Benjamin W. "Ben" TOOTHAKER

TOOTHAKER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/10/2012 at 05:41:17

1914

BEN TOOTHAKER'S BODY FOUND IN GULCH
Former Resident of Rice Township Dies in Colorado
Had Been Ill a Year.

Friends in Ringgold county will be saddened to learn of the death of B. H. TOOTHAKER, who for many years resided on a farm in Rice township. Mr. TOOTHAKER moved with his family from Ringgold county to Missouri in the spring of 1902 and later moved to Colorado. The following in regard to his death is taken from the Palisade, Colo., paper.

"The body of Benjamin W. TOOTHAKER, of Palisade, who wandered from a sanitarium at Glenwood Springs inst. August, was found about 5:30 Tuesday evening by J. H. VERDICK on his ranch eight miles south of Glenwood and five miles from Cardiff. The discovery of the body was accidental and occurred while Mr. VERDICK and two of his men were rounding up some cattle. It was lying in a small gulch about seventy-five yards from the Sunlight branch of the Midland railroad. There was little left of it save the skeleton and most of the clothing, which served as means of identification.

"Mr. VERDICK had assisted some at the first in the search for Mr. TOOTHAKER and on making his discovery he notified W. S. SMITH who resided some distance away and was the last one to meet Mr. TOOTHAKER on the day following his disappearance from the sanitarium. Mr. SMITH positively identified the remains and then a description was telephoned to Dr. PEARCE of the sanitarium at Glenwood, who at once telephoned Mrs. [Florence N.] TOOTHAKER. Later she got into touch with both Mr. VERDICK and Mr. SMITH and confirmed the description of the body.

"D. B. WHITE left on the early morning train yesterday for Glenwood and drove nine miles from there to the VERDICK ranch, accompanied by the coroner. The body was removed and brought to Palisade on the afternoon train and the clothing was identified by members of the family. Funeral services were held yesterday at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church, being conducted by Rev. NUCKOLLS, and interment took place at Odd Fellows cemetery [Palisade, Colorado].

"Mr. TOOTHAKER was a large man - six feet and two inches in height - and had weighed up to 240 pounds. Several years ago he had a sunstroke in Iowa, and seemed to fail from that time. A few years later the family moved here, but Mr. TOOTHAKER gradually failed until medical help was sought more than a year ago. It was found he suffered from Bright's disease and softening of the brain, besides having a weak heart.

"Mr. TOOTHAKER was troubled with the illusion that his family would be better off without him and at times would take long walks all alone, but members of his family would keep posted as to his whereabouts. About the middle of August Mrs. TOOTHKAER accompanied him to Glenwood Springs where he entered a sanitarium for treatment and seemed to improve. On the night of the eighteenth Mr. TOOHAKER persuaded his wife to return home for a short time, but ther train was lated and she lay (sic) down in another room so as not to disturb her husband. During the quiet that ensued he stole carefully from the house and no trace of him could be found for several days when it was learned that the Mr. SMITH above referred that he had seen him near Cardiff. A reward of $100 was offered by Mrs. TOOTHAKER for finding the body, and about a month ago this was increased to $150.

"Mr. TOOTHAKER was sixty-one years and three months old at the time of his death and is survived by a widow and four children. He carried a life insurance policy and care was taken in the identification of the remains to secure its payment."

Submission by Ann Wyer, July of 2012