Benjamin, Thomas – d. 1900

BENJAMIN

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 10/9/2016 at 13:10:20

Sad Accident
A sad demonstration of the uncertainty of life, took place in Palo Alto township three miles southeast of Newton, on Friday afternoon.
Thomas Benjamin, son of Sarah Benjamin, who has resided two miles south of newton for nearly twenty years, was working on the farm for Mr. C. N. Charlesworth, in his usual health and strength, and while standing on the wagon double tree, driving a very heavy load, in the jostling of the wagon he slipped from his position, falling directly in front of the forward wheel and although the team was on an ordinary walk it was impossible for him to escape being crushed by the wheel. It ran across his body just above the hips which caused him to suffer great pain and death resulted from internal injuries, Saturday morning, at half past ten o’clock.
He was a member of the Baptist church in Newton and had lived an exemplary life. His remains were interred in the Wild Cat cemetery. Sunday afternoon, after appropriate funeral services at the U.P. church, conducted by Rev. C. f. Lusk, pastor of the Baptist church in Newton.
There was a very large attendance of acquaintances, especially young men, who most deeply mourn the loss of a kind, friendly, cheerful young man, beloved by all who knew him. It seems harder to give him up as he had just matured into manhood, being only a few days past his twenty-first birthday, full of stout hearted hope for the future, and although he had long been regarded as a bright, promising youth who had for years kindly cheered the heart of his widowed mother as well as assisted materially in her support, he had lately arrived at the stage where he was a realization of his friends hopes in him, no longer a promise but a fulfillment.
Why such a son should be taken from an already bereaved and sorrowed mother is beyond mortal conception. The reason is known only by an all-wise Providence.
It must be that the putting out of such a light, is to cause other lights to shine stronger and brighter than they otherwise could, or to soften and mold for better use some other life or lives. Let us hope, while we have lost a king friend, that it was directed by the Great Hand and that the compensating purpose shall be fully realized.
Source: Newton Journal; Wednesday, May 9, 1900, page 3