1849, when the California gold excitement was at its height, Mr. Aikin and family joined an emigrant train and went west in search of fortune. After six years spent in California, they returned to Izard County and settled at Sylamore, where Mr. Aikin engaged in the mercantile business until the breaking out o the civil war in 1860, when he closed out his business at that place and moved to Batesville, where he lived for more than twenty years. Here he lost his wife. After her death, Mr. Aikin and his son Charley returned to Sylamore and sold goods for W.E. Maxfield for several years, after which time they moved on up the river to Calico Rock, where they were again employed by Mr. Maxfield until about twelve years ago, when Mr. Maxfield discontinued business. Mr. Aikin remained at Calico Rock for several years. He served as postmaster for a number of years. In 1897 he was again married, this time to Polly Hixon, who died three years later. After the death of his second wife Mr. Aikin moved to Sulphur Rock to live with his son Charley, who later moved to Gassville, Baxter County, where he was taken sick early last fall and gradually grew worse. He was taken to Little Tock for treatment and died there some two or three months ago. Upon the death of his only child the good old man's already feeble health failed rapidly and he died on the 11th. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Batesville Record Friday, April 19, 1907 (page 2) A SUDDEN DEATH The Melbourne Register says the wife of Rev. Ben Watkins (colored), near LaCrosse, died very suddenly Tuesday morning. While talking and laughing with her children, she fell off the chair and expired instantly. She had been in poor health for some time. (Same page) SUDDEN DEATH AT BENGAY The Evening Shade Record says that Mrs. Evaline McGee, who lived about two miles from Bengay, died very suddenly Wednesday of last week. It is said that she was sitting in her chair and suddenly fell out and expired. Heart failure is supposed to have been the cause. (page 5) KILLED BY FALLING TREE The 12-year-old son of John W. Ponder, who lives near Kirby, was killed by a falling tree Wednesday. The boy was plowing in the field and when he reached the fence the tree fell on him from the outside. (page 8) KILLED BY FALLING LIMB BEN DAVIS MEETS DEATH WHILE WORKING IN THE WOODS Bellmore, April 15 - A sad accident occurred on the mountain last Friday. While Ben Davis was working in the timber a limb fell and struck him on the head, crushing his skull. He died at 8 o'clock Friday night. He leaves a wife and several children to mourn his death. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Batesville Record Friday, April 26, 1907 (page 1) MRS. M.E. JESSUP This good woman died at an early hour this morning at her home at Jamestown, after an illness of several weeks. She came with her husband and children from Missouri to Jamestown in 1871, and had lived there ever since. The husband, who was a blacksmith, died about ten years ago. They had four children. Mrs. Mary E. Chandler, the only daughter, lives at Lebanon, Mo.; W.R. and L.B. Jessup at Jamestown, and J.E. Jessup at Casey, Ark. Mrs. Jessup was a member of the Baptist church, and between 70 and 80 years of age at the time of her death. She will be buried this afternoon at Jamestown. (page 2) DROWNED IN RED RIVER Charles Campbell, 25 years old, was drowned in Red river, four miles east of Heber Saturday, and the body has not been recovered, although every effort is being made to find it. He stepped on a raft in the river and the weight of his body sent the raft to the bottom. Campbell sank with the raft and was drowned. (same Page) ACCIDENTALLY KILLED Lon Wilson of Harrison, who recently moved to Texas, accidentally shot himself last week, from the effects of which he died. He was riding in a wagon and in some way a shotgun lying in the bed of the wagon was accidentally discharged, the loads in both barrels entering his body. (same page) CHOKED ON NAIL A LITTLE CHILD SUFFERS A PECULIAR DEATH AT CALICO ROCK The Progress gives the following account of the death of the little two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Smith of Calico Rock on Wednesday morning. "About nine days before the death of the child she complained of her throat and at times she would almost strangle. It was evident she had swallowed something, and she would say "nail, nail," but no one knew what the little sufferer meant. On the ninth day, after Dr. Smith had administered an emitic, the child vomited up a six-penny wire nail. It had lodged in the bronchial tube, causing inflammation and resulting in toxine poisoning. The child died a few hours after vomiting up the nail." (page 3) ED CARTHEL DEAD Ed Carthel died this morning at 8 o'clock, after an illness since Monday, from pneumonia. He was about forty years old and leaves a wife and eight children. He had lived in Batesville practically all his life, and for several years had driven a job wagon about town. He will be buried Sunday in Oaklawn cemetery. Deceased was a grandson of the late Col. Robert A. Childress of Washington township. (page 5) DIED OF CONSUMPTION Thomas Snellgrove, a young man 23 years of age, died of consumption at 11 o'clock Wednesday, at the home of his parents, near Moorefield, after an illness of three years. The remains were buried today at Lee's chapel. (page 8) AN OLD CONFEDERATE Louis Bryant died of heart failure, after an illness of several months, at the home of Jas. F. Huddleston, in Gainsboro township, on Tuesday, April 23rd. He was 74 years old, and a Confederate soldier, having served in the Eighth Arkansas Infantry as musician. He was buried in Liberty cemetery, after appropriate