CULBERTSON, Edward B. 1837 - 1862

CULBERTSON, NESBITT

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/27/2021 at 21:15:31

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Thursday, May 22, 1862
Page 2, Columns 1 and 2

Sad and Fatal Occurrence--Three Persons Drowned: Never have we been called upon to record a bereavement more heartrending and distressing than one that occurred last Sunday evening, by which three persons were launched into eternity. Mr. Edward B. CULBERTSON, a young man about 24 years of age, and son of Col. J. W. CULBERTSON, started from home on Sunday evening at 5 o'clock, in company with Miss Maggie NESBITT, a young lady about 18 years old, and Ella Hammond, a young girl of 10 years. The intention was to take little Ella to Mr. Loomis', across Cedar creek. In a few hours word was bro't back that all three had been drowned in attempting to cross Cedar creek at the ford below the old Pitkin mill. It appears that Ed. drove into the water, when one of the horses stumbled and became unruly, and that Ed. attempted to turn them to the shore. One of the horses was drowned and the other escaped. The buggy was about 10 or 12 feet from the shore, and Ed. stood in it in water up to his arms, holding Ella in his arms, while Miss NESBITT stood by his side. The ferryman, who lives a quarter of a mile this side of the creek, heard their cries, but supposing it was some boys, did not go to their relief. Had he done so they would have all been saved. Their cries were heard by Mr. Hill, half a mile beyond Cedar, who came to their relief, but could render no assistance, as the boat was on this side. They were in the buggy for about an hour, and at last, worn out with fatigue and weakness, they were washed away. Mr. Hill saw them all sink, and at one time Miss NESBITT rose within fifteen feet of him and cried to him, "Help, for God's sake." He threw her a pole, which fell short a foot or two, and she sank to rise no more. Mr. Hill is an old man, and for him to have jumped into the creek would have been certain death to himself and of no benefit to them. When the news reached town about 25 persons went down with grappling hooks and steelyards, to drag the creek. We arrived there about 11 o'clock, and found a number of persons engaged in dragging for the bodies. The hooks which our party took were put aboard, and a few minutes before 12 Mr. J. S. Beck announced that he had one of them. The body was drawn up and found to be that of Ella Hammond. The body was taken ashore and the face washed, while the dragging was still going on.-- In about an hour Mr. Beck said that he had another, and the body of Ed. was drawn up. It was also taken ashore. The bodies were cleaned as well as our limited means would allow, and those on shore were discussing the question of taking the two bodies home, when another shout rang through the woods that the other body was found. Mr. C. Negus had succeeded in drawing it to the top, when it was taken on board and brought ashore at 2 o'clock in the morning. In a short time the bodies were placed in a wagon, and brought to the house of Col. CULBERTSON. Miss NESBITT was a distant relative of Mr. CULBERTSON's. The agony of that family we shall not attempt to describe, and shall draw a vail (sic) over their lacerated feelings. In the afternoon the body of Ella Hammond was taken to the residence of her uncle, Mr. Samuel Henderson.

On Tuesday the 20th inst., the funerals took place. The arrangement was to bury the two bodies on the farm of Col. CULBERTSON, and then return and bury the body of Ella in the grave yard. The exercises were so unneccessarily lengthy that it was very late when the two bodies were buried, and there were very few to bury the little girl. We regretted it, as did many others.

In the afternoon a very large concourse of people had assembled at the residence of Col. CULBERTSON. The Odd Fellows turned out to assist in the exercises, and the members of the Teachers' Institute attended with crape (sic - crepe) around the arm, in respect to Miss NESBITT. At 2½ o'clock a sermon was preached by Rev. Rhea, and at about 5 o'clock the procession moved to the burying ground, where the mortal remains of Edward B. CULBERTSON and Maggie N. NESBITT were consigned to their last resting place. It was after six o'clock when the hearse arrived at Mr. Henderson's to convey the body of the little girl to the graveyard, and we could not but notice the contrast in the attendance at the funerals. It was nearly dark when the last sad rite was performed over the body of Ellora Talitha Hammond. All three of the victims now rest peacefully and quietly under the sod, and a lasting consolation is felt by their friends that they are not resting at the bottom of the treacherous creek.

Mr. CULBERTSON was aged 24 years, 5 months and 2 days.

Miss NESBITT was aged 18 years, 1 month and 16 days.

Ella Hammond was aged 10 years, 9 months and 28 days.

Obituaries of Mr. CULBERSON (sic) and Miss NESBITT have been handed in, but too late for insertion this week.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Thursday, May 29, 1862
Page 3, Columns 1 and 2

OBITUARY.

Drowned.--In Cedar Creek, four miles South of Fairfield, on Sunday evening, the 18th of May, 1862, Edward B. CULBERTSON, second son of Col. John W. and Elizabeth A. CULBERTSON, aged 24 years, 5 months and 3 days,--also at the same time and place, Miss Maggie C. NESBITT, aged 18 years, 1 month and 16 days, and Ellora T. Hammond, aged 10 years 9 months and 28 days.

