Just a few odds and ends. 26 Nov 1898 Plantersville - Mr. Lee Childre died recently at his home near retreat. ******************* 01 Dec 1898 Minnie, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Loftin, died at their home in the Harmony community at 11 o'clock yesterday and will be interred in the Harmony church burying ground this evening at 3 o'clock. ********************** 13 Dec 1898 THE UNLOADED PISTOL Sudden and Sad Tragic End of John Busby A Pistol That he Had Bought for Five Cents was the Weapon John Busby, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. S. Busby accidently shot himself at daylight this morning and died in 15 minutes afterward. John and his brother Louis both bought pistols in town Saturday; John gave five cents for the 38-calibre weapon he had and Louis paid twenty-five cents for his. About daylight this morning the lads were in the corn crib shucking ears of grain preparatory to feeding the barn yard stock, and performing other chores that usually fall to the lot of boys getting along in years and with a aptitude of making themselves generally useful before going to study their lessons in school. It is presumed that the boys had their pistols concealed in the crib and when they had the opportunity to survey them he unfortunately did not lose it. John had been playing with the pistol before and did not think it loaded. He pointed the barrel up so he could look into the chambers and pulled the trigger; it exploded and the ball struck the poor lad in the right cheek, just below the eye; ranging upward and lodging near the brain. The alarm was quickly given and the almost lifeless body conveyed to the house, where he expired in about fifteen minutes, and before medical attention could arrive. John Bennett Busby was born in Grimes county June 25, 1884, and was in his fifteenth year, was in the sixth grade in the public schools and was at all times a quiet, unassuming lad of industrious inclinations; and none stood better among his schoolmates and friends for general popularity. The parents and sisters and brother are heart-broken and prostrated over the awful suddenness of the terrible end of the son and brother. The funeral will occur from the family residence tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock to the city cemetery. Mrs. Busby, the reporter is told, says that he did not know where the pistol came from but thought it had been laying about for a long time. The reporter gets his part of the pistol story from the deceased boy's companions. ********** Reba, the bady daughter of Mr. Ward Templeman, died at 3:20 o'clock this afternoon. ******************** 30 Dec 1898 Another Little Angel Mildred, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will S. Ash, passed to her eternal home at 9 o'clock last night, aged 2 years 5 months and the remains are to be consigned to the dust at 3:30 this afternoon. The bereaved parents are the recipients of the sympathy of their many friends in their sad loss. Eleanor Colson