List Readers, this morning there was a WONDERFUL bushwhacker story on Face Book that Linda Skelton Corbin posted. I asked her to add it to our Bushwhacker pages on the web site. Since it is such a unique story I am going to post it also on the mailing list for you to read. The obit is not part of it, but is the wife of the man killed. _____________________ Cassville Republican, Thursday, Weekly Paper, January 30, 1913 Mrs. Elizabeth Skelton, familiarly known as Aunty Betsy Skelton, passed away at the home of her son, George Skelton, of near Eagle Rock, Thursday morning, Jan 23, aged 80 years, 8 months and 21 days. Her health had been failing for some time and for several days it was realized that her conditions were serious. Elizabeth Skeleton, widow of the late John Skelton, was born in Tennessee, May 2, 1832. With her parents she moved to Missouri in 1838. She as married in 1850 to John Skelton, who died some years ago. Prior to their settlement on Roaring River they lived in Arkansas and near Seligman for a number of years. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living: Mrs. U. Shrum, Mary, George, and Sam, all living in and near that vicinity. Mrs. Skelton was well known throughout the community where she had lived for nearly a half of a century in the highest esteem of all. As a citizen, as a neighbor and a mother, she endeavored to embody the best and noblest principles of living. The kindly words spoken of her by those who knew her is the best evidence of her worth and Christian character. Since 1870 she had been a member of the Baptist church and had lived a faithful member until death. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Chappell and Smallwood Friday afternoon in the presence of a large number of relatives, neighbors and friends and interment made at the Munsey Cemetery. ____________________________ Linda writes - Elizabeth Skelton Skelton was my great-great-grandmother. I have tried and tried to find a PICTURE of her with no luck. This is the story of her husband's death: from my cousin Jerry Stephenson: On August 26, 1866, soldiers (bushwhackers* ) came to their farm. A barrel of molasses was in the smokehouse; the bushwackers dumped it in the yard. Cornbread was cooling on the table; they fed it to their horses. The family had one good mare and the bushwhackers stole it. John M. Skelton was murdered. * In this part of Arkansas/Missouri a bushwhacker could be a Confederate soldier or a Union soldier. I don't know which kind of outlaw these bushwhackers were. Two of Elizabeth's brothers fought CSA in the Civil War; one fought Union; two were too young. Two of her sisters married sons of the staunch Union man and famous bear hunter John Gaskins. Her youngest brother Henry Clay Skelton married the daughter of Dr. Christopher Greenup Kelly, Mary Ladona Kelly. Their children founded the Idaho branch of our family.