services, by Rev. James Northern. He leaves a few relatives and a host of friends, who will long remember him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Batesville Record Friday, May 3, 1907 (page 1) A VERY OLD NEGRO Conway, April 29. - Uncle Abe Tate, an ex-slave, 106 years old, and the oldest person in this county, was buried today at the negro cemetery. his death resulted from old age. (page 2) IN MEMORIAM Hall of Barren Fork Lodge, No. 181, A.F. & A.M., Barren Fork, Ark. "There's nothing terrible in death. "Tis but to cast our robes away And sleep at night without a breath, To break repose till dawn of day." (page 5) A VETERAN'S DEATH Chales G. McColloh, a citizen of the county for quite half a century, and possibly longer, died at his home in Greenbrier township at midnight Tuesday. He was 74 years of age, and had been in good health until about a month ago, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis. He had almost recovered from the effects of that, when he sustained a second stroke Saturday night, from which he died. He was a Confederate soldier and an excellent citizen; was twice married and leaves a family of six children. His remains will be buried Thursday at Alderbrook. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Batesville Record Friday, May 10, 1907 (page 5) AN OLD CITIZEN DEAD John W. Sims, an old citizen of Greenbrier, died Wednesday night on his farm near Jamestown. He had been ill for some time from heart trouble. Mr. Sims was born in South Carolina, seventy-four years ago, came to this county in 1856, and has lived here ever since, except when in the Confederate army. He was married to Miss Jane Baker just about the time the war broke out, and she survives him, though the couple have no children. The remains will be buried at Alderbrook Friday. Deceased was a member of the Baptist church and an uncle of Albert Sims, County Clerk. (Same page) ROBERT H. ALLEN THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS DROWNED NEAR COTTER TUESDAY. The member of the force of telegraph linemen, who was drowned on Tuesday, on the railroad above here, was Robert H. Allen. The accident occurred six miles this side of Cotter, Tuesday afternoon. The young man attempted to swim out to a telegraph pole, which the overflow had surrounded, and on which he was to string a wire. His companions suppose he was seized with cramps, and drowned before assistance could be given him. The young man came from Tennessee, where he was raised, and joined the force of linemen, under Foremen Bently, engaged in stringing the extra wire between Newport and Carthage. He was twenty-three years old and unmarried and his body had not been recovered at last accounts. There were fourteen men in the party, and young Allen was known among his associates as "Carolina". (page 8) KILLED BY AN ENGINE A DRUNKEN NEGRO GOES TO SLEEP BESIDE THE TRACK SATURDAY NIGHT, JUST ACROSS THE RAILROAD BRIDGE, AND HIS SKULL IS CRUSHED. Ed Kitchens, a negro living on "Tallow Hill", three miles west of town and working land in the river bottom, was killed at 2 o'clock Sunday morning, in Hinkle's field, about 75 yards beyond the railroad bridge across the bayou, just out of town, by a passing engine. Kitchens was a darkey of good reputation, his one fault being his love for drink. He was in town Saturday and bought some groceries from Welborn, and was last seen alive about the rink after night. He was drinking, and it is supposed that, on his way home, he lay down beside the track, with his head near the rail, and met his death. A disabled engine, used on a work train, left Newark about 11 o'clock under orders to go to Cotter for repairs. It was in charge of Engineer Garner, Fireman Woodell and Pilot Whitlock. As the engine passed the spot where Kitchens was lying, Garner caught sight of the form on the ground, the engine was stopped and the men went back and found that the man had been struck and was unconscious. They returned to town and wakened Dr. Lawrence, the railroad surgeon, who went with them and found the negro dead. Sunday morning Justice Six, in the absence of Coroner Flinn, who lives below Elmo, the southern extremity of the county, summoned a jury and began an inquest. An examination of the body revealed a broken skull, with the brains protruding from the wound. Beside the body was the sack of groceries and inside a pocket was a bottle containing some whiskey. The family of the deceased was then permitted to remove the body and bury it. The inquest was resumed this morning at the Court House, the members of the jury being: Caliborne Pearce, John Johnson, Joe Foster, W. W. Warren, Jas. Swaim, W.M. Dawson, F. P. Albright, Mark Luster, Jas. Harmon, J.R. Brown, H.A. Bickers, M.O. Kennard, Ernest Kinman and W.H. Sanders. The testimony of the three railroad men was taken, they having returned from Cotter for that purpose, and of Dr. Lawrence, Bob Bone, and Will Thompson, the last-named being colored. The verdict was that Kitchens had been struck in the head by the sleeve-bolt of the tank truck of the passing engine and killed. No blame was attached. Some of the officers were inclined to think that Kitchens might have come to his death by other means. He had lately had trouble with some of his negro neighbors, "Tallow Hill" being a well known negro community; and a few nights ago an effort was made to call him from his house, but he refused to go. It is said that on Saturday night a couple of negroes from that neighborhood made inquiry for him here in town. But no evidence along this line was presented at the inquest, and the jury believe the negro had fallen into a drunken sleep beside the track and been killed by the passing engine.