News Stories Various Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

LUDWICK, ALICE ELVINA

Alice Elvina Ludwick, daughter of Joseph and Mary Ludwick, was born in Scotland Co., Missouri, July 5th, 1861 and died of Parylasis at 2 o’clock a.m. April 5, 1907 at the home of her brother J. T. Ludwick of Lawn Ridge, Mo.

Her parents departed this life a number of years ago. The remaining relatives are a step-mother, Mrs. E. A. Ludwick and a sister, Ida Ludwick of Potwin, Kansas and five brothers, Newton J. of Taintor, Ia., George W., and Edgar H. of Ottumwa, Ia., J. T. and P. Q. Ludwick of Lawn Ridge, Mo.

The relatives and a host of friends and neighbors showed their love and sympathy for her in her sickness by their untiring efforts to help to make her as comfortable as possible. Her last illness lasted only nine days during which time she was an intense sufferer. She left a testimony of trusting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Wood at 2:30 o’clock p.m. April 6 after which the body was laid to rest in the Lawn Ridge cemetery. (The Potwin Argus, April 26, 1903)

BUTTS, MRS. J. S. BROTHER

Word was received by Mrs. J. S. Butts Sunday that her eldest brother had very suddenly passed away at Eureka Springs, Ark. Where he had been seeking relief for his health, while not known to be in a serious condition the brother was aging as he was past 72 years old. (The Beaumont, March 30, 1917)

FILLMORE, CATHERINE

Mrs. Catherine Fillmore died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. F. C. Whittaker, 1021 Duck Street, Stillwater, Ok., at 4:30 a.m. March 7, 1917 after an illness of three years, aged 78 years, 7 months and 15 days.

Interment was made in Yates cemetery at Stillwater beside her husband.

There are six living children, two living in Walnut Township, David H. and Alvius, Fillmore.

B. R. and Mrs. Fillmore settled in Glenco township in an early day and had many acquaintances and a host of friends. When the strip was opened in Oklahoma they settled on a claim. Mr. Fillmore entered the ministry and was ordained a Baptist.

He died there three years ago.

Mrs. Fillmore leaves a bunch of friends and relatives here to mourn her loss. (The Beaumont March 30, 1917)

SHOT TO DEATH - Fred Kiggins & Harry Rodgers
One Man is Dead and the Other Mortally Wounded

Fred Kiggins was shot and killed and Harry Rodgers wounded so that he can not live, Sunday evening at the Lewis Rock Crusher on the Santa Fe three miles south of Augusta.

Geo. Todd done the shooting, he says, in self defense.

Kiggins was shot through the heart, the bullet entering the left breast and ranging upward. He left the house and fell in the yard about twenty feet from the door and died before he could be removed to another house only a few rods away.

Rodgers was shot in the left side and just above the heart.

The trouble started through a joke. In the morning before the shooting, S. C. Winkleman, an old like man, had joshed Arthur Kiggins, a brother of the dead man, about his neck not being clean. Kiggins angered at the remark, slapped the old man, who got away and went off to the creek. As he was coming back, he says, he was assaulted by Kiggins again. This time the old man got away again and went to his rooms.

At 2:15 in the afternoon Fred Kiggins and Harry Rodgers returned from Wichita drunk. They hired a team at the Frisco Stables and Claude Harrison drove them to the crusher. They were drinking on the way out.

At the arrival of Fred and Harry, Arthur told them of his trouble with the old man and after supper they went down to clean out the house. They attacked the old man and Todd who was in the room tried to separate them. As he did so, they turned on him and according to his story Kiggins made a pass at him with a pair of knucks and he fired the fatal shot and then turned and shot Rodgers.

After the shooting Todd told at the camp that he was going to give himself over to the officers, and started up the railroad for Augusta.

Marshal Donaldson heard of the trouble and went to the crusher but found Todd gone. He phoned back to Constable C. O. Long who, accompanied by Police Judge T. M. Harrison, met Todd near the Santa Fe hotel. They ordered him to throw up his hands, which he did and was arrested.

Two revolvers were found on him, one a 38 double-action Colts and the other a smaller one.

The shooting was done with the Colts. He had a check for $25 and $29 in money.

He was taken to El Dorado Monday morning and his preliminary set for Monday, May 13, at 10 a.m. (The Potwin Argus, April 27, 1903)

COMMITTED SUICIDE - William Vandine

William Vandine a traveling salesman for the M. Lyon hide company of Kansas City, Mo., committed suicide Sunday afternoon at the home of his brother in that city by drinking carbolic acid.

He went in Sunday from his run and arrived at his brother’s house a little afternoon. He went to a room and remained alone for some time then he arose and started out. As he did so he exclaimed to his brother who sat in an adjoining room, reading “Goodby John, I am going” and a partly filled small bottle was in his hand. No reason for his taking the poison is known.

