VITALS: CASTLE ROCK JOURNAL, Obituaries and Death Notices (1881-84) http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/douglas/vitals/castlerock1881.txt Dontated by: Ginny Suelzle May 30, 2002 See copyright notice at end of file. -------------------------------------------------------- Obituaries and Death Notices Transcribed from the CASTLE ROCK JOURNAL Reel #1 July 13, 1881 to April 9, 1884 November 2, 1881 Obituary - Died - On the morning of Oct. 28th M. W. Ellis, aged 39 years. Mr. Ellis was born in Buread county, Illinois, where he resided all his life until 19 months ago. For the last nine years had been a constant sufferer from asthma. In March 1880, he came to Colorado. At that time he was barely able to walk. After coming here his health was very much improved for a time. But for several lmonths past he had been growing worse and a few weeks ago, feeling that the end was near, requested that he might be buried here. He rested well all through the night and in the early morning passed away so quietly that none suspected the change was so near until he was gone. July 12, 1882 Frightful Accident in Garber Canon About 9 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, June 28th, Mr. James Russell Lansden left E. Bowen's mill, in Garber canon, with a mule team and a load of over 1000 feet of lumber. Coming down the steep pitch a quarter of a mile from the mill, his brake block slipped out of its socket, running the wagon onto his spike team of three mules, and mules, lumber and driver went headlong down from the grade to the gulch on the right, breaking the tongue and reach of the wagon. Mr. Lansden had his foot in the brake rope and being unable to free himself he was thrown under the load and was so badly injured that he died at 9 p.m. the same day, and was buried Thursday at Bear Canon chruchyard. He had four ribs on the left side broken and was internally mashed almost in a jelly. He was, however, conscious and able to talk up to the last moment. It was one of those accidents due to men becoming so familiarized with danger that they grow careless. Mr. Lansden has been hauling lumber the past two years over mountain roads. Your correspondent came down from the Rock to Sedalia with him on the previous Monday. He intended going to Buffalo Creek via Denver, but being told of Bowen's Mill went there. This was his first trip down from the mill, and to those acquainted with the road it is not surprising that he did not appreciate fully how steep the road really is. The boys at the mill came down in a body and did all that was possible to alleviate his terrible sufferings with the proverbial tenderness of our rough Western boys, but he was past all human aid from the first moment of the smashup. They also chipped in and paid all the funeral expenses. Mr. Lansden was from Missouri, but had been about Colorado Springs the past two years. He leaves a young wife and three prattling babes, (the eldest but eight years old) to mourn his departure. "Tis ever thus. Man knoweth not in what manner of time his hour cometh. In the midst of life we are in death." Veritas. May 23, 1883 Mr. Griggs, an old settler in this county, died on Saturday from injuries received during the day. While driving some cattle with his horses while attached to a wagon in which he was riding, one of the cattle made a sudden turn and the horses being cattle horses, on seeing the cow turn, made a sudden wheel, which caused the wagon to overturn throwing Mr. Griggs out upon the ground in such a shape as to break his back, and death ensued a few hours later. June 20, 1883 The remains of Jos. Shafer, who was killed on the railroad last week by falling from the cars, was sent East for interment. December 12, 1883 Mrs. McElroy, of Husted, who had been quite ill for some time, departed this life on Sunday the 2d. (Note: Husted appears to be south of Castle Rock and north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County) CASTLE ROCK JOURNAL Reel #2 - April 16, 1884 to September 24, 1890 October 29, 1884 Died - At Bear Canon, October 27th, 1884, of typhoid fever, Mrs. Hallie, the charming wife of David Rouse, at the young age of 17 years and five months. She leaves a fond husband a bright little girl of (?) months to mourn her departure. