BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, JAN. 4, 1901 An infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Zonkle, of Oolitic, died Monday morning and was buried Tuesday afternoon, at Green Hill. NOTE: Joseph Zonkle: 21 May 1900 – 31 Dec. 1900. Burial in Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford, IN.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, JAN. 4, 1901 Samuel Alexander, the only brother of J. D. Alexander, of this city, died a few days ago at his home in Nebraska, at the age of 65 years. Samuel was born and raised in Bloomington, and left that place 40 years ago. He was an uncle of Mrs. W. L. Adams, of Bloomington.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, JAN. 4, 1901 C. H. Ball, who had been called to Huron by the death of his father, James Ball, who died the 6th of December, was in the city Wednesday, on his way to his home in Tekamah, Neb.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, JAN. 4, 1901 John LeFevre, a prominent hotel man of Kurtz, died Friday morning, of pneumonia, after an illness of two days. **************** McHenry Owen and wife returned from Brownstown Monday morning, where they had been to attend the funeral of John W. Lafever, which took place Sunday. Mr. Lafever was proprietor of the hotel at Zelma. The funeral was in charge of the Masons, of which he was a prominent member.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1900 Merty M. Ryer, a girl who lives with a family named Goldsby in this city, died Saturday at 5 o'clock, of typhoid fever, and was buried Friday at Williams.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1900 FORT RITNER A small child of Joseph Dowling, living near the tunnel, died Monday.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1900 INFAMY AND DEATH Leesville Girl, Enroute to Portland To Be Married, Enticed By Unknown Man. Portland, Ind., Dec. 24. – The finding of the body of Honora Benton in the river near Hurley, Wis., ends as cruel an infamy as history records. In the extreme eastern part of Lawrence county, Indiana, in the village of Leesville, in the home of her uncle, Miss Benton lived a happy life with a still happier prospect before her. She was soon to wed an exemplary young man in this city, and in two months, on becoming twenty-one years old, would have inherited $2,000. A pure, unsophisticated county girl, she left her home in Leesville, December 5, to meet her intended husband in this city, when they were to be married and begin life under favorable auspices. Enroute to Portland Miss Benton met an affable and fair appearing young man, who made himself agreeable to her. She asked him where she should change cars for Portland. He told her to leave the matter in his hands and she would reach her destination safely. At the point where she should have transferred he procured her a cup of coffee and a lunch, and Miss Benton knew no more until she found herself in the station at Chicago. She still trusted the young man who was with her, and who told her that he had drunk coffee at the same point she did; that he had fallen asleep, and that they had been carried past her transfer station to Chicago. Still professedly acting as her friend, the young man told her that he would take her to a hotel, where she could stay until morning, and then take the train to Portland. He kept her there a week under close surveillance, telling her that she was now his wife and that he would take her to his home in Wisconsin. Two days after Miss Benton's disappearance her lover in this city received a letter from her written from Chicago. It told the story of her ruin. She said that she was somewhere on Clark street. Her letter ended with this appeal: "Do save me from this man. I thought he was a gentleman. He says now I am married to him, and that tomorrow he is going to take me to a town in Wisconsin called Hurley. He tells the people here that I am his wife. There is a policeman who comes here. I told him and he said I would feel all right in a few days. The woman who waits on me says I am crazy, but it is enough to make any one mad, what this man has done to me. This place is on Clark street. They do and say such nasty things here. Dear, dear Jess, do save me! Your unfortunate HONORA." The lover wrote to the only relative he had in Chicago, a workingman of the name of Murphy, inclosing the letter and imploring him to rescue the girl. He also wrote to Miss Benton's uncle in Leesville, with whom she had made her home since the death of her parents in early girlhood, telling him of what had befallen his niece. This uncle is poor, and did not have means to make an active search. Murphy did all he could to find the fiancé of his nephew in Chicago. Accident sent him to the headquarters of the Anti-cigarette League, where members of the league assisted him with money and advice. On their advice Capt. Colleran was notified, and a detective was detailed on the case. Murphy went to several dives on South Clark street in company with the detective, but in the third dive they visited the proprietor told him that he had heard they were coming and Murphy gave up the search in that quarter, thinking that all the keepers had been notified. Reference to the postmark on the envelope showed that the letter had been mailed from Lincoln Park Sub station, and so an unavailing search was made along North Clark street. Murphy knew nothing of the dives of Hurley nor of the constant traffic in women going on between Chicago and the lumber region; so he thought that Miss Benton was in Chicago still. Finally he telegraphed to the sheriff at Hurley, giving Miss Benton's description and telling him that she had probably been brought there by a procurer. The sheriff was asked to answer at Murphy's expense, but apparently he took no interest in the case, for he failed to answer the