Obits: The Ouachita Telegraph 1876 Obits, Ouachita Parish La These older obituaries are being typed in by Ms. Lora Peppers at the Ouachita Parish Library. We are once again fortunate to have someone interested in helping us find our ancestors. Thank you Lora! Date: Jul. 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers * ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** * If your obituary is not found here and you would like a special look up, you may send $5.00 and an self-addressed stamped envelope to: Lora Peppers - Phone (318) 327-1490 Reference Department Fax (318) 327-1373 Ouachita Parish Public Library 1800 Stubbs Ave. Monroe, LA 71201 The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, January 14, 1876 Page 2, Column 3 Alva M. Holbrook, editor of the (New) Orleans Picayune, died at Blandon Springs, Ala., on the 6th inst. He was an industrious, able and energetic journalist. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, January 28, 1876 Page 2, Column 4 Death from Lockjaw. Mr. S. Spohn, a steady mechanic of this place, while at work, last week on a building in Bastrop, stepped upon a nail and received a wound in the foot. After the lapse of three or four days, lockjaw supervened, and, notwithstanding prompt medical aid, the unfortunate man died. He leaves a wife and three children who will sadly miss their protector. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, February 25, 1876 Page 2, Column 4 Mr. J. Muse Dabbs died at his mother’s residence in this city on the 15th. He was taken five days previous with a chill, which was followed by fever and delirium resulting in death as stated. Deceased was born and reared in Monroe, and was the son of the late Dr. C.H. Dabbs. He was of genial temperament, attentive to business, and, although not demonstrative, warm in heart and devoted to friends. To his bereaved wife and little daughter e extend our sincere condolence, commending them to the kind care of Him who is a husband to the widow and father to the orphan. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, March 31, 1876 Page 2, Column 2 An event which has occasioned universal regret in this community and called forth expressions of the deepest sympathy, was the death of Mr. Charles Bofenschen, on the morning of the 28th. Mr. Bofenschen had been in failing health for some weeks, a sufferer from dropsy of the abdomen, but was able to drive out so late as Saturday last. Sunday, hemorrhage of the stomach and bowels set in, terminating in prostration and unconsciousness, and finally in death at half-past two o’clock Tuesday morning. The funeral took place from the residence, conducted under the joint ceremonies of the Masonic Fraternity and Ouachita Fire Company, followed by a large number of mourners and friends who were brought together in respect to the memory of the departed. Mr. Bofenschen had been a citizen of Monroe for over twenty years, removing hither from South Carolina, and originally from Hanover, where he was born. He was about 42 years of age. His family, a most excellent lady, and six children, the eldest a worthy, accomplished daughter. As a citizen, Mr. Bofenschen was known and recognised (sic) for his public spirit, and for his devotion to his State. He was liberal in his views, and generous in his charities; forgiving and kind in his nature. His anger was short-lived; his impulses strong in the right, and seldom wrong. It is not every man we meet whose qualities of head and heart are so happily combined for acquiring esteem and good will as those of the lamented husband and father whose death we announce and whose untimely loss we deplore. Peace to his ashes! NOTE: There is a resolution of respect for Mr. Bofenschen from the Ouachita Fire Company, Number 1, on the same page as the above obituary, column 3. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, March 31, 1876 Page 2, Column 2 Mr. John B. Peace died at his residence about one and a-half miles from Monroe, the past week. Mr. Peace had lived to a good old age, and died respected for his probity and industry. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, March 31, 1876 Page 2, Column 3 Mr. Roger J. Herring died of pneumonia at Mr. Filhiol’s residence, on the 28th. Mr. Herring was in his 27th year, a young man of excellent habits and good future. He was the son of Mrs. Filhiol by her former husband, Mr. Herring. He leaves an estate of about $30,000 we learn, which was disposed of by will. The family have our sincere sympathies in their afflictions. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, September 29, 1876 Page 2, Column 5 Old Dick, the rag-picker and junk-dealer, was found dead in his little hut at Five Points. It is said the old darkey had a hundred or two dollars in gold at his death, but no one knows where it is. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, September 29, 1876 Page 2, Column 6 With pain we notice the death of our old friend and fellow-citizen, Mr. John W. Mallory. He was thrown by a vicious horse while riding between Mt. Calm and Arcadia, and death from the injuries he received ensued in a short while. Mr. Mallory was an old citizen of Jackson parish, universally and deservedly popular for his uprightness and kindness of heart. He leaves many warm friends to mourn his loss, and it will be a long time before the vacancy occasioned by his death is filled. – Vienna Sentinel. Mr. Mallory was an old citizen of Jackson parish, having lived there over 20 years. He was widely known in North Louisiana, many years ago, as Collector for the V.,S.