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Wriston of Castle Rock. January 7, 1885 Last week Coroner Johnson was again called to hold an inquest on the body of Lester Bronson, who died very suddenly at the residence of Levi Wright in the northern part of the county. The deceased was an old man of perhaps sixty years of age. He had made his headquarters at Mr. Wright's for several years, but had been absent for some months. When he returned home last week he took passage from Denver in a tight, warm car. On arriving at the place where he left the cars he was obliged to walk some distance in the severe cold, and when arriving at Mr. Wright's house he complained of being afflicted in a manner never before experience, and in a short time he breathed his last. The sudden demise of Mr. Bronson had a startling effect upon the inmate of the house, and the coroner was sent for. When the coroner arrived the body had been carefully interred near Mr. Wright's house. The first thing that struck Mr. Wright and others present was death by small pox, hence the hasty interment. Dr. Johnson, coroner, says it is his belief that the conviction of Mr. Wright was correct and that the best means for preventing the spread of the contagion was employed by immediate burial. As the matter stands Mr. Wright is the only person who has been exposed to the disease, and every precaution will be taken to ascertain in time whether it has fastened its grasp upon him so that further spread of the disease is not probable. January 7, 1885 The petition circulated in town last week asking for subscriptions for the support of Mrs. Vantilburg and her family of little ones, whose father perished in the cold last week from drunkenness, leaving them in destitute circumstances, was very readily and properly signed by a sympathizing and liberal people. The amount so raised was $24.50. The same petition should reach the attention of the Sedalia saloonists, whose attention had probably never been called to the fact that the deceased was forbidden by town ordinance the right of purchasing liquor in Castle Rock. May 6, 1885 Resolutions of Sympathy - Whereas, For the second time in the history of Divide Grange No. 53, P. of H., Douglas county, Colorado, it becomes our sad duty to pay a mournful and sorrowful tribute of respect to an honored brother; and to his memory we would gladly do fitting honors of fraternal love and friendship, but that we know his true and exemplary life has already written his worth in imperishable words, and in terms far more eloquent than any men can command. Brotber Lorenzo Leppert, of Divide Grange No. 53 died Jan. 27th, 1885, after a short illness. In the death of Bro. Lorenzo Leppert his father has lost an affectionate son, the community a respectable citizen and the Grange a valued member whose watchword was 'ever where duty calls.' In his Grange and neighborhood he will be sadly missed and his loss keenly felt; but in this as in all things else, we bow submissively to the Hand that doeth all things well. We believe our loss to be his gain, and that the gate of death is but the door that opens to eternal life, the harbinger of the morn that precedes the day of eternal sunshine and rest. RESOLVED, That our charter be draped in mourning for 30 days, and that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the grange and that a copy be presented to his father and also a copy sent to the Castle Rock JOURNAL for publication. John E. Geiger, Cornelius Hedgpeth, Mary F. Gray, Committee. October 20, 1886 George O'Bannon, a well-known miner and prospector, committed suicide near Montrose last week. October 27, 1886 A Shocking Affair Probably the most shocking spectacle ever presented to the people of Granit, and one which can never be forgotten by those who witnessed it was the beheading of Clarence, the son of Captain Joshua Budd, the Rio Grande agent at that station. For some time past the young man who is the last of seven blessings bestowed upon the grief-stricken couple, has been employed in the office assisting his venerable sire. His ready willingness to aid all of the attaches had made him very popular and his vacation from an eastern school, which he was attending, always found him in the height of spirits and good humor. Yesterday he was assisting the brakeman Iin switching some cars on a side track and in attempting to swing himself across the track was caught in the wheels and decapitated - his head rolling some ten feet or more away from the track, while his body was literally reduced to mince-meat. A shriek from the spectators brought a heartrending wail from the father, who had that moment stepped from the station door, to find his son, from whom he had separated but a moment, cut in fragments. The bystanders grasped a door that was lying on the platform, upon which the remaining flesh and bone was laid and removed to the office that a few moments before had rung with the merry langhture(sp?) of the