Fulwider, Benjamin F - 1895
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 1 February 1895
Jacob Fulwider has had an unusual amount of bereavement during the past year. Last winter he buried four children within a month. Another month had not passed until he was called to the deathbed of his oldest brother. This winter another little daughter was buried and before the month was ended his only brother died. Jacob Fulwider has received word that his brother, Ben, in Dakota, is dead. Mr. Fulwider has many friends here who are shocked to hear of his sudden death. He served during the war and was a brave and good soldier. A few years ago he went to Dakota and two years ago was elected State Senator. He had accumulated considerable property and was doing well. He was, however, a common sufferer from the drought and short crops last year. On account of scarcity of work, two of his sons came here last fall and were absent when their father died. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 1 February 1895
The Castalia, S. D., Record and Republican has the following account of the death of B. F. Fulwider, one of our former fellow citizens, who left Coal Creek Township about six years ago. His death occurred on Thursday, Jan. 24. His only surviving brother, Jacob Fulwider, is now an honored resident of Coal Creek Township. The account is thus:
Early Tuesday morning Hon. B. F. Fulwider was taken very sick with congestion of the bowels, and Dr. Posthuma was summoned, but he receiving no relief from the pain, Dr. Nelson was sent for in the afternoon and remained with him during the night and while temporary relief was given him, it was impossible to get him back to a normal condition. His friends decided Wednesday morning to summon Dr. Lloyd, of Chandler, to counsel with Dr. Nelson. The two were unable to secure for him any permanent relief, and notwithstanding that Dr. Posthuma was called again during Wednesday night and that friends did all positive for him, he passed away at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
The news of his sudden and unexpected death brings sadness to many as few men were respected more than he. A model citizen whose general worth and goodness was known and esteemed by all his acquaintances, thus passes away. The sympathy of this entire community goes out to the bereaved family.
The funeral services will be held under the auspices of the Masonic and G. A. R. lodges of this place and will take place from the family residence near Platte Sunday afternoon at 11 o’clock. The remains will be interred in the Castalia Cemetery. The news of the death did not reach us in time to give a fuller account in this issue. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 15 February 1895
Castalia (S. D.) Record and Republican: In our last issue we gave a brief account of the sudden death of Hon. Benjamin F. Fulwider. The news of his death was a great surprise and a source of regret to all who knew him, which numbered almost every citizen of the county.
He was taken ill early Tuesday morning and expired about 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon. He had never fully recovered from the effects of a severe fall he sustained at the mill in Castalia last fall, and it is thought that perhaps he then suffered some internal injury which at this time was partially the cause of his death.
The funeral took place from the family residence one mile east of Platt Sunday noon and was conducted by the Masonic Lodge of this place in the usual impressive manner, assisted by the Grand Army. Rev. Camfield preached the funeral sermon, assisted by Rev. Stavely. The remains were interred in the cemetery just east of Platte.
The deceased was born in Rockbridge County, Va., April 23rd, 1839. He was married Sept. 15, 1866 to Eliza Thomas, who lived less than three years. On July 30, 1870 he married Rachel Morrow, who, together with four sons, the youngest being 18 years old, survive him.
Benjamin F. Fulwider was a Union soldier and served in the Eleventh regiment of Indiana infantry for more than four years, during which time he participated in several of the greatest battles of the war, and came out at the close of the war with a good army record and as sergeant of Company I of his regiment. He settled in Charles Mix County in the spring of 1885. he was elected by Charles Mix and Douglas Counties to the State Senate in 1892.
The deceased was an exemplary citizen in all his acts public and private. He was guided by honor and integrity, liberal in his views, yet firm and unyielding. To speak ill of no one, to have a kind word for everybody, was a characteristic of his well spent life. He believed in a God and a hereafter, and, though always true to his convictions of faith, he seldom referred to his religious views, or, by word or action, showed disrespect for the opinion of others. To love and defend one’s country, to make one’s home a home in reality, to teach and rear one’s family to respect themselves and humanity, to strive to provide for one’s friends who live after him, and to so conduct one’s self in this world as not to be afraid to die, are the highest attainments of mankind and an advanced civilization, and such a men was Benjamin F. Fulwider, whose life and character might well be patterned after by every young man. - S