This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BAUGH, BRADY, CARROLL, DURFEE, MEHAN, O'BRIEN, PAYTON, PULCHER, Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kFB.2ACE/4231 Message Board Post: GRAND RAPIDS WEEKLY DEMOCRAT, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Mar. 26, 1879, Pg. 4, Col. 3, Art. 3&4. Mysterious Disappearance On Wednesday morning Mrs. Stephen O'BRIEN, of Walker, left the residence of her daughter, Mrs. MEHAN, of the Eighth Ward, intending to attend divine service. Nothing has been seen or heard of the lady since that time by any of her relations or acquaintances, although diligent search has been made for her. She is a woman about fifty-five years old, and wore a black dress, Paisley shawl, a dark bonnet or a black hood. Any information concerning her will be thankfully received at 119 Canal street or Police headquarters. Later The mysterious and continued absence of Mrs. Stephen O'BRIEN, who has been missing since last Wednesday morning, is as unaccountable as it was last week. No trace but what bas been thoroughly investigated and found groundless, has been found. A dispatch from Muskegon yesterday announced that the searcher who had been following a wagon said to have gone north, and containing a man and woman, the latter answering to Mrs. O'BRIEN'S description, had given up the chase. The relatives now think that the missing woman may have had a considerable sum of money with her and possibly left the city on one of the outgoing trains Wednesday morning. Any tidings leading to the discovery of her whereabouts will be thankfully received by the anxious and distressed relatives. Communications can be addressed to C.G. PULCHER, No. 119 Canal street. GRAND RAPIDS WEEKLY DEMOCRAT, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Apr. 2, 1879, Pg. 4, Col. 1, Art. 1 (Sundries) Nothing has been heard showing the whereabouts of Mrs. O'BRIEN, who mysteriously disappeared a week ago. GRAND RAPIDS DAILY EAGLE, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fri. Evening, Apr. 18, 1879, Pg. 4, Col. 3, Art. 2. FOUND This morning, 18th, a gentleman named BAUGH and his son were at work putting logs into [the] Grand River a short distance this side of the mouth of Sand Creek. Some driftwood which had lodged in an eddy where they were at work was in their way, and so young BAUGH moved it. In doing so he discovered the body of an elderly woman which was under the driftwood, and it floated to the surface. He told his father at once, and that gentleman knowing of the disappearance of Mrs. O'BRIEN, the finding of her shawl in the river, naturally thought it was she, and so sent his son to this city at once to inform her friends of the discovery. He did not know Mrs. O'BRIEN, but there is no doubt that the body is hers. So firmly do her friends believe it is, that her son-in-law, Mr. C.G. PULCHER, and Mr. L.E. CARROLL have gone after it, accompanied by Dr. BRADY and undertaker DURFEE. There is no report as to what condition the body was in when found, but there can be no doubt that she was drowned almost immediately after her mysterious disappearance, there is no doubt, either, among all who knew her, that the drowning was accidental, or that it occurred while she was laboring under mental derangement. Her family knew that she was somewhat afflicted in this way but did not dream that it might become so serious and result so sorrowfully. Their friends sympathize with them in their feeling a relief that the mystery attending her disappearance is solved. GRAND RAPIDS WEEKLY DEMOCRAT, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Apr. 23, 1879, Pg. 4, Col. 1 (The Mystery Solved) Over four weeks ago Mrs. Stephen O'BRIEN suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, and although her relatives and friends have been engaged constantly in the endeavor to ascertain her whereabouts, here fate remained a mystery until Friday morning, when a log runner named BAUGH discovered her body in [the] Grand River, at the mouth of Sand Creek, twelve miles below the city. While moving some drift wood, BAUGH discovered the body of a woman, which floated to the surface. Thinking that the body was that of Mrs. O'BRIEN, word was sent to this city, when two of Mrs. O'BRIEN's sons, her son-in-law, C.G. PULCHER, her nephew Lawrence E. CARROLL, Dr. BRADY and Mr. DURFEE, the undertaker, went to Sand Creek and identified the body. A justice of the peace held an inquest, when, after the examination of witnesses, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death by drowning. The remains were brought to her former home in Walker, and the funeral will be held at St. James church thi! s morning at 10 o'clock. Her children are satisfied that she wandered away from home while temporarily insane and that while in that condition she met death. GRAND RAPIDS WEEKLY DEMOCRAT, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Apr. 23, 1879, Pg. 4, Col. 1, Art. 21 (Sundries) The funeral over the remains of the late Mrs. Stephen O'BRIEN, at St. James' church Saturday was largely attended, and over one hundred vehicles containing mourners and friends of deceased followed the body to the grave.