Obituaries, Page 12

Compiled by Sue Jones.

These obituaries were copied from the 1887 Robinson Constitution newspaper.

Obituary of Mrs. Arminta (HILL) TRACY, published in The Robinson Constitution 13 Jul 1887
   Mrs. Arminta Tracy, wife of Geo. Tracy died Sunday at four o'clock pm. She was a daughter of Barton Hill, an old citizen and resident of Licking township, of the vicinity of Annapolis. A husband and large family of children, with a host of near relatives are caused to mourn her sudden death. The funeral service took place at the family residence Monday at 1 o'clock pm. The remains were buried in the Mount Pleasant grave yard.

Obituary of Enoch BRIDWELL, published in The Robinson Constitution, 20 Jul 1887
   Enoch Bridwell Killed
   Monday last about 10 am. T. J. Price and Enoch Bridwell, residing near Cravens mill in Martin township, some 15 miles southwest of this city, had some hot words about the breaking of a wagon by price belonging to Bridwell. Mr. Bridwell assaulted Price by throwing an iron bolt at him doing little or no damage to price, then he made for him with a 3 tined pitch fork, striking Price on the head with it, whereupon Mr. Price struck him on the left side of the head with a paling about three feet long, fracturing his skull which produced death in about four hours. Coroner D. B. cherry and Sheriff Jones were sent for and repaired at once to the scene of action. A jury was impaneled and after hearing the evidence of parties present consisting of the deceased's aged mother, L. D. Bridwell, a brother, Phillip Tracy, a brother-in-law of the deceased, and Alice Birdwell, a sister-law, a verdict was returned that the deceased came to his death by a club in the hands of T. J. Price, in self defense. Dr. A. Gillaspie was called but did not arrive until after death had come to the relief of Mr. Bridwell. Next week we will give a full account, giving the testimony in full as taken by the Coroner.

Obituary of John M. JONES, published in The Robinson Constitution, 3 Aug 1887
   John M. Jones, a prominent citizen of Honey creek township, and father of our distinguished fellow-townsman, Hon. Alfred H. Jones, and Dr. Henry F. Jones, of Flat Rock, died Wednesday night last. Mr. Jones' health had been failing for some time but he was confined to his bed but a short time before his death. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, Dec. 25th, 1815, and was therefore, 71 years 7 months and 2 days old. His occupation through life was that of a farmer. He came to Crawford county as early as 1832, at which time the country was a vast wilderness.

Obituary of Gen. J. M. COMLY, published in The Robinson Constitution, 3 Aug 1887
   Gen. J. M. Comly, editor and proprietor of The Toledo Commercial, (Toledo, Ohio.) died at his residence in that city on the night of July 26th, 1887. Gen. Comly was among the foremost Republicans of the "Buckeye" state and was minister to the Sandwich Islands under President Garfield. He was a native of Perry county, Ohio; became a practical printer, and afterwards adopted the law; entered the army in Rutherford B. Hayes' regiment, the 23d Ohio, rose to be colonel, and was brevetted brigadier-general for gallant services in the field. After the war he became editor of The Ohio State Journal, Columbus, and achieved fame as a forcible writer. Hew as postmaster of Columbus from 1872 to 1876. In 1877 he was appointed minister to the Sandwich Islands, serving five years. In 1883 he purchased The Commercial, which he was conducting at the time of his death. He was 53/55[?] years of age and leaves two sons and one daughter. The deceased leaves two sisters and one brother in this county - Robert S. Comly, a resident of oblong township, Mrs. Caroline Snyder, a resident of the second ward in this city, and Mrs. J. H. Wilkin, the wife of one of Oblong township's best citizens and most prosperous farmer.

Obituary of J. Frank KEENAN, published in The Robinson Constitution, 14 Sep 1887
   J. Frank Keenan, one of the most respected and prominent young men, of Licking township, died at his home in Annapolis, last Friday night, of hemorrhage of the bowels, after a brief illness of only about two days duration. He was about 26 years old, and leaves behind to mourn his death a wife and a child, together with a father and mother, brothers and sister. His remains were buried Saturday afternoon in the Mt. Pleasant graveyard, two miles south of Annapolis, being followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives.

