Benjamin Wadsworth Eckels (1896-1916)

ECKELS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/24/2022 at 19:15:45

From Nevada Representative July 28, 1916 (page 5)

OBITUARY

BEN J. W. ECKELS

Benjamin Wadsworth Eckels, youngest con of Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Eckels, living just northwest of this city, died Wednesday or Thursday at Tucson, Arizona. The telegram from the undertaker, wanting directions concerning the disposal of the body and giving no information further, was the first and is the only advice received concerning his death. Back of this, however, is the fact that the young man has been for the past year and a half in delicate health. He went to Arizona in February of last year and remained until September. He was at home for a couple of months an then went back to Arizona where he had since been, the understanding being that he was improving in health. Lately, some other trouble had developed an on this account he was to come home next week and then go to Rochester for an operation. In the fall his parents have been expecting to go with him to Colorado for an indefinite stay. This is about what is known about the matter. Mr. Eckels left last night over the Rock Island for Tucson and will bring home the body of his son. "Ben" was born June 23, 1896, an was therefore just past twenty years of age. Further particulars concerning his death will have to be given later.

From Nevada Representative August 4, 1916 (page 1)

OBITUARY

Funeral of Ben Eckels

The funeral of the late Benj. W. Eckels was conducted Wednesday afternoon from the parental home northwest of this city, his father, Frank J. Eckels, having arrived home that morning with the body. The services were in charge of Mrs. Leitch and there was a large attendance of friends of the deceased and the family. As previously noted, Benjamin Wadsworth Eckels was born at Worthington, Ohio, June 23, 1896, and died at Tucson, Arizona, July 26, 1916, aged 20 years, 1 month and 3 days. The family moved to the vicinity of Nevada when he was four years old and he received his grade schooling an part of his high school course in Nevada. His health failing he left for Albuquerque, N. Mex. in Feb. 1915 and remained there until the following fall when he returned home for a few weeks. After his return to Albuquerque the physicians pronounced him so far cured as to justify his leaving the Sanitarium and therefore he went to Tucson, Arizona where he was at the time of his death. Being free from tuberculosis against which he had made such a brae fight the physicians advised him to come home and seek the help which a throat operation would give his heart and assured him that he thus would effect his complete recovery, and for his journey home he was preparing when he met his death from a pistol wound.

The very brief advice of his death gave to his friends at home the impression of suicide and it was with this impression that his father started after the boy and the facts. Upon his arrival, however, in Tucson his first assurance was that upon proper investigation there was absolutely no foundation for such a belief but that the shooting was accidental.

Ben had received his mother's letter directing his to come home as soon as possible and his throat trouble would be at once looked after. He had the day before purchased a new trunk and had it partly packed and he had spent the evening discussing with a friend the complete cure which he felt would be affected after a trip to Rochester, Minn. He then returned to his packing and it is supposed from all the circumstances that in removing the bullets from the automatic colt revolver, which he in common with all the Americans in Tucson in these times had been warned to purchase, he met his death--the bullet had struck the wall and was found on the floor and one struck his body. He was so happy over his coming home that even his dining room waiter had remarked it and told his Father about it. Though hearts of his people are breaking with their grief yet there in no bitterness in their sorrow now.