&T. Railroad. He leaves a wife and several children with whom we deeply sympathize. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, September 29, 1876 Page 2, Column 6 DIED, In Ouachita parish, September 12th, 1876, of congestion GUAY BOWMAN, infant son of T.E. and Pauline Bowman; aged 1 year and 8 months. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, October 21, 1876 Page 3, Column 1 DEATH OF COLONEL C.H. MORRISON. Colonel Charles H. Morrison died of pneumonia at Delhi, on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 18th. He left this city Monday in good health, to attend a term of the Parish Court in Franklin, and was taken suddenly ill and died as stated. The intelligence of Col. Morrison’s death was received here with universal expressions of regret. In many respects, Col. Morrison was no ordinary man. Beginning life under great disadvantages – a poor lad without influential connexion (sic) and without education – he had worked his way up from a position where promotion would to ordinary youths seem impossible, to a prominence that even the favored few of fortune might envy. He had, perhaps, the aid and encouragement of men such as Downs, uner whom he studied law, and of Copley, before whom he practiced, but this was the simple tribute due to Col. Morrison’s native talent, his industry, energy and unflagging pursuit of a purpose. Col. Morrison’s first public services were as deputy sheriff, many years ago, under Mr. Brigham, then sheriff of this parish. Subsequently he was elected Recorder. He then studied law under S.W. Downs, and was admitted to the bar. As an attorney, his patient, untiring study of his cases and steady, inflexible devotion to his clients rapidly brought him to the front rank. He was a practicing lawyer with but few equals, and his resources in practice were almost illimitable. While maintaining is position at the bar, he, nevertheless, found time to engage largely in planting and other cognate interests, and to engage actively in all the political struggles of the State since 1856. He was made Register of the Land Office under Pierce, a position for which he was eminently fitted and to duties of which he discharged with ability. In 1859, he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, and by that body was chosen Speaker. In this trying position, Col. Morrison was apt, just and efficient. His rulings and management of the House were universally applauded. His term as Speaker having expired, Col. Morrison returned to his practice, but the war coming on, he helped to organize the 31st regiment of this State and was chosen Colonel. The regiment operated mainly in this department, and had but little opportunity to achieve distinction, except at Vicksburg, where, we believe, it was at the time of the surrender of that place. Col. Morrison’s war record was not, therefore, brilliant in battle, but his devotion and zeal were none the less conspicuous. Since the war, Col. Morrison’s attention has been devoted mainly to repairing the wreck of a large fortune accumulated by his industry before the war and to the interests of a large number of clients hose interests were as much injured as his own. In this undertaking he has exhibited a patience and fortitude, under the most adverse influences, which have been universally commended. His capacity as a worker seemed never to fail or relax, and if he did not succeed it was perhaps, due to the fact that he attempted to much. Col. Morrison was a native of this State, and a citizen of this parish for 38 years. He was 56 years of age at his death. Mrs. Fannie Farmer Morrison, his wife, died but a few months ago. A little boy not two years old survives as their sole issue. Colonel Morrison’s death will be heard of by many with the deepest regret. He was a man of feeling, kind of heart and generous almost to a fault. Nature gave him a rich dowery, and circumstances only gave him an enemy. Peace to his ashes! The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, October 21, 1876 Page 3, Column 3 DIED, In Ouachita parish, September 14th, 1876, J.GUAY, infant son of F.E. and Pauline C. Bowman; aged 1 year and 8 months. There are many to whom the death of a little child seems but a little thing. The philosopher prates of the inevitable; the stoic scorns to feel, and the indifferent and the cailous (sic) pass coldly by without a word. The world moves on the same, and in the bustle of life the many reck (sic) but little of the sorrows of the few; but here and there a heart is bleeding and a weary step is faltering on the wayside. One short month ago tender hopes clustered around a father’s heart and in the eventide a mother sang her babe to rest. And now his heart is desolate and her arms are empty! Go pity them both; and may the snow and the wind touch with a caress the little grave which, though it hides a little blue-eyed boy, points upward to a Father’s tender arms. * * * The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, October 21, 1876 Page 3, Column 3 DIED, In Monroe, La., October 1, a 2:45 A.M., PHILLIP JAMES, youngest son of Thomas and Ellen Naughton; aged 4 years and 11 months. