Do you have clippings of obituaries in your genealogy files? Or do you prefer the digital versions of the newspapers. I have both. Since I can access a lot of newspapers from my own home, I do prefer the digital versions. However, those digital copies are a luxury that earlier genealogists did not have.
Instead, they collected clippings. And I was fortunate to connect with such a researcher / clipper of Warren County Indiana thru Walter Salts. His collection of binders of clippings was donated to the Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society in Danville, Illinois.
Buried in my files are photocopies of pages from these binders. While going thru my past Indiana research, I came across one set of these photocopies that contains the obituaries of James H. Crawford and his first wife, Eliza Jane (Swisher).
Mrs. Elisha Briggs, of this place, last Monday received intelligence of the death of her brother’s wife, Mrs. Eliza Jane Crawford, which occurred after an illness of several weeks, at Dodge City, Kans., on Friday July 8th, 1892, at 7:20 a.m. Deceased was the wife of James H. Crawford, who several years since removed from this county and located in Kansas. She was over 50 years of age and leaves an husband an six children, the youngest of whom is 18 years of age. Mrs. Crawford died of heart trouble. The funeral was held at the Methodist Church, of which denomination she had been a worthy and exemplary member for many years, at 2 o’clock p.m. last Sunday.
probably from Warren Republican July 14, 1892 issue
In that same set of photocopies was the obituary for J. H. Crawford. There is a handwritten date on the obit: 7-16-1908.
J. H. Crawford Dead
J. H. Crawford died at his home in Dodge City, Kan., Wednesday of last week and was buried Friday. He was somewhere near 75 years of age at the time of his death and his passing away was probably due in a great measure to his advanced age.
Mr. Crawford was formerly a resident of this county, residing on the farm between here and Williamsport which he sold to the Ringel Bros.’ father when he left here for Kansas many years ago. Mr. Crawford has many friends in this county who will be grieved to learn of his demise.
EG p. 52
And then on another page of clippings is a full obituary for Eliza J. Swisher Crawford
Eliza J. Swisher Crawford
Eliza J., daughter of John and Emelia Swisher, was born in Warren county, Indiana, July 14th, 1835.
She was converted when a child, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at “Crow’s Grove,” Indiana, since called “Swisher’s Chapel,” in honor of her grandfather, who was a pioneer in that country.
Her parents died before she was grown, leaving in her charge two younger brothers and a sister, she being the eldest of four children. The charge she faithfully kept, always looking after their welfare s though they were her own children.
On April 10th, 1856, she was married to James H. Crawford at the residence of her uncle, William F. Wood, where she then lived. There were born unto them seven children – William N., John D., Charles H. (died in infancy), Abraham L, Jennie, Henry C., and Clara V.
In 1878 she, with her family, immigrated to Ford county, Kansas, here she has since resided.
She has been in feeble health for several ears, but on Easter Sunday was taken ill with what, at that time, seemed a slight indisposition, but in spite of all that loving hands and medical skill could do continued to grow worse until the morning of July 8th, at 7:20 o’clock, when, surrounded by husband and family she quietly crossed the dark river, after bidding them a fond farewell, and entreating them to meet her in heaven.
The funeral services were held in the M.E. Church, on Sunday, at 2:30 p.m. attended by a large concourse of friends many being unable to get inside the church. The remains were interred in the Maple Grove cemetery.
She was a pious and devoted Christian. Among her leading characteristics was her love and devotion to the wants of her family. The greatest happiness she ever knew was in promoting the happiness of her loved ones.
While the family are overcome with grief at parting with their dearest loved one, they humbly bow to the Divine will and say with her, “He doeth all things well.” she was loved by all who knew her and her loss is deeply mourned by all. — Dodge City, (Kan.,) Globe-Republican
likely from Warren Republican July 28, 1892
While these obituaries are similar to the ones found in the Dodge City, Kansas papers, they provide a glimpse of the family from the county of their birth. The digital versions of the Dodge City newspapers can be found on Newspapers.com. Below are citations for those obituaries:
Eliza Crawford
“Died,” The Journal-Democrat (Dodge City, Kansas), 16 July 1892, page 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 6 February 2022).
“Obituary,” The Dodge City Globe (Dodge City, Kansas), 18 July 1892, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online October 2019).
James Crawford
“Pioneer Citizen Sleeps into Peaceful Death,” The Journal-Democrat (Dodge City, Kansas), 10 July 1908, page 4 col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 22 December 2021)
“Old Settler Gone,” The Globe-Republican (Dodge City, Kansas), 9 July 1908, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 6 February 2022).