William Vandine was a Butler county boy having been raised near Augusta and educated in the Augusta schools. At the completion of the course there he moved to Wichita where he made his home with his parents until his death, Sunday, May 5, age 36 years. Ed Vandine, a brother of the deceased is employed in the bake shop at the Delmonico Restaurant in El Dorado. (The Potwin Argus, April 27, 1903)

OUR AFFLICTION
Some of the Causes and the Sad Sequence

In behalf of our afflicted brother, the editor of the Times, whose mind in this dark hour of his life is illy fitted to the task, and in behalf of his suffering wife, we will give a short statement of the sorrowful tragedy which so startled the citizens of El Dorado and so shocked and prostrated those that are near and dear to us by the ties of nature. This statement is published to the end, that unwise conjectures and surmises may be obviated and that the people of Butler County, to whom he is so intimately connected as editor and publisher, may not be compelled to give ear to rumor. Our words will be few, the duty a sad one;

At Emporia, on last Monday morning, as we were leaving the bedside of a sick father, preparatory to returning to our own home and duties, a telegram was handed us which contained the painful intelligence that our brother’s babe was dead – his wife in a dying condition. There being just time for us to catch the morning train west, we, in company with a younger brother, started, reaching El Dorado at sunset, when from eye witnesses all the details of the previous day’s sad history was given us and which are briefly these:

The family of our brother consisted of himself, his wife, a little niece of 11 years whom they were raising, a little daughter between three and four years of age, the babe about fourteen months old, and a young man employed in the TIMES office, J. W. Hart by name. They had temporarily moved into a small house opposite the Court House about a square from the main part of the town. Upon the arrival of the mail between the hours of 12 and one o’clock on Sunday, the father and husband stepped down to the post office on the main street for his mail. In returning home, Hon. Sidney Clarke and Gov. sharp, who were on the corner near the hotel in full view of his house with whom he stopped and conversed for a short time then started for him which he had almost reached when he heard his little girl and niece scream. Just as he got to the corner of the house the bloody form of his dying child on the ground near the other corner of the house caught his gaze. Flying to it where he could see the back part of the house, his wife, prostrate and bleeding but alive, was next seen. Taking her in his arms, he carried her to near the front door where he laid her down and called for help. Dr. McClaran was called at once, who sewed up and dressed the wound in a few minutes. Mrs. Murdock had, with a razor, first cut her child’s throat and then her own. The arteries of the child’s neck had been severed completely and it died without a struggle. In the attempt upon her own life she had horribly mangled her throat almost severing the windpipe but failed to severe the important blood vessels cutting two high, although an artery was grazed. As soon as the deed was done her powers of reason returned, and while the doctor was sewing up the gash she signaled for pencil and paper with which she told her distracted husband what to do with the little daughter together with other things of minor importance, winding up with the charge or prayer for him to lead a Christian life. This she wrote under the conviction that she was dying.

Without dwelling further upon the details of this doubly sad tragedy we will give the causes that led to her aboration of mind, and the committing of the deed, as told by herself and corroborated by the family. And in the contemplation of the principal cause of this dark cloud which so suddenly destroyed hope, happiness, and life, comes to our breast the emotion of indignation. The next morning, it being Monday, our afflicted and suffering sister’s mind was as clear as it ever had been and then she told her agonized husband all. Upon the heads of the fiends, at best unprincipled villains, who wrote that letter dated Douglass, but mailed at Augusta and signed “Committee” rests the blood of that sweet promising boy, whose bright form we helped to lay away on last Tuesday upon the mound that overlooks El Dorado and the valley of the Walnut. From the date and reception of that letter, she says her life has been a constant dread of “vigilanters.” The letter spoken of ordered the editor of the TIMES to take back the County within ten days. Sleep fled from her eyes and all desire for food left her. Hourly she was expecting that the ones who had threatened to take her husband’s life sat by the window a sentinel and guard over him she loved better than her own life, momentarily expecting to see him dragged by murderers from her presence, until reason toppled and reared from its seat. Of all this her husband had not the least suspicion, as he had on several occasions in answer to her questions, endeavored to satisfy her that he apprehended no personal danager, until last week, Wednesday, upon his return from Leavenworth when from the manner of his reception and from the unrest of her eye the dreadful reality of the condition of her mind flashed upon him. Immediately communicating his fears by letters to his parents and friends in Emporia he insidiously by every power of his love and mind endeavored to sooth and comfort her, not leaving her day nor night but for a few minutes at any time thereafter. Unfortunately the letter to his parents was not received until too late. Of course the late political and county seat contest in which his paper took so prominent a part together with the fearful storm, the terribly effects of which we now see upon every hand about this beautiful town all went to intensify the fear of that poor mother’s and wife’s heart, - that fear, which she says herself counseled her to hide the razor with which she intended to save herself and the boy from all trouble. Many little things and notions now are plain that were not understood previous to the calamity. She says, the last incident which immediately drove her to the desperate act was the fact of her husband stopping to talk with the gentlemen heretofore mentioned. She asked Mr. Hart, who was in the house, what men they were and how many there were of them; at the same moment she saw a man walking up the street with a rope in his hand. Thinking that the fatal hour had arrived, she picked up the baby, slipped the razor into her pocket, rushed to the back part of the house and our readers know the rest.