telegram. Two days later a second telegram was sent to the sheriff. The search dragged along in Chicago while Miss Benton was being subjected to all the horrors and sufferings of the life in the degraded dens hidden in the depths of the great lumber woods. Again the unfortunate woman tried to reach her relatives by letter. This time she wrote to the uncle in Leesville, telling him where she was and of the life which she was forced to live. She said that she thought she saw a possibility of escape to the river, and if she succeeded in getting away she would drown herself. Evidently she thought her lover had forsaken her in her extremity, and despaired both of escape and of any happiness in the future. Instead of being the wife of an honest man, she found herself as much a slave as any of the low-caste women of India and China, sold into slavery at a price about the same as that prevailing in the vicious countries of the Orient. Miss Benton's uncle lost no time in going to Hurley. He found the den in which his niece had been held, in the woods several miles from the town, but she was reported as missing by the proprietor. The river was dragged near the den, and the body of Miss Benton was found. They Hurley authorities did nothing. The body was prepared for burial on order of the uncle and shipped to Chicago for interment. The Chicago police have instituted a search for the young man who ruined Miss Benton and took her to Hurley. The dives of the lumber regions have been the cause of the ruin and death of many innocent girls and women. Chicago is the head-quarters for the men and women who ply the vocation of furnishing women for the dives. Many are secured through innocent advertisements for waitress and chambermaids, and do not know of the trap into which they have fallen until they find themselves prisoners and slaves in some low dive in the region of Hurley, Marinette, Pembine, Iron Mountain and other towns in the lumber and iron regions of the Northern Peninsula. Escape from these dens is difficult, and it is declared that a slow and horrible death is inevitable to any woman who remains in one of them. Ten years ago the horrors of these dens in the lumber woods were exposed by Dr. Kate Bushnell of Evanston. As a result the palisades and dogs, with which many of them were surrounded, were done away with for appearance, but the evil has remained the same. (The name of the unfortunate young lady was probably Bennett. There are many Bennetts between Leesville and Sparksville and some of them are well-to-do. – ED MAIL)

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1900 BOY KILLED BY A MULE. Willie Elrod, 14 year old son of George W. Elrod, living in the big brick house on the Tobe Hert farm a mile east of town, was fatally hurt Saturday evening about 4:30 o'clock. He was riding a mule along the Mitchell road near John Bruce's, in Englewood, when the mule became frightened at a small culvert, shied and fell on the sloping bank. The boy slipped off to the ground and the mule fell on top of him. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce went to the boy's assistance, as also did others later. He was badly crushed, and died early Sunday morning. The funeral took place Tuesday forenoon. Burial at Sheeks graveyard. CARD OF THANKS We wish to thank our friends, and especially Mr. and Mrs. John Bruce, for kindness to our son, who was fatally hurt Saturday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Elrod.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1900 CARD OF THANKS We desire to extend our sincere thanks to our neighbors for their kindness shown us during the sickness and death of our infant son, Erwin. Mr. and Mrs. Emery Voss. *********** JAN. 18, 1901 OBITUARY Lawrence Erwin, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Voss, born Oct. 16, 1900. The Angels came and took him to heaven Dec. 11, 1900. Little Erwin is gone. The family circle is broken for the first time. The home in which he came and lingered a while like some sweet blossom strayed from Paradise, is dark and desolate. 'Tis ever thus, the fairest flowers are first to be plucked. The loveliest buds are taken for the Master's garden, even as they were of the fairest and sweetest of the earth, even so we shall find them in heaven. Christ has said: "I say unto you in heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father." And may the precious one just taken, the sunbeam of our home, the idol of loving hearts, be but the beginning of a new family circle in God's kingdom. May each one who loved him so dearly here, as their life's work is completed and their journey on earth ended, may they have so lived as to be united once more to the little pet whom they had so longed to hold in their arms once more. May the little empty cradle be a bond between earth and heaven which never shall be broken. Pure and innocent as the angels in heaven he came; in all his purity and innocence he was taken away. Even so, Father, Thy will be done. Farewell, darling, till we meet thee On that bright and golden shore, Then we'll clasp thee to our bosom, There where parting is no more.