Obituary of Henry S. BUCKNER, published in The Robinson Constitution, 28 Sep 1887
   Death of Henry S. Buckner
   The subject of this memoir died at his home in West York last Sunday evening, after an illness of several week's with typhoid fever. The deceased was nearly forty years old, was one of the firm of Buckner Bros. Merchants at that place. Mr. Buckner leaves a wife and four children, an aged father and mother, a sister and a brother, besides a host of friends to mourn his death. The deceased was buried near West York Monday afternoon by York Star Lodge, No. 419, L.O.O.F. of which he was an honored member. The write knew the deceased as long as he can remember, as a schoolmate, later in the business world, and in the lodge room, and he never knew a more genial, warm hearted boy, a kinder man or a better citizen.
   He was always ready to meet us with a kind word and enquire after our welfare. His remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of people and sorrowing friends.

Obituary of Robert R. LINCOLN, published in The Robinson Constitution, 23 Nov 1887
   We are again called upon to chronicle the death of another of our old neighbors and friends on Licking township, that of Robert R. Lincoln, who died Monday of last week, November 14, aged 64 years, 10 months and 25 days. He was a native of Ohio, born in Zanesville, December 19, 1822, the oldest of a family of seven boys and Elijah, the youngest, the only one now living. He received a fair common school education, for his day, learned the trade of machinist and also a pilot, running on the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, for two years in that position. In 1842, he came to Crawford county, where for the first few years he worked at anything he could find to do, until he had accumulated enough to start in life for himself.
   In 1848 he entered 160 acres of land, where now stands the old home residence occupied by his second son, Henry C. and subsequently has bought over four hundred acres adjoining his first entry, also a large part of the James Delzell farm, some two miles east and where he resided at his death. We was on of these….. He was a moral man and tended strictly to his own business. He was twice married his first occurred Jan. 5, 1850, to Miss Mary Lamb, and to them were born the following children: Charles B., Henry C., Emma L. and Arminta and one that died in infancy, the others are still living. His first wife died Feb. 11, 1880 and his second marriage occurred September 20, 1883, to Miss Mary Ann Delzell, who still survives him. The funeral services took place at his late residence on Tuesday where a large concourse of friends and neighbors gathered to pay their last sad respects to the deceased. His remains were buried in the Mount Pleasant grave yard, there to live only in the mind of memory and longest too, by those who loved him most and knew him best.

Obituary of William. T. "Tom" RIKER, published in The Robinson Constitution, 28 Dec 1887
   W. T. Riker Instantly Killed at Rossville, Illinois
   We are called upon again to chronicle the death of another Robinson boy. Friday morning last, Tom Riker who resided here from about the close of the war, at which time he came from Butler county, Ohio, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Riker, until some seven years ago, when he entered the employ of the D. and S. W. Railroad as a bridge carpenter and followed that until a few months ago, when he went to braking on the C. & E. I. Railroad running between Danville and Chicago, leaving the former place, where he resided, Friday morning and when doing some switching at Rossville, eighteen miles north of Danville, and while walking down the sidetrack signaling the train to back down, supposing it to be on the main track, was run down and instantly killed, his head and right arm being fearfully mangled. His remains were brought back to Danville where the funeral services took place from the Presbyterian church Sunday morning at 9:30 am. H.O. Cole and wife (a sister) in company with a brother and sister of the deceased, from Handy, attended the funeral returning Monday.
   Tom was well known and highly respected as a good honest hard working boy. The writer knew him very well when an apprentice learning his trade in 1875 in this city, and can say nothing but good of him. The following from the Danville New of Saturday shows in what esteem he was held where he has resided for the last seven years.
   "He was a member of the uniform degree rank of the I.O.O.F. and was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.
   He was a man the embodiment of strict integrity, and in his social relations maintained a kindness of heart that was well worthy of imitation.
   Some six months ago he married a Miss Rapson of this city, who is left to mourn his untimely death, and who will have the sympathy of many friends. Large hearted, generous and true to wife, friends and acquaintances, many a heart will feel a pang of regret that he was called away in the very prime of his manhood.
   The Odd Fellows will have charge of the services and will be accompanied by the members of the Masonic fraternity, who will meet at their hall tomorrow morning to make arrangements for the burial of their dead brother."
   Wm. T. Riker was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 16, 1855, consequently was nearly thirty-three years old. He leaves an aged father and mother, a young wife, besides five sisters and three brothers, and a host of admiring friends here where he spent his boyhood days, who will regret his untimely taking off; peace to his ashes.

Obituary of David UTTERBACK, published in The Robinson Constitution, 7 Dec 1887
   David Utterback departed this life, November 30. Deceased was an affectionate husband, a kind father and a good neighbor. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community. Deceased was a democrat for fifty-nine years.

 

This page last updated on March 18, 2022.