Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-08-16
Il. F.. DOBiNS DEAD.
Only Ill Ten Minutes--T he Cause Either
Heart Disease, Heat Or ApOplexy
-One OF Audrain C0unty's
Most Valued Citizens.

Benjamin Franklin Dobyns died
suddenly at his residence in this
city Friday morning, August 10, at
10 O'Clock. As our readers will re-
member, MIR. Dobyns fell from a
tree that ne was trimming some six
weeks ago when his leg was broken
at the ankle. lie had about recov-
cred from this trouble and was get.
ting so he could walk around a
little. The morning of his death
he was brighter and in better spirits
than he had been for some time. A
few minutes before his death he
complained TO his wife about being
tired and feeling weak. He went
in and laid down and in
ten minutes was dead. a
physician reached his bedside just be-
fore he expired and administered
medicine to revive him but it had no
effect. It is not thought that the in
jury to his leg had anything to do
with his death as he was getting
along splendidly with his broken
limb. The doctors were inclined to
think that heat or heart disease was
the cause of his sudden death. Mr..
Dobyns was nearly 80 years of age
and a native of Kentucky. He mar
ried his first wife, Miss FannieClark,
at Millersburg, Ky, in March. 1887.
She died in October ofthe same year.
He married his present wife, who
was Miss Tina Bledsoe, at Mays
vile, Ky, April 2, 1890.
Mr.. Dobyns had been identified
with Mexico's business progress
for many years and no man
IN the history of the place
stood higher for business in
tegrity and honorable citizenship
than he. He held some of the
most responsible offices in the coun-
ty, and his record as a public Off
cial had been not less enviable than
his career as a private citizen. Some
philosopher has said, "That a good
man is the work of a lifetime, and
is to be valued above all other
prizes" for it is the mainstay and
reliance of its possessor in all cir
cumstances of life. In prosperity
it is a comfort and solace; in adver-
sity it is the best and truest friend
of the unfortunate; for to this, and
to this alone, must he look for help
to rise from his difficulties. Such
a name had Mr.. Dobyns in Mexico
and Audrain county, and wherever
he was known. Mr.. Dobyns was a
native of Kentucky, born in Dover,
in Mason county, November A., 1874.
Principally reared in his native
county, he came TO Mexico prior to
the war, and soon engaged in the
grocery business as clerk with his
father, Silas l.. Dobyns, who was
we'll known throughout the county.
This he followed for O. number of
years. A man of upright character,
good business qualifications and
popular manners, he became well
and favorably known throughout
the county, and such was the es-
TEEN in which he was held that in
1873 he was nominated and elected
to the responsible office of county
collector. He held that continuously
until March, 1888, and is conceded
to have made mi of the best col
lectors the county ever had.
At the time of Mr.. Dobyns' death
he had $1,000 insurance in the A.
o. U. w. order. Up to within about
two weeks before his death he had
$1,000 in the Bay State Insurance
Company, but his friends think
that he allowed it to elapse. This
cannot be verified until his papers
are examined.
The funeral services, conducted by
Rev. w. B. Taylor, were held at
the Christian church Sunday morn
ing at 10 O'Clock and we're largely
attended.
The pail bearers were S. M.
Locke, j. M. Pollard, c. K. Gibbs,
r. M. White, W. II. Coons and J.
A. Glandon.