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 1900 DEATH OF GRANT ROBERTS. Grant Roberts, who had been ill for several days with typhoid fever, died at 11:45 p.m. Dec. 6 at his home on 7th street. He was a strong, robust man about 34 years of age, and was a blacksmith by trade. A year or more ago he was on the city police force for some time. He leaves a wife and two children. The funeral took place Sunday, and the burial was at Green Hill Cemetery. *********** FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1900 OBITUARY. Grant Roberts was born October 24, 1866. Died December 6, 1900, aged 34 years, 2 months and 14 days. He was born on a farm in Martin county, and the early part of his life was spent there. Later he removed with his parents to Owensburg, Ind. While there at the age of fifteen he united with the Christian church and was a member at that place at the time of his death. He was married to Hattie Sable Nov. 25, 1890. To this union three daughters were born, two of whom are living, Jessie and Nina, Josephine having preceded him to the "Better Land." He was a good husband and kind father, and will be missed very much in his home. He never missed an opportunity to help any one in distress. I will mention one occasion in particular where he after a hard day's work found a man, who had been hurt on the section, and after the car had been put away found it impossible to walk home. He went home and found his supper ready, but would not stay to eat, but went to the barn and hitched up his buggy and took the man home. He had been feeling bad for about two weeks before he took his bed, and was only confined to his home 11 days. He felt from the first that he would never recover. He said he would like to live and raise his children, but if it had to be it was all right. He suffered a great deal, but did not complain. He is at rest from earthly troubles, and blessed are the merciful.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 A three month old child of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Fowler died Tuesday night.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 OBITUARY. Catherine Long Houston, born March 9, 1836, died Dec. 2, 1900, aged 64 years, 8 months and 27 days. She was the youngest child of John and Betsey Martin Long, who emigrated from Kentucky to this county early in this century. She was born in the house now owned and occupied by Mr. Thos. Stipp, six miles northeast of Bedford. In the home where she was born she was married to Aylette Raynes Houston, son of Levi and Rachel Alexander Houston, August 16th, 1855. After her marriage she made her home on an adjoining farm, where she lived until she entered into rest. There were six children born to this union, four of whom survive. Her husband, Aylette R. Houston, died about five years ago, universally loved and respected, leaving her to walk the remainder of life's journey alone. But in the good providence of God their separation was not long. Mr. Houston was one of the elders of the Leatherwood Christian church and his death was a great loss to this old historic congregation. Mrs. Houston united with the church at Leatherwood in June, 1846, when she was but ten years and three months old. The writer of this sketch remembers distinctly the incident. Quite a number of the older conservative members of the congregation thought her much too young to understand fully the Christian religion, and that she ought to wait until she was old enough to enter upon the Christian life understandingly,. But those who knew the little girl and her parents had no misgivings, for they knew she had been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and like Timothy, had known the holy scriptures from childhood. Her mother loved her bible, and studied it, and today the old book has many passages lovingly marked by the hand, that has been still in the dust of the grave for more than a half century. She united with the church at a meeting held by James M. Martin and Peter How, pioneer preachers of the Christian church in Southern Indiana, and was baptized in Leatherwood Creek, half mile north of the church. The group of sisters gathered around the little girl to prepare her for baptism comes before memory's eye like a vision, whose faces I shall see them in glory. The little girl who gave her young life to service of God, thus early continued a faithful and devoted member of the same congregation until her death nearly 55 years. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, yea from henceforth saith the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors and their works do follow them. After a short and appropriate service at the church conduced by Elder Quincy Short, of Springville, she was laid beside her husband in the Leatherwood cemetery.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 OBITUARY. Some words which were spoken at the funeral of Schyle Zachary Duncan, age four months, and nine days, who died Dec. 15, 1900. "Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, And stars to set – but all, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death." -Heamans Thus sang one, of the reign of death, of the uncertainty of life. And this time it is not manhood taken in the decay or maturity of its powers, nor youth in its strength and vigor, but childhood, upon which death has fallen as fell frost on some opening bud; for little Schyle came and lingered as a ray of sunshine for a short time to gladden heart and home, and then passed on, beyond life's pain and sorrow, beyond its trouble and anxiety, to be in the eternal Home, gathered of the good Shepherd, for it is the common belief of Christendom that childhood so passing away, passes on to more perfect conditions of life into the enjoyment of the blessedness proposed of God for man through Christ. Thus the little family group is broken in its forming, the visible number is decreased, but remains the same for that one which God has taken is of the family still, only passed to the other side to remain there as a tender memory not to be effaced with the passing years, for in the embrace of faith, the mother, the father may hold the glorified form of the child, as about His throne and waiting their coming. Christ turned and said to the sorrowing women of Jerusalem, as they followed him to Calvary: "Daughters of Jerusalem weep for yourselves and your children." So we might say, "weep not for the child, it is we that need the tears, not he." The thorns his feet shall never press nor his heart now the weariness of life's way. He who wept with the sisters at the grave of Lazarus, and mingled His tears with theirs, has sympathy for the sorrowing of earth, and can help when all is dark. As the disciples at the death of John the Baptist went and told Jesus, so we can take to this life's sorrows. Knowing he is able through the element of sorrow he weaves into the fabric of life, to beget glory to himself, and enrich the heart and life of them thus called to sorrow by his all sufficient grace.