Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-02-25
Jommunicated,
Death of Elijah G. Butler,

/ H.
closed account of the sad fate of Eli
jah G. Butler, ofAurora, Nevada, for
merelyot this place. He had served il
the Ord regiment Wisconsin cavalry
and was a nephew of Ben. and vii,
liam Coates, of Boscobel. l take the
| following from the letter to the faith,
er and mother of deceased
AURORA, NEVADA, Jan. II, 1865.
DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER 1t is
with a sad heart that | inform you
although at q loss to know how to do
so-of the terrible gloom and sadness
that has befallen us. Our dear Elijah
is no mere. He is gone from our
sight forever. Poor boy he porish>
ed in snow storm, all alone no one
nigh to bear his last words-terrible
thus TO die.
"For on some fond breast the parting soul relics:
Some pious dorps the closing eye requires"
He was on his way home from
Bridgeport, a distance of twenty
miles, where he had been in search of
some cattle. 1t was very cold and
stormy. He left Bridgeport on Mon.
day, the 9th inst. for home, and
was found on Wednesday morning
following, within one and a quar-
ter mi les from home frozen to death.
Some think he died on Monday night,
Others on Tuesday. 1t is Impossible
to tell at present There is house
half way from Bridgeport where pos
sibly be might have remained on
Monday night. Robert and Roger,
his brothersinlaw, became uneasy
about him, and sent a man in search
Of the poor fellow. When found, be
appeared to have been dead some
time. One foot was entirely bare
the other had no boot on, but was
done up in piece of his blanket he
had cut his foot little in cutting off
his boot. think be got his feet wet
and they froze and swelled so that be
had to cut bis boots Off There is so
much snow and the weather so in.
tensely cold that no one can get 10
the half way house at present. He
was beloved by all who knew him.
He was so kind, hearted and mild
spoken that it was pleasure for me
10 do him favor. Poor fellow
can't assist him any more. He is in
better hands now. The last time be
was at my house, he helped my wife
get breakfast, she being unwell. He ate
and left hearty man. Little did |
expect he would return q corpse
Life is uncertain, but death is sure.
Enclosed | send slip from the
Esmeralda Union, published at Auro,
ra, Nevada, which is very appropri
ate. The editor was well acquainted
with him and deeply symrathizes
with US in our affection. The last
one that kissed him was Julia she
said it was for his mother. lie was
a great favorte of hers. Dear moth
er, you must try and bear up under
the affection, and console yourself
with the thought that he is lar better
off than we who mourn bis loss. The
Lord taketh those he loves. Truly
our affections have been many the
last Observation-Disclosures Little
Lake tragedy-and poor Elijah.
Dear father, you mustreconcile your,
self TO the sad loss if possible, for
you are far advanced in years. Dear
mother, try and bear up under the
the shock, and not grieve moro than
possible. Dear Sister, you must rec.
oncilc your feelings. The loss of one
so dear to US is severe, but such was
the will of God and "He doeth all
things WE'LL" As soon as we can
travel, we will search for some Of our
lamented Elijah's things.
From your almost heart>broken
Son.
WILSON BUTLER
The following is copied from the
"Esmerdlda Union" of Dec. 14tb
On v ednesday last, The 8th inst,
the body of Elijah G. BUTLER was
found about one mile and three quar-,
ters from Bodie. The last that was
seen of him while alive was at
Bridgeport, on Monday morning,
when he left that place in search Of
some of his work oxen, and it is
therefore a matter of doubt how
long be suffered or when he died
When found he was in posture that
would indicate that be had become
exhausted from fatigue and bad sunk
to rise no more. 1t would appear
that he was conscious OF freezing. as
he had cut his boots off and wrapped
one foot up in his blanket, which be
had torn into strips the other foot
was entirely bare and that he had
been travelling in the snow. The de
ceased was q native of Wisconsin and
had served>a term of three years IN
the 3rd regiment of cavalry from
that State had been in several hard
fought battles, and upon receiving
his discharge, came TO this place where
two OF his brothers are now resid ny.
Two OF his sisters reside at Bodie.
He was in bis 25th year, and has
been cut down in the midst Of his
usefulness, and his untimeIy death
is deeply Iamented by his relatives
ana this community at large. II
seems hard that after passing through
three years of active service for his
country be should come to this ster-
lie State, to die such horrible death;
but the ways of providence are in
scrutible, and when his sorrow>strick.
en- parents receive the heart render
ing information they may rest as
sured that their son has left record
of honesty. industry and good repute.
We were well acquainted with de,
ceased and knew him to be an hon.
orable and industrious member of so.
ciety.
nA- We were not present at the
trail Of Carpenters Automatic Grain
Binder, last week, but are informed