unfortunate young man. The captain in the absence of his wife was left to bear the terrible burden alone, save that sympathy which went forth from the community, every member of which bowed in tears before the awful calamity. Mr. Harry H. Thompkins who witnessed the awful affair, says it was the most sickening spectacle he had ever viewed, and furnished the reporter with the foregoing particulars. Mayor George Cook of this city, served under Captain Budd during the war, and was deeply affected by the awful news. He says that a few years ago the family sustained another terrible shock in the loss of a charming and accomplished daughter, who was snatched from beauteous womanhood by a rattlesnake bite. The little town of Granite is now in unfathomable gloom, while all who know the family in this city join in tendering them heartfelt sympathy. - Herald Democrat. February 1, 1887 Died - At 3 p.m., January 22, 1887, Oscar D. Pratt. Aged 15 years, 8 months. March 2, 1887 Death of Joseph Lambert, From Denver News After a prolonged illness of some four months, another Colorado pioneer and resident of Denver quietly passed away at high noon Sunday. His illness gave warning of its fatal nature from its first inception, and the long hours endured by him of patient watching for the note of its ending gave constant evidence of his unfaltering faith, that death was but a birth to a most glorious and unending life - an eternity of extended usefulness and joy. "His sun went down while it was yet day; It went not down behind a cloud, But melted into the pure light of Heaven." Mr. Lambert leaves a wife, who, with his only son, have been his tireless watchers, ministering to his every want - for his illness has confined him to a chair - to recline was impossible. He was a native of the state of Maine, a Quaker by birth - a disciple of William Penn. He was a man of iron will and determination, of great force of character, exalted sense of right, a man of sterling integrity, unflinching in the discharge of every trust and duty from which no influence could swerve him. So long as he conceived it to be right, he was as immovable as rock. The funeral services were held under the direction of Denver Lodge No. 6, A.F. and A.M. Commandery No. l Knights Templar, acting as an escort, from his late residence No. 1254 State street, at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. March 30, 1887 Death of Mrs. Cantril - Clara Quick Cantril, daughter of Benjamin and Mary E. Quick, was born August 11th, 1856 in Johnston county, Mo and was married in Douglas county, Colo., to John R. Cantril, May 1st, 1872, and died March 25, 1887. She went to bed Thursday evening feeling as well as usual and slept naturally till about 8 o'clock in the morning when she awoke suffering great pain from inflamation of the womb, and from that time till she died at 1 o'clock p.m. she suffered most intensly. Mr. Cantril 's loss is irreparable for she was in every way a helpmate to him. Her two daughters whose ages are respectively thirteen and eight years, are just at that period in life when a mother's kindly counsels and help can not well be supplied by any other hand. They have lost their mother, what can be more sad? The father, mother and sister of the departed one are in deepest mourning, her father especially, whose life seemed to be blended with hers, like Jacob of old, can not be comforted. The entire neighborhood was in attendance at the funeral services, which were conducted at her late home at 2 o'clock p.m. Saturday. The funeral sermon was preached at 11 o'clock Sunday, at the school house, to a full house of sympathizing friends, by Rev. B.F. Todd, from James 4th, 14. Let us hope that their loss is her eternal gain. June 22, 1887 Died - Last Wednesday morning, Ida M. wife of Andrew Anderson, of Douglas. Mrs. Anderson was slowly recovering from her sickness after the birth of her babe when she was taken with pneumonia from which she suddenly died on the 15th last. She leaves a husband and three little boys to mourn the sad loss of a devoted wife and mother. October 26, 1887 Died - David R. Williams, son of Morgan D. and Allie Williams, Oct. 12, 87, of typhoid fever. Aged 25 years, 9 months and 1 day. At Williamsburg, Colo. October 26, 1887 Died - Oct. 16th, 1887, Mrs. A. L. Rhyne, wife of Allen Rhyne, and daughter of Cornelius and Mary E. Hedgpeth. Aged 21 years, 1 month and 21 days. She's gone to the home of the blest, Where she'll evermore find rest. We nevermore shall see her face So full of trustfulness and grace, Until we meet her in our home, The home of the blest no more to roam. On earth