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 IN MEMORIAM. On Dec. 3rd, 1900, the angel of death came to the happy and pleasant home of the Sitler family at Erie and took away the husband and father, Elias Sitler. He was a kind husband, a loving and indulgent father, a kind friend and neighbor; and none knew him but to love him. He was always kind and sympathetic to those around him who were in trouble or distress, always giving them words of kindness and sympathy. He was a deep and careful reader and was gifted with a most retentive memory. His knowledge of history and government affairs was a pleasant surprise to all scholars who conversed with him. All Congressional action or law received his careful consideration and his comments thereon were wise and patriotic. He was also a great reader and a true believer of the bible. The happy promises, the bright hopes and helpful lessons were to him a reality sure of fulfillment. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 8th, 1826. His father died when he was 6 years old. At the age of 12 he came to Noblesville, Ind., with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Banchert, with whom he learned the carpenter's trade and with whom he lived until grown. He came to Lawrence county in 1850 and in 1852 married Miss Emily Brown, daughter of John Brown. To them were born five children. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church and was converted in 1861, to which he remained a faithful member until called to the church triumphant. He left a wife, five children and a host of friends to mourn his loss, but they mourn not as those who have no hope for he gave them assurance of his abiding faith in Christ Jesus. Under the snow! Lo, we hear the moan; Our loved ones lying So cold and alone; 'Tis but the husk left here below That is covered o'er with the cold white snow. Those that we love and hold so dear, Have passed above to that land of cheer; That home above so bright and grand. Our dear ones are in the fatherland. Where never comes the tear or moan. Where never is heard the doubt or groan, Where all is rest, and peace and joy. They are led by this love To that beautiful shore. To us, who are left behind for a time, In our grief, we seem far from that beautiful clime. A rift in the clouds Again seem to reveal to us, We are but a few steps from the land of the seal. In our Father's own time, When this life is o'er, May we all be brought to the heavenly shore, To meet all our loved ones, once more face to face. All gathered home by our dear Father's grace. M. M. S.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 William C. Brock died at his home near Silverville Saturday night, aged 67 years, and was buried at Mt. Olive. NOTE: William C. Brock: no dates given. Co K 49th Ind. Inf. Burial at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Spice Valley Twp.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 An eight months old child of a family named Pace died Sunday, near Avoca, and was buried Monday afternoon.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 "Jee" Adkins, a Bloomington man well known here as a tenor singer and actor, died Wednesday at Indianapolis, where he had been in the Insane Hospital for several weeks, his mental trouble being the result of kidney disease. He left a wife and young son.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1900 L. C. Gilchrist, the barber, one of our respected colored citizens, died at 11:30 Monday night, of a disease of the rectum, from which he had suffered about a year. He leaves a wife and one child. The burial took place at Mitchell Tuesday. ****** A CARD OF THANKS We desire to extend our heartfelt thanks or our neighbors and friends for the kind assistance rendered us during the illness and death of our husband and brother. Mrs. Martha Gilchrist, Mrs. Louisa Wilson.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 1900 In memory of Alice Carlton, who died July 18, 1990 ALICE. Life led a little child, one April morn, Into our world, With many a promise sweet Of hope and happiness and joy new born, The sky looked down upon her. Life grew fleet. And led her childhood into ardent youth That seemed abloom with beauty, grace and truth. But o'er a long, low pain-blanched plain of years Life led her helpless on; through dread defiles Of suffering, dark with agony, that tears Of love could naught allay, nor smiles Of sympathy illume, nor skill removed, He led her. Then 'midst pleasures thought foregone, As if the early promise he would prove, Life led her, till God called her home at dawn. At dawn, and "in the joyous summer-time, When I am always better, as you know!" Oh, would you, could you, given power sublime, Have chosen her a happier time to go? At dawn, for which she often waited long, Pain-tossed, but eager for the morning light, For first faint call of slow, sweet, low bird-song. To banish all the shadows of the night; At dawn, when choristers at heaven's gate sing; At dawn, when courage strong and faith renew The heart-her spirit fled, on viewless wing Into the Better land, to wait for you, With loved ones gone before. And "Some sweet day" Her soul may greet yours on its upward way. ANNA MILLER. Jeffersonville, Ind.

BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 1900 Thomas Reeves, accidentally shot by his brother, while hunting, at Dugger, is dead of his injuries.