Mr. CULBERTSON had started to convey the young girl above named to the residence of a neighbor, and had invited Miss NESBITT to accompany him.--They were all in a two horse carriage, and in crossing Cedar Creek a rapid current, occasioned by the heavy rain of the previous night, swept the horses and carriage below the ford into water from 8 to 10 feet deep, and among some drift wood that had lodged in an eddy. Mr. CULBERTSON, who always evinced great codiness (sic - confidence?) in danger, with great presence of mind, immediately stood up on the carriage seat, holding the young girl in one of his arms above the water, and assisting Miss NESBITT with the other arm to the same situation with himself.--They continued in this situation, with the water up to their arm pits, for some thirty or forty minutes, at the same time raising an alarm for assistance; but, alas! none that was effective arrived in time. One of the horses drowned, and the other in his efforts to disengage himself from the carriage turned it over, and all three, benumbed with the cold, were swept into a watery grave. An elderly gentlemon (sic) who had been attracted to the bank of the stream by the cries of the sufferers, told young CULBERTSON to save himself, but with a nobleness and bravery that was characteristic of him, he replied, "If the girls must perish I will die with them." Miss NESBITT floated a rod or two down the stream, and tried to save herself by reaching for a pole extended by the old gentleman--but failed. Edward sank with his arms clasping the young girl in an endeavor to save her. A large number of our citizens, on hearing of the sad accident, immediately started to recover the bodies, and during the night succeeded in doing so.

To say that the foregoing calamity has caused a gloom throughout the town and adjacent country, but feebly expressed the grief and sadness protrayed on the countenances of all. Hundred of streaming eyes with tears that yet continue to flow from both old and young, evince the deep affection that had centered on the lost.

Edward B. CULBERTSON was born in the town of Gilead, Wood county, Ohio, on the 15th day of December, 1837. When but two years old his parents removed to and settled in the town of Fairfield, then just laid off as the county seat of Jefferson county. Consequently from his infancy up, for a space of 22 years, he has been of and among us. When we say that all who knew him, and in him all that parents and friends could admire, was found, we only say what almost every tongue in our midst has lisped within the last 48 hours.--Kind, affectionate, frugal, industrious, self-sacrificing and noble to the greatest degree, and at the same time full of life and amiability--none could know but to love, none see but to admire.

How can we describe the grief and anguish of a doting father and mother--and of an affectionate and only brother! The pen is too feeble, the eye too full, the voice too articulate! "How can I give up my dear Edward"--"Brave, good, kind boy, are we to see you no more." "Oh No! you cannot come back to us, but we can go to you," and such expressions yet greet our ears as we pass from the threshhold of his late home; for he was not only a dutiful son, but his greatest pleasure was to obey, please and render happy his parents. The cup of sorrow that had been nearly filled a month since by the decease of their dear Lucy--the wife of the now only son and child of the parents, and who had become as dear and precious as their own flesh and blood, has now been filled and overflowing. To assuage the bitterness of that cup to his parents and brother, although he was one of its deepest partakers, Edward, on the very eve of his death assumed the cheerfulness and buoyancy of his previous life. To his near associates on the morning of his departure from this world, he gave evidence of his attachment by a cheerful good bye and an assurance that he would meet them on the morrow. With one step, however, as it were, he was launched into eternity. Truly, Oh, too truly it is that "in the midst of life, we are in death." In the very bud of manhood he has been plucked from our midst.

To a large circle of young ladies and gentleman that claimed him as a friend and associate, and in which he was 'the favorite', his loss will be irreparable. In that circle there will ever be a void--yet with and in it will ever live a remembrance of the virtues that adorned his life.

"Cold in the dust the perished heart may lie,
But that which warmed it once can never die."

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Maggie C. NESBITT was born in Ohio, from whence with her parents she removed to Illinois, and afterwards to Oskaloosa in this State, where she has resided for the last five years. She was on a visit to her relatives and friends in this place, among whom were the family of Col. CULBERTSON, when the accident took place.

Her acquaintance here was limited, yet all who knew her loved and admired. Adorned with a lovely disposition, a kind heart, and a benevolent and Christian character, she won the affection, and friendship of not a few, and many hearts now bleed over her untimely fate. Truly may it be said, "Death selects the best, the loveliest the dearest."

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The funeral of the above mentioned persons was attended by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which Mr. CULBERTSON was a beloved member; by the Teacher's Institute now in session in this town, and which adjourned to pay the last tribute of respect to Miss NESBITT, one of their humber; and, also, by one of the largest concourses of citizens that ever gathered on such a mournful occasion.

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Ellora T. Hammond had been living in Col. CULBERTSON's family for some time, and had taken great care of the child of Mrs. W. B. CULBERTSON during her last illness, and was much attached to them. She was kind and tractable, and was much liked. She proved very attentive to the wants of the litile (sic) one, and after the death of its mother attached herself strongly to the father.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: An inscription for Edward B. CULBERTSON appears on a monument in Evergreen Cemetery, on Lot Old.P.083, however this may only be a memorial for him. Evergreen Cemetery did not exist in 1862; it was founded in 1870.