she is no more, But in Heaven on wings of love to soar, She has gone to the far away land, To walk with Jesus, hand in hand. She'll live with Jesus evermore; Let's try to meet her on that shore. She's gone to our Heavenly home, There to wait for us to come. Sister Carrie November 2, 1887 Deaths - On Wednesday evening Oct. 26th, the sad news of the death of Miss Marie G. Tourtillette was announced on our streets, and a pall of sadness settled over the homes of our citizens. While her death was not unlooked for, yet she was considered by her attendants to have passed the greatest danger, and the event of her death fell upon her friends with unspeakable force. Miss Tourtillotte was the daughter of Franklin and Mary E. Tourtillotte, a native of Maine, and aged 21 years 7 months. Deceased graduated from Maine Central Institute in 1885, and came to Colorado in the spring of 1886, settling in Douglas county, where she had since remained, being engaged as teacher in our public schools. She was an excellent teacher and of much experience for one so young, having taught her first school in her native state when but 14 years of age. She was a member of the Free Baptist church of her native village and an earnest worker in the cause of Christianity, living her religion daily. Never tiring of doing good, she thought of others rather than self. "To crown His head or grace His name, no gift too rare she thought". During her brief sojourn in this county Miss Tourtillette won many warm friends, and was much respected by all who knew her. Her loss is deeply mourned. March 28, 1888 Died - On the 10th inst. Of scarlet fever, Edward son of Christian and Caroline Schrieber aged 2 years 5 months and 5 days and was buried on the 21st. January 23, 1889 Died - Mr. Alanson E. Pratt, fell into eternal sleep at 11 o'clock p.m. Saturday at his residence No. 223 East Seventh street. Deceased was the father of our well-known townsman, Capt. Harry A. Pratt, with whom he has made his home for the past eight years. He was the son of Henry and Charity MacWartor Pratt, was born in Goshen, orange county, N.Y. Jan. 24, 1809, and therefore lacks just twelve days of his 80th birthday but his vigourous health and unimpaired mental faculities did not indicate such advanced age. Since the last of October his familiar figure, with firm, quick step, and beautiful snowy hair and beard has been seen less and less frequently on our streets, and for over two months his final illness confined him at home, during which time he has been pleased to receive many kind friends and always comforted by the tender, faithful ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Wilkins. Two sons and a daughter, besides relatives and friends in Elmira and Warwick, N.Y. are left to mourn his loss. The remains will be interred beside those of his wife at Bloomfield, Iowa where his daughter Mrs. F. W. Eichelberger resides - Sedalia (Mo.) Bazoo The above deceased was the father of Hon. G. C. Pratt, so well and favorably known to most of our readers. Mr. Pratt has our sympathy in his bereavement. January 23, 1889 Died - Jan 20, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hilburger. January 23, 1889 Died - At Monument, Jan 11, Mrs. Morretta Bonnett, wife of Dr.. W. M. Bonnett, aged 37 years. January 23, 1889 Died - At Elizabeth, Jan 15, of acute inflamation of the stomach, Madgie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cort. August 6, 1890 The funeral services of Alfred Oleson, last Thursday, were conducted by the Rev. J.A. Long and were well attended. August 6, 1890 Died - At the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. L. Miller, on Sunday, August 3, Mrs. Maria Steven aged 85 years and four months. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. A. Long, Monday, August 4, and a large number of friends accompanied the remains to the last resting place. There was a profusion of beautiful fresh flowers upon the casket as love's last offering to the aged one who had been transferred to a more congenial clime. August 6, 1890 Fatal Accident - Just as the Tribune goes to press it is informed that Dave Tindel who lives on Cherry creek 8 miles west of Elbert ran over his little five year old son with a wagon load of posts, breaking his neck. While loading the wagon he told the little one to go off and lie down in the shade and it seems he crawled under the wagon, laying down in front of the hind wheel. When Mr. Tindel stared the team it resulted in the heart rendering accident. Mr. Tindel is well known on the Divide. - Elbert County Tribune. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.