Grimes County Obits "B"

Grimes County Obituaries and Deaths

B

TXGenWeb Project USGenWeb Project

J. R. "Bunny" Baldridge
Mrs. Sophia Wrenn Bauguss
George Bell
Martha Lucinda Isbell Bookman
Ed Bowin
John Bennett Busby

J. R. "Bunny" Baldridge

Death notice in 21 Jan 1899 issue of The Daily Examiner

It was with much sorrow that the people on the streets learned this morning of the death of J. R. Baldridge, who passed quietly away at 12:45 o'clock this morning, after an attack of paralysis which was so severe he could only withstand the malady a few weeks.

The body will be laid to rest in the City Cemetery at 4 o'clock this afternoon, the funeral to be under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias, from the residence of Dr. A. H. Ketchum.

"Bunny" Baldridge, as he was known far and wide, was born in Washington county 52 years ago, and from infancy almost up to the time of his death led an active life. He was a man possessed of a high sense of justice and with whom a fellow feeling for all mankind was ever dominant, and it was reputed to be only the flimsiest "tales of woe" that could not draw pure charitable help from his free heart. With these characteristics he was endowed with a spirit that prompted him to do all he really could in an enterprising and progressive way, and by it made and retained staunch friends in all walks of life.

He has been a merchant in Navasota for about ten years and leaves to mourn his loss a mother, brother and sister, who reside at Ennis.

Mrs. Sophia Wrenn Bauguss

Death notice in 24 Sept 1898 issue of The Daily Examiner

Mrs. Bauguss' Death

After a long drawn out seige of acute illness the shadow of the scepter of death fell upon the spirit of Mrs. Sophia Wren Bauguss at 3:50 o'clock yesterday [23 Sept 1898] evening and the summons were answered. The deceased was nearly 52 years old and was married to Prof. B. C. Bauguss some 32 years ago at Willis, Montgomery county, by which happy union she leaves surviving her six children, as follows: L. B. Bauguss, Mrs. Gertie B. Sanders, of Iola; Mrs. Taylor McMillan, of Iola; Mrs. J. M. McGinty, of Yarborough; and Miss Marion and Master Cuthrell at home, besides her aged husband, who has the sympathy of a wide circle of friends.

The funeral will take place at 3 o'clock this evening and the body will be laid to rest in Harmony church yard.

George Bell

Death notice in 25 Mar 1899 issue of The Daily Examiner

Died From the Wounds

George Bell, who was shot Friday noon on Boone's farm by Henry Williams died last night [24 Mar 1899], the gun shot wounds being too terrible for medical skill to coax life to remain in the same tenement with.

The cause of the shooting is briefly put down by Williams to have been Bell's prowling about his house at unseemly hours and maybe envy of his wife; while Bell is reputed to bear the reputation of a "conjurer," and which fact may have had something to do with his taking off.

Martha Lucinda Isbell Bookman

BOOKMAN.--Mrs. Martha Lucinda Bookman (nee Isbell) was born near Decatur, Lawrence county, Ala., January 8, 1824; died in Navasota, Grimes county, Texas, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. S. Craig, at 2.25 p.m., November 24, 1903, at the age of 79 years, 10 months and 16 days. She was married to Jesse Bookman, at Jasper, Texas. October 21, 1856, and removed to Prairie Plains, Grimes county, Texas, the same year. She professed religion and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in early life. Her family was among the early settlers of this country. Her Grandfather, Godfrey Isbell, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and came of Irish descent. Her father, Jabez Isbell, was a soldier in the War of 1812; was also an Indian War soldier, and fought at the battle of Horse Shoe, Alabama. He died at the age of 75, and was buried at Prairie Plains. Sister Bookman was one of those sweet-spirited, lovable women whom to know was to love. The writer knew her from his infancy to the day of her death. It can be truly said of her that her pleasure and happiness consisted most in making life pleasant for others. Her husband's home was the preacher's home. I have known them to entertain every member of presbytery in their home several times. She was of a bright, cheerful disposition, always ready and willing to meet the responsibilities of life with true Christian courage. I never knew her to speak a harsh, unkind word about any one. She was always ready to throw the mantle of charity around the faults of others. She was the mother of five children. Her husband and three children preceded her to the glory world. The two remaining are Pickens Butler Bookman and Mattie J. Bookman Craig, both of whom reside in Navasota, Texas. I rejoice to say that they, too, are devoted Christians, following the example set by their godly parents and walking in His steps. P. B. Bookman is an elder in the Prairie Plains church. While the bereft children weep at their loss, it is not as those who have no hope; for their mother has only gone on before to welcome them home when the blessed Master shall say to them, "It is enough, come up higher." To the children I will say: Emulate her godly life and Christian example, and you will surely go to where she now dwells, in a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
"A precious one from you has gone,
A voice you loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in your home
Which never can be filled.
God in his wisdom has recalled
The boon his love had given,
And though the body slumbers here,
The soul is safe in heaven."
--W. R. Edwards.

Source: "The Cumberland Presbyterian." January 21, 1904, pages 94-95.

Submitted by Susan Knight Gore. She is not related to this family.

Ed Bowin

Here is an obit I found in a family Bible. I'm not sure if this is info you want to put with the other obits on the Grimes County website. This obit was cut out of an unknown newspaper found in Ed Bowin's bible given to him Sept 1, 1850 from his aunt A E Bowin.

"Ed Bowin, age 80 years and 3 months, died at 6:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his residence, 1806 Moore Street. He was a native of Georgia and a veteran of the Civil War. He came to Texas shortly after the war and settled in Grimes County, where for many years he was prominently connected with the lumber industry. In 1900 he moved to Houston where he has resided ever since.

Mr Bowin is survived by his wife, one married daughter living at Marguerite, Texas, and a son. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock Saturday morning from the family residence. Requim services will be held at St. Joseph's Church, Rev. Father Banfield officiating. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery."

Submitted by christyneeb at hotmail dot com.

John Bennett Busby

Death notice in 13 Dec 1898 issue of The Daily Examiner

THE UNLOADED PISTOL

Sudden and Sad Tragic End of John Busby

A Pistol That he Had Bought for Five Cents was the Weapon

John Busby, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. S. Busby accidently shot himself at daylight this morning and died in 15 minutes afterward.

John and his brother Louis both bought pistols in town Saturday; John gave five cents for the 38-calibre weapon he had and Louis paid twenty-five cents for his.

About daylight this morning the lads were in the corn crib shucking ears of grain preparatory to feeding the barn yard stock, and performing other chores that usually fall to the lot of boys getting along in years and with a aptitude of making themselves generally useful before going to study their lessons in school. It is presumed that the boys had their pistols concealed in the crib and when they had the opportunity to survey them he unfortunately did not lose it. John had been playing with the pistol before and did not think it loaded. He pointed the barrel up so he could look into the chambers and pulled the trigger; it exploded and the ball struck the poor lad in the right cheek, just below the eye; ranging upward and lodging near the brain.

The alarm was quickly given and the almost lifeless body conveyed to the house, where he expired in about fifteen minutes, and before medical attention could arrive.

John Bennett Busby was born in Grimes county June 25, 1884, and was in his fifteenth year, was in the sixth grade in the public schools and was at all times a quiet, unassuming lad of industrious inclinations; and none stood better among his schoolmates and friends for general popularity.

The parents and sisters and brother are heart-broken and prostrated over the awful suddenness of the terrible end of the son and brother.

The funeral will occur from the family residence tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock to the city cemetery.

Mrs. Busby, the reporter is told, says that he did not know where the pistol came from but thought it had been laying about for a long time. The reporter gets his part of the pistol story from the deceased boy's companions.