Mrs. Murdock was born in Marietta, Ohio, was educated at Cincinnatti, and possessed not only a good education but was highly accomplished. Her physical organism is extremely delicate, illy calculated for the hardships and excitements incident to a frontier life. She lost her parents and only sister when a girl. As a wife and mother she was wonderfully affectionate and apparently perfectly happy until the life and interests of her husband became, as she thought, jeopardized by the threats of irresponsible or inhuman wretches.

At this writing our poor unfortunate sister, under the care of Drs. McClaran, and McKinsey is doing as well as could be expected, and is at times in full possession of her faculties and affections, no doubt fully realizing her sorrowful situation. She has been a consistant and devout Christian from childhood up. All that kind friends of El Dorado could do for her comfort and that of her husband whose sorrow is almost too great to be borne, has been done, for which in behalf of those we love we tender our warmest thanks. (Walnut Valley Times, July 7, 1871, Friday)

DIED

On last Sabbath, July 9, 1871, Frank C. Murdock, wife of T. B. Murdock, aged thirty years. Our readers are already aware of the sad circumstances surrounding Mrs. Murdock’s death, therefore further comment at this time is unnecessary.

DEATH OF MRS. MURDOCK

The following article on the death of Mrs. Murdock, is taken from Emporia News and written by Jacob Stotler, a brother-in-law of Mr. Murdock:

“Over the river they beckon to me
Loved ones who’ve passed to the other side.”

Mrs. Frank C. Murdock, wife of T. B. Murdock, died, at El Dorado, on Sunday, July 9th at half past twelve o’clock p.m., aged 30 years and 10 months.

The facts which led to the tragic death of Mrs. M. have been given by us, and it useless to reiterate them here. We can read of such tragedies at a distance with considerable unconcern but when they come so near home – when they suddenly take from among us an acquaintance, a friend, a relative – our grief and horror are intensified and take hold of our soul with a heavy weight.

Mrs. Murdock was born at Marietta, Ohio in September, 1840. Her father was a Methodist minister, and throughout life Mrs. M. entertained the religious feelings and opinions instilled into her mind in childhood. She maintained her membership in that church from youth and faithfully and honestly discharged the duties of life. Her nature was gentle, affectionate and true hearted. She chose to strew flowers rather than plant thorns along her pathway.

She was well educated at the M. E. female seminary at Cincinnati, was an accomplished musician, and was well read in current literature. Indeed, she had a passion for reading. Her intelligence was considerable above the average. She was naturally very sensitive and predisposed to melancholy. If these were not native to her, enough of sorrow had fallen to her lot to sudden her life. Besides losing her father and mother, she had lost two dear sisters and other relatives by that tell monster, consumption. Before leaving Ohio it was thought that this disease had taken a deep hold upon her system. She improved in our climate and became quite rugged. Lately, the disease gained upon her and a physician had announced to friends that she could not live a year. This undoubtedly depressed her spirits and made her an easier prey to the fancies which dethroned her mind of reason. She was little calculated to endure the excitement and hardships in a new country. She seemed to be in constant fear that some evil would befall her husband. It was in vain that he persuaded her that the brooded evils were imaginary. Piled upon all her sorrows, came to the terrible trial of the late tornado. Her mind was filled with frenzy. The fright of that occasion seemed to be the finishing stroke to her troubled soul and although she had acted in such a manner at times as to attract notice, it was not until that ordeal came that she was hopelessly insane. It terrifies us to contemplate that she should have taken it into her head to destroy herself and babe. Little EARLE was a beautiful bright and healthy child. He was of more than ordinary promise, with a streak of sunshine sent into the world to bless and brighten the pathway of his parents, than a bud which should so soon droop and die:

To our brother, thus bereaved in early life we tender our deepest and heartfelt sympathy. Words fail to convey what the heart feels under such circumstances. T. B. Murdock and Frank Crawford were school mates. In that early time of their lives they were lovers, and there is something poetic and romantic in the constancy with which their love withstood fifteen years of separation. They grew up one in Ohio and the other in Kansas nourishing their holy affection for each other, until on the 12th day of December, 1866, they were married. They lived together most happily and affectionately, each realizing in the other that true happiness which their constant and true love had dreamed of for so many years.

About a year and a half ago Mr. Murdock went to El Dorado and engaged in the publication of the TIMES. Possessing natural newspaper ability and taste, he has succeeded well. In a business and influence. Both he and his wife were beloved by the people. Not many of the women of their town, had more or warmer friends. But it seemed that the tired spirit was weary of all earth’s hopes and promises.

Few men have been afflicted as has Mr. Murdock so early in life. In the prime of young manhood, his cup of happiness is dashed to pieces, and his wife and babe, of a few days ago, lie under the sod. May the merciful Creator soften the pangs of grief which he is called upon to suffer and heal his broken heart. (The Walnut Valley Times, Friday, July 14, 1871)