Vol. XXIII, Autumn, 1978 No. 3

The following news items regarding 1908 senior citizens were extracted verbatim from the North Arkansas Star, Berryville's weekly newspaper by Larry Gage, Houston, Texas.

"Mr. Willis Miller, of this place, who has been our merchant here for the past year, died on the 3rd inst., having been in poor health for a long time. Mr. Miller had a host of friends in this settlement. He leaves a wife but no children.--Metalton News, Jan 10, 1908.

Were Residents of Tent City:
Mrs. Anna Eddy and her son and daughter, Dixie Ross and Mrs. Annie House, are the oldest residents in the point of years spent in Eureka Springs, yet reported, with possibly H.M.C. White excepted.

This family formerly lived in the southern part of Arkansas, where they sold their home and started west, to follow the popular scramble for gold in Colorado. After reaching the Indian Territory, by chance they turned their horses' heads this way, reaching Eureka Springs in Nov. 1879. They found here then only two stores, those of O.D. Thornton (cq) and Bill Jackson, the latter a son of Dr. Alva Jackson, who first discovered the curative properties of the springs. Dixie Ross, then a young boy, was later clerk and delivery boy in the Jackson's store.

Mrs. Eddy and family pitched their tent at the mouth of what is now known as Mill Hollow, and they later bought the same property and built the cottage in which Mrs. Eddy still lives. They never gave up their canvas home until the more substantial one was ready for their reception. Here Mrs. Eddy reared her children and now refuses to leave the spot made sacred by all the tender memories of the years which have followed the winter of '79, when Dixie came so near Death's door in the tent home, from pneumonia. In recalling the history of the early days, Mrs. Eddy laughingly tells of having made Dr. Jackson a pair of trousers of the old fashioned cut. The material was the old homespun kind, the work of the doctor and his wife. --Times Echo, Jan. 24, 1908

The Star office was honored yesterday by a visit from Uncle Billy Freeman, Berryville's oldest and one of her most honored citizens. He will be 94 years old if he lives until the 5th of May, and as he has just recovered from a severe attack of pneumonia, he is in fair condition not only to pass his next birthday but a number of others. We are always glad to see him at the Star office. Jan. 24, 1908

John Ary, an aged gentleman living seven miles north of the city, died last week from pulmonary troubles. Feb. 7, 1908

Death of James M. Bunch
James M. Bunch died at his home five miles south of the city last Saturday night from a complication of pulmonary troubles of long standing. He was born in Newton county in 1849 and lived in that and adjoining counties ever since. He was a brother to J.C., H.L. and Andy Bunch, of this city, and we understand he has eight brothers and sisters living, he being the first of twelve to pass away. He was county surveyor, an office he has held continuously for about fourteen years. He leaves a wife and eight children. His remains were laid to rest in the Rush cemetery south of the city Monday evening. Peace to his ashes. Feb. 21, 1908

Mrs. John Atkinson received a telegram last Friday announcing the death of her brother, Dr. B.H. Crawford, early in the morning of that day after a brief illness from pneumonia. The end came while he was visiting at the home of his son in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Dr. was well known here, and he spent several days here visiting with his relatives during the holidays just past. His remain were interred in Kahoka, Missouri, Monday evening beside those of his wife who died here last spring. Mrs. Atkinson left here last Saturday to attend the funeral, and she expects to be absent for several days. Feb. 21, 1908.

General James H. Berry, commander of the Arkansas division of the United Confederate Veterans, has appointed Dr. W.P. George, of this city, as assistant surgeon of his staff for the Birmingham reunion. Feb. 21, 1908.

Will Minnick, who now lives at Webb City, Mo., came in Sunday morning to attend the funeral of his father, Uncle Sam Minnick, who died very sudden Saturday morning. Polo News, Feb. 28, 1908.

Uncle Sam Minnick, aged about 84 years, died suddenly last Saturday morning at the home of his son-in-law, Jim Allen, near Maple, with whom he had been making his home for some time.

Deceased was the grandfather of Mrs. Charlie Davis, of this city, and an uncle of Tom Barnett. he was a native of Tennessee but for many years has resided in North Arkansas. His remains were interred in the Boyd cemetery, near Oak Grove, Sunday afternoon. Feb. 28, 1908.

Mrs. Sarah Henry, aged about 76 years, died at her home near Oak Grove about 6:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon after a short illness. Deceased's husband John Henry, died at Rolla, Mo., in 1862, and shortly after that she came to Carroll County and has lived here continuously ever since. She was an aunt of Tom Barnett, of this city, and she has many other relatives over the county. Her remains were interred Tuesday in the old Baptist cemetery near Hiram Jones's place. Rev. Fairchild conducting the funeral services. May she rest in peace. Feb. 28, 1908.

Uncle Johnnie Wood, aged about 78 years, died at his home a mile and a half south of the city at 5 o'clock Wednesday evening after a short spell of typhoid-pneumonia. Uncle Johnnie, as he was so familiar (cq) known to most everyone, has been a familiar figure in this community for several years, and his death has left a vacuum that will long be remembered. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and his funeral and burial will take place at the Rush cemetery at 3 o'clock this afternoon under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge of this city. March 6, 1908.

