1865
Coroners Request
State of Indiana, Warren County
At an Inquest held over the body of Tandy Suddeth, found dead at his house, in Williamsport, County and State aforesaid, on the 14th of July, 1865; we the jury find that the deceased came to his death from some cause unknown to us.
Henry Smith, Foreman; B. F. Ridge, M. P. Woods, Scott Hitchens, P. Mahn, George Adams, T. F. Bryant, Wm. Warbritton, Wm. Jones.
We certify the above is the true finding of the jury and that there were no valuables found on his person.
P. W. Lewis, Coroner
1865
Miss Julia DOWNING, at the residence of Mr. Abram S. Jones of this place, on Thursday morning July 13, 1865, at 2 o’clock, in the 28th year of her age.
Miss DOWNING was one of the older citizens of this place, having lived within a few miles of it from childhood. All her recollections and associations were here. Having lost both her parents in early youth, parental affection and care could with her live only in memory. Death ahs been an oft intruder in her family circle. In the short space of about seven years, six loved ones were carried away. A Father, A Brother and Sister, another Sister, then Mother and Sister, leaving but three. And now, after a lapse of twelve years, the youngest is called, leaving of the family but one brother, Capt. Downing and one sister, Mrs. Abram S. Jones.
She was well known and leaves a large circle of friends to mourn her untimely death, for she was of that turn that makes strong attachments; kind and amiable in temperament, yet of decided character, full of sympathy and self-denial for her friends, of rather retiring disposition and fond of the peaceful quiet of the home circle. She has now passed away, but not without leaving comforting assurances of her realization that “The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin.”
June 29, 1865
The suicide of the man who fired the first gun at Sumpter
Edmund G. RUFFIN, Sr., of Virginia, committed suicide on Saturday at the residence of his son near Danville.____ This venerable ruffian it will be recollected fired the first gun in the attack on Sumpter in 1861. The Richmond Whig of the 20th gives the following account; It is now said that Mr. RUFFIN ‘s mind has been very perceptibly effected since the evacuation of Richmond and surrender of the Confederate armies. For a week previous RUFFIN kept his chamber, busily employed writing what subsequently turned out to be the history of his political day. He also wrote letters, and in one of them left directions as to the disposal of his body. He bathed himself, put on a clean under and outer clothing, and directed that his body should be buried in the habilliments he had put on, without shroud or coffin._____
He then seated himself in a chair, put a loaded musket to his mouth, and leaning back, struck the musket with his hickory stick. The first cap did not explode, and he replaced it by another which discharged the musket, the charge of ball and buckshot blowing off the crown of the venerable old gentleman’s head, and scattering his brains and snowy hair against the ceiling of the room. When the family, alarmed by the report, reached Mr. RUFFIN’s room he was found lying back in his chair, the gun leaning against him and his life gone.
“A paragraph in the letter left for the perusal of the family and friends, explained the tragic deeds. It reads; ‘I cannot survive the loss of the liberties of my country.’ Mr. RUFFIN was very aged, perhaps eighty years of age, and brooding over the troubles of the times, the war and its results, no doubt unhinged his mind and caused a derangement of his once strong and vigorous faculties.”
1865
Killed by a Grizzly
Mr. B. H. BAIRD, of Jackson County, Oregon, was killed by a grizzly bear while out deer hunting on Grave Creek. The following particulars are from the Sentinel;
“On the morning of the 27th of October, about sunrise, Mr. BAIRD, started in pursuit of game, taking his faithful dog Rover with him. He preceded about one mile and a half, when his dog bayed three grizzly bears in their bed. Mr. BAIRD got within fifteen yards of them, and shot the largest one, only wounding it. The bear pitched at Mr. BAIRD, who run about two hundred yards, when the bear caught him and knocked his gun about fifteen feet from him. Getting loose from the bear, he sprang to the limb of a tree, the bear passing under and hitting his feet, went a short distance down the hill, when he stopped to fight the dog Mr. B. got the gun, reloaded and shot the bear the second time. The bear now came at him more furiously than before, and knocked the gun out of his hand the second time. Mr. B. swung round the bush to keep out of the bears reach, drew one of his butcher’s knives, and stabbed the bear in the belly. The bear struck at him several blows, knocking his knife out of his hand. Mr. B. then drew his second knife, when the bear seized his hand in which he held the knife, causing him to drop it.
