Obits 1881 Kentland Gazette
There were very few obits from this era. Some of them have lengthy memorial tributes, and a notation has made to such. Please contact the Newton County Coordinator for a hard copy of the entire obit. If this notation is not made, you are seeing the entire obituary entry. These are listed by date of publication.
January 20
WHITE, Timothy- living north of town 4 miles died Wed. Jan 19 at noon of consumption. He had been sick for several months past. He was buried at the River cemetery.
HARRIS, Charles S. – Charles S. Harris, of Pilot Grove this county, who was attending Normal School at Valparaiso, was killed by the cars at that place on the morning of the 12th. He was in the act of crossing the track of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago railway, when he was struck by the engine pilot fracturing the skull, from which he died soon after. He was 23 years of age, and a very promising young man. It was sad news to his relatives and many friends in this county. (memorial info)
Jan 27
ROSSMAN- At Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, of consumption, James Ward Rossman, son-in-law of Mr. John Hambridge, of Brook, this county.
Feb 24
FRENCH- A very long memoriam, as Harriet H. French was a relative to the newspaper owners. She was the daughter of Willoughby and Rachel Conner, who removed from where a part of Cincinnati, Ohio now stands to Jennings county, Indiana in the year 1820, where she was born on the 7th day of August, 1827. She was married to John French on the8th day of Feb. 1855, and at the date of her decease was aged 53years, 6 months and ten days.(much more memoriam) – She leaves a husband, one son, Wm Iliff, grown and four daughters nearly all grown, the oldest of the latter being Rev. Mrs. Wood of Rensselaer. The remaining daughters Carra, Jesse and Louella being single. – contact the Newton County Coordinator for complete obit.
May 19
MCCULLOUGH, John V. departed this life, May 19, 1881, aged 67 years. His sickness was protracted for nearly four months. (memorial info) For the last fourteen years he had been a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church in the Kentland Church. (More memorial info) – contact the Newton County Coordinator for complete obit.
August 11
MERCHANT, Joseph was born in England, March 1st, 1816; died at his residence near Brook, Newton County. He sufferings were severe but his patience and Christian resignation was remarkable. (memorial info) He was married to Keziah Hambrick in 1844 and come to the United States in 1854. Ten children were born unto them, six of whom are living.
Oct 13
HARNISH, W. F. P. – On the 7th at Milford, Ilinois, of typhoid fever, in his 22nd year, W.F. P. Harnish, brother of T. H. Harnish of this place. (lengthy memorial).
Nov 3
DONALDSON, Mrs. Mercie, at her residence in Kentland on Sunday, night last, October 30th at 10:30 o’clock. In her 26th year, wife of Mr. N. R. Donaldson of tuberculosis of the bowels. She leaves a family of here – husband and two children, both bright little girls under six years. Remains were conveyed o Piqua Ohio, her old home, where they were buried. (more memorial info)
Nov 10
WILSON, Clarinda. Death on the Rail. She was walking on the tracks near town in Goodland and for some reason walked directly in the path of the train. (Contact the Newton County Coordinator for complete details).