Where the Skeletons are Buried: Finds in obituary index
This month's column from Carole Cross
Where the Skeletons are Buried: Finds in obituary index This month's column from Carole Cross Check out this story on coshoctontribune.com: http://ohne.ws/1wsarfs
Carole Etchells Cross Published 5:03 p.m. ET Oct. 25, 2014
In our previous article, we talked about the value of newspaper death notices. The following information is drawn from "The Index to Newspaper Obituaries 1826-1908," located in the Coshocton Public Library.
While researching for this article, I was surprised to find vast numbers of infant deaths, shotgun mishaps, railroad and hunting accidents, runaway vehicles, drownings and plague victims, some of which are listed below. Without the benefit of technology and medicine advancements we take for granted, the following obituaries tell tales of pioneer families who settled Coshocton's early years.
• Enoch Haines, son of John M., shot in Missouri. The Age, Dec. 1, 1893.
• Benjamin Gilbert, 14, son of Silas, killed in a hunting accident. The Age and The Times, Sept. 5, 1907.
• Rolla Boys, 15, accidentally shot. The Daily Age, Aug. 8, 1900, and The Democrat Standard, Aug. 10, 1900.
• William Brown, accidentally killed. The Democrat, March 27, 1877.
• Howard Smith, 14, son of Wesley, killed by his brother. The Democrat June 9, 1903 and The Democrat Standard, June 12, 1903.
• Lincoln Barnes, 20, West Bedford, son of Hesikiah, shot accidentally. The Age, June 28, 1879. (Note: The actual index indicates 1979, which is incorrect and reminds us to double check all references.)
Trains also presented accidental danger.
• Dent Mc Murphy, killed when an engine dropped through a bridge. The Democrat, Dec. 16, 1884.
• Fred Baad, Chili, killed by a train. The Democrat Standard and The Age, Oct. 6, 1905.
• Then there was the Bell family and railroad accidents that killed two Georges. George W. Bell, 19, was killed by train. His obituary is found in The Age, Dec. 8, 1905. George Bell died when a steam engine exploded. The Democrat, June 11, 1867.
• A third George, named Bender, also was killed by a train a year earlier. The Democrat Standard, Jan. 30, 1904.
• The Rev. James W. Perkins, 71, fell from a train. The Age and The Democrat Standard, Oct. 14, 1904.
Runaways were common, but there's no indication whether they were runaway trains or horses.
• Dr. B.C. Blackburn, 72, Roscoe, killed in runaway. The Age and The Democrat Standard, Jan. l, 1900.
• Mrs. Mary Benell, killed in runaway. The Age, Dec. 8 and 11 1903.
• Mrs. William Berry, East Union, killed in runaway. The Age, Aug. 9, 1872.
Researchers might be lucky enough to find a profession listed in the index. Here are a few examples.
• Sprague Bainter, Linton Township, 8, famous maker of split bottom chairs. The Age, March 1, 1884.
• Dr. John Anderson, 72, owned a drugstore in Coshocton. The Age and Democrat, April 23, 1889.
• Joseph Bedell, Lock 17, canal boat captain. The Democrat Standard, Feb. 22, 1902.
• Joe Mc Call, 50, traveling medicine peddler. The Age, June 8, 1894.
• George E. Neutse, one of the first mail carriers in Coshocton. The Age and The Democrat Standard, Jan. 12, 1906.
• S.C. Jordan, the first mayor in West Lafayette. The Democrat, Nov. 23, 1900, and The Age Daily, Nov. 20, 1900.
• James Taylor Senior, 61, died in California, established the first woolen mill in Coshocton. The Age, Jan. 19, 1872, and the The Democrat, Jan. 20, 1872.
• Capt. George W. Smailes, once a resident of Coshocton, died in Illinois; buried in Branch Church in Coshocton County. The Age and The Times, Jan. 9, 1908.
• The Rev. George W. Pepper, formerly on the Methodist Episcopal circuit, organized the 80th Ohio Voluntary Infantry for the Civil War when at Keene. The Democrat, Aug. 8, and 15, 1899.
It was a bad time to be named William.
• William Neleens, 16, New Castle, killed by log rolling on him. The Democrat, Dec. 28, 1871.
• William Hesket from Linton Township, killed by falling tree. The Democrat, July 5, 1881.
• William Stiner, age 16, killed by falling clay. The Age and the Democrat Standard, April 20, 1900.
Other fascinating stories abound in obituaries.
• Louis Wentz, son of L.P., killed when arresting draft evaders. The Democrat, Sept. 2, 1863.
• Charles Besser, 2, son of Isaac, drowned. The Age and The Democrat Standard, June 16, 1899.
• Isaac, son of Charles, was killed in a coal mine accident. The Democrat Standard, March 17, 1899, and The Age, March 19, 1899.
• James Fitch, murdered. The Progressive Age, Nov. 11, 1857.
• John Homer, 2, son of John, scalded to death. The Age, Sept. 22, 1905.
• Julia Fisher, daughter of John, 3, burned to death. The Age, Aug. 27, 1899.
• Mr. and Mrs. Alex Harding and son Alex, 17, all died within six days. The Democrat Standard, Feb. 12, 1892.
• Fred Hurlbutt, 10, son of L.H., killed on a merry-go-round in Columbus, July 20, 1897, and The Democrat Standard, July 16, 1897.
As you've realized by now, these obituaries are loaded with valuable historical and family information available in the archives of the local history room in Coshocton's Public Library. Good hunting.
Carole Etchells Cross is a member of the Coshocton County Genealogy Society, which meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month in the basement of the Coshocton Public Library. For more information, visit www.coshoctongenealogy.org.
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