“The bear now got the better of Mr. B., getting him down, and biting him on the face, cutting several severe gashes on the left side, tearing out the right eye, and also tearing off the right side of his face. It bit several large holes in his right side, in fact, it bit him nearly all over his body down to his boots. The bear now turned to fight the dog, that saved Mr. B. from having been killed on the spot. The bear and dog rolled down the hill for some distance, still fighting, when Mr. B. gathered up his gun, two knives, the rope with which he had been leading his dog and started for Mr. Michael’s cabin, distant about one mile and a half, where he arrived, much exhausted, about 10 o’clock A.M., and was assisted into the house, when he related the melancholy event to Mr. McDONOUGH. Being conscious that he could not long survive, he spoke of his family and his desire to see them before he died. He was reconciled to meet his death, and spoke of a future happiness. He died about 3 o’clock P.M. of the same day. Mrs. BAIRD was sent for and hastened with all possible speed the distance of eighteen miles, over a very rough, hilly road, but arrived about five minutes too late to see her husband alive. He was brought home and buried near his farm, some four miles north of Rouge River, near the stage road. He leaves a wife and sixteen children, eight of whom are yet young and live at home.
1864
Another Hero Gone
Died at Vicksburg, July 29th, 1864, of wounds received in battle, near Jackson, Miss., on the 8th of the same month, Sylvester M. HALL, of the 76th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.
The deceased was the son of Robert HALL of this place, an only son, and is the last of the family except the wife of Samuel Clark, our sheriff, who is a sister. He was a volunteer in the army of the Republic, had been in the front for nearly three years, had faced death often and in all shapes, but never quailed nor faltered in the discharge of his duty. He was nerved by high resolves, loved his country and was willing to die for it. His moral character was such to be proud of, his devotion to principle was strong, nothing would turn him from right. He died as heroes die, in the service of his country.
In the prime of life, being only thirty-three years old, he has passed away, given his life to his country, died upon her bleeding, smoking altar, with thousands of others of like patriotism. The blood of such cries from the ground for vengeance on all traitors. May cry be answered.
1864
Died
In Williamsport, on the 29th day of May 1864, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann, wife of Samuel DUCKET, aged 28 years and 5 months.
Mrs. DUCKET fell victim to that mighty scourge of the race, consumption. She had been sick for a long time_____”pined” away like a stricken plant, and was at last released from the pains of a lingering death. Her little babe, about eleven months old, went a few days before her, to sleep in the Saviour till the resurrection morn. “She fell asleep in Jesus,” and will wake on that glorious day, with her body radiant in light, and clothed with immortality, in a land where there is o “no more curse.” She left behind her a companion and three little children to struggle on through this evil world, their hearts smitten with a sorrow never to be removed till they go to meet her in that world to come.
June 1864
Death of GIDDINGS
Hon. Joshua R. GIDDINGS, Consul-General of the United States to Canada, dropped dead in Montreal last Thursday evening at 10 o’clock. His death was probably caused by one of those fits arising from heart disease, which twice at least prostrated him on the floor of the House of Representatives. Mr. GIDDINGS was born in Athens, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1995, and was consequently in his 69th year at the time of his death.
July 1864
Died
June 24th, 1864, at Bridgeport, Ala., Wallace W. GOODWIN, in the 22d year of his age.
Truly has another noble youth fallen in the vigor of manhood, into a martyr’s grave. Wallace was a noble young man, promising much usefulness. It was the writer’s fortune to be his teacher, for several months, and in that time learned much about him. He was an obedient and dutiful son; a diligent and faithful student; and kind and obliging in his disposition; he secured the love of all his fellow students and the respect of all by whom he was surrounded. In short, he possessed many qualifications and attributes that we are so apt to admire, and that characterize the gentleman. Though Wallace has fallen, we trust that he has gone where rebels and rebellions can never go.____Wallace was a member of company K 135th Indiana Volunteers.