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, November 17, 1876 Page 3, Column 2 DIED, Near Vienna, LA., Oct. 27, 1876, RICHARD H. BENNETT, aged 30 years. Mr. Bennett, the deceased, was a brother of Mr. James Bennett, of the Waverly place in Caldwell, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His death leaves a sad void, not easily filled. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, November 24, 1876 Page 3, Column 1 Mr. L.F. Redditt, a well-known citizen and planter of Caldwell parish, died at his residence Sunday night of Swamp fever. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, November 24, 1876 Page 3, Column 1 Mr. Thos. S. Sorg, of this city, died Sunday morning, aged 34 years. He had been confined to bed for several weeks with an abscess of the liver from which he suffered intensely. We sincerely sympathise (sic) with his bereaved wife and children. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 1, 1876 Page 1, Column 6 Wm. A. Jones, foreman of the composing room of the New Orleans Times, died last week. Just before his death, he became conscious for a moment, and in that gleam, dwelling upon the habit of his life, he suddenly exclaimed: “The ads are al right, Sherman; lock up the forms and let’s go to press.” The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 8, 1876 Page 3, Column 2 OBITUARY. Thomas S. Sorg died in Monroe, 19th of November, 1876, after a severe and painful spell of sickness lasting nearly six weeks. His age was 34 years, 8 months and 12 days. Deceased was born at Hesson, Germany, but was brought in infancy to this country. At the outbreak of the late war he was living in Catahoula parish, and there joined the Confederate army, leaving with the first company. He was taken prisoner at one time, and spent a term of imprisonment in Fort Delaware, he rejoined his command and served till peace was declared. Deceased was a citizen of liberal vies, a man of kind heart, a neighbor always ready to help and a husband and father devoted to his family. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 15, 1876 Page 2, Column 3 Mr. Martin McLeroy, an aged and highly respected citizen of Jackson parish, died at his home, at Bonner, on the 5th. Mr. McLeroy had reached the ripe old age of 78 years, having been born in Georgia, the 15th of April, 1798. He had never filled any prominent public position, but was always prominent as a member of the community in which he lived and in the Methodist Church of which he was a devout, zealous, liberal follower. He was a man of great probity, untiring industry and great kindness of heart. His life was a life of activity and of good works. From him are descended nine children, six of whom survive, twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren, all of whom have been equally at all times the participants of his paternal love and care. He was, in the true sense of the station, a patriarch in the land, who now sleeps the sleep of the just. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 22, 1876 Page 3, Column 1 Capt. J.P. Crosley, a well known citizen of this parish, died on the 18th of pneumonia at the residence of Mr. W.T. Theobalds. Capt. Crosley came to this parish, from Mississippi, about the year 1849, and located at Trenton where he was extensiely engaged in merchandising up to the beginning of the war. Since that time he has been mainly devoting his time and energies to planting. For several years his health has been failing, but there was no cessation in his strict devotion to business and to the earnest concerns of life. Capt. Crosley had passed his 61st year. He leaves two sons and a daughter Mrs. McLain, to mourn his death, and with whom we sincerely sympathise. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 29, 1876 Page 3, Column 3 IN MEMORIAM. To the memory of my dear little friend, James C. Bres, son of Jerome Bres, died Nov. 26, 1876; aged 5 years. ‘Tis hard, beloved child, to realize Thou hast gone – with the angels flown To heavenly realms, way thro’ the skies, And left us thy death to mourn. Is it indeed true that thy loved voice, That gladdened, livened and made Grandma’s and papa’s fond hearts rejoice, Is hushed forever in death’s shade? Thy rose-red lips that cutely would smile As the evening prayers they’d whisp At grandma’s knee, have they, my child, Those offerings ceased to lisp? Ah yes! Those pretty, cunning blue eyes That beamed with joy and delight, When oft prospects of pleasure would rise, Death has snatched their lustre bright. Thy graceful, beautiful form is gone, And still more beautiful face; Thy dignified air no more each morn Thy dear father’s house will grace. No more with dear sisters and brothers Thy frolicsome tricks will play; No more thy sweet laugh make grandmother’s Troubles to lighten each day. The rare talents with which thou wert blest We’d notice and watch each hour – We had hoped they would some future day Bloom into lovely flowers. Yet midst this grief one consolation Is left us and will remain – Thy lovely innocence a station In Heaven, with mamma, did gain. Beloved child, farewell for a time But not for eternity; With thee we hope God’s praise to chime – In Heaven each other we’ll see. F. # # #