Willis Benham.

The Very Sad Death of One of the Community’s Most Excellent Young Men.

Death is a sad thing, come to whom it may. With the aged however, there comes with it as an amelioration to those who would sorrow the reflection that life’s race is run and its labors and trials are over, and that peace and rest, mayhap often yearned for, is secured, while with the very young who meet death the thought that the transition carries with it a propitious immunity and escape from life’s many probable ills and tribulations. But the death of one just crossing the threshold, as it were, of young manhood or womanhood, is usually regarded as the saddest of all deaths. It is needless to say that the community was greatly shocked on last Sunday morning when the news went round that Willis Benham was dead. The thought that so erstwhile a stalwart frame should so soon give way, so spirited a gait be stayed, seemed startling. The sad event occurred at 1 o’clock on Saturday night.

On Monday, September 4 th, Willis, with a pleasant party left the city for a visit to the world’s fair. While there he contracted a severe cold and hurried on home, reaching the city after less than a week’s absence. He went to the home of his brother-in-law, Mr. Albert Strickland, and immediately took his bed. The every best medical attention was given him, besides the constant watchful and tender loving care of loving relatives and friends. Several times he rallied so as to give all hope of his early restoration to health, but later some new complication noticeable would darken those hopes, until gradually the truth presented itself that the dread summons had come. When the darkening shadows gathered about him and he felt life’s ebb-tide, flow in his lucid moments, by an expression that betokened peace, he evinced that he did not fear coming conditions, and he was like the sentinel, ready, and calm because prepared.

Willis Benham was the only son of Dr. and Mrs. W. I. Benham. He had but recently passed his 23d birthday. He was a young man of exceptionally fine moral character. He was the soul of honor, loyal as a friend, generous to a fault – no task being too burdensome or sacrifice too great to bring gladness or pleasure to a friend –all these and other laudable traits furnishing a beautiful inward decking to his nature. No one said aught against him. No fitter recognition of his popularity could have been given than the presence of the large crowd at the funeral services. These were conducted at the home of Mr. Strickland Sunday evening. The remains were interred in the old family burying ground, three miles from the city.