There was a large attendance at the funeral and burial of Uncle Johnnie Wood last Saturday. There were about 40 Masons in the procession that officiated at the burial. March 13, 1908

Mrs. A.M. Jackson received a telegram Wednesday morning announcing the death of the father, H.C. Doran, which sad event occurred at his home in Springfield, Mo., Tuesday night. March 13, 1908

An Aged Citizen Gone
Mr. Harrison Branscum, the aged father of J.H. Branscum, died quite suddenly Tuesday morning. He had been in poor health for a long time but up to the day before his death he had shown no signs of being any worse than usual. About midnight on Monday he was taken bad sick and rapidly grew worse until shortly after daylight he passed away. He was about 87 years of age and for the past three years he has been totally blind. He had been a member of the Methodist church for 65 years, and during all those years he lived a consecrated Christian life. His funeral took place from the Methodist church, Wednesday afternoon after which his remains were laid away in the I.O.O.F. cemetery to await the resurrection morn. March 13, 1908.

Dr. John Stacy, who has been a familiar figure on the streets here for many years, died in his room at Mrs. Powell's residence last Saturday night after a week's sickness from pneumonia. He was about 68 years of age and had been of unsound mind ever since he came here. He was sorely afflicted with rheumatism, and for many years had to walk on his hands in order to move around. He leaves a son, Horton Stacy, who lives over at Enon, in this county, and who came here to look after the old man's burial, but who is in very poor health and had to return home before the burial. He also had two or three brothers and sisters in the section but none of them were present at the burial. He was buried (cq) in the city cemetery Monday evening only a few persons being present. April 10, 1908.

Newton Henry was in the city Tuesday enroute home from a very pleasant gathering at the home of his twin brother, Jasper Henry, which took place Monday in honor of the 62nd anniversary of their birthday. Fifty-two relatives and connections of the families were present and took dinner there in honor of the occasion. These are among the best people of Carroll County and the Star joins their numerous friends in extending hearty congratulations to these brothers on the pleasant extension of their lives thus far toward old age and wish for the m the return of many such pleasant occasions as that of Monday. April 10, 1908.

An old man who gave his name as Finn was found quite sick and in a destitute condition in a barn on the outskirts of the city a day or two ago (cq). He is 68 years of age and says he has a son living at Southwest City, Missouri, and he was trying to get there. The Mayor had him moved to Beal's boarding house, a physician was procured and he is doing as well as could be expected of an old man with pneumonia. The son has been communicated with concerning the matter. May 8, 1908

The old man who was found very sick in a barn on the Gibson farm a mile east of the city last week and who gave his name as Finn, died a Beal's boarding house last Friday. He was too weak to tell anything of himself or his relatives, so nothing is known of him. He said he had a son living at Southwest City, Missouri, but a letter of inquiry there brought no reply. The churches of the city made up money with which to give him a decent burial. May 15, 1908.

Noah Maxwell and wife returned from Grove, Oklahoma, Friday of last week where they were called on account of the sickness and death of Mrs. Maxwell's father, R.A. Jackson. Mr. Jackson had been sick fro several months. He formerly lived in this township, but moved to the Territory nine years ago. He was 63 years old at the time of his death. June 5, 1908.

Last Monday was the anniversary of the birthday of W.C. Russ, a mile southeast of the city, and the 67th anniversary of the birth of his brother, General Russ, of Elk Ranch. The General and his wife came over Sunday to celebrate the occasion with their brother here, as they always celebrate their natal days together, one year at one home and the next year at the other's home, and the gatherings are always pleasant. June 12, 1908

Mr. A. Wier, and elderly gentleman who makes his home with B. Garwood, near the depot, suffered a partial stroke of paralysis last Sunday and is in quite a precarious condition. June 19, 1908

Capt. Harvey Davey, aged 77, died of paralysis at his home in Eureka Springs last Saturday only a few hours after the death of his only son, Herman Davey. June 19, 1908

Mrs. Louisa M. Cunningham, died at her home in this city at 5:30 o'clock Wednesday morning after a lingering illness from dropsy. She was a native of Jackson County, Alabama, but had resided in and near Berryville since 1851. Her husband, Lewis M. Cunningham, died a Union soldier in 1862. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, three of who still survive, C.M. Cunningham, of this place, another son in Hugo, Oklahoma, and a daughter in Montgomery County, this state. The funeral and burial took place at the Bunch cemetery at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Rev. W.B. Wolf officiating. June 19, 1908.

Death of Re. R.W. Goudelock
Rev. R.W. Goudelock died at his home in Eureka Springs last Thursday evening after a protracted illness of many weeks from heart affection (cq) and bright's disease. He was for more than twenty years an honored citizen of Berrryville, having moved to Eureka to reside about two years ago. He was well known not only all over Carroll County but pretty well over the state. Besides being a Methodist minister of recognized ability he was at one time a member of the legislature and held a government position in Washington during Mr. Cleveland's last administration. His funeral and burial took place in the Eureka Springs cemetery last Saturday under the auspices of the Berryville Masonic Lodge of which he had been a member for twenty-odd years. Besides a very lard concourse of friends from Eureka Springs a large number from here attended the last obsequies of this good man. June 26, 1908