The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-02-09
HIRAM BLEDSOE DEAD.
One of the Famous Confede-
rate Fighters Passes Away.
Ends Comes Very Sudden,

onel Htram M. Bledsoe, one of the
last of tie dashlng soldiers
and picturesque characters who
made the history of the coufederacy
real like the pages of thrilling ro-
nance.
Col, Bledsoe died of pneumonia at
his home in Pleasant Hill, at l
o'clock on Monday morning, and at
l O'Clock this afternoon the simple
funeral of this simple man will be
held at the Christian church of that
place
Hi" Bledsoe was one of the most
familiar figures in the state OF Mis-
souri,, but his fame was not by any
means confined to this state, as his
name and face were well kno Hn east
of the Mississippi river in those sec
tions where Bledsoe's battery made
itself feared during the struggle
between the ncrth and south
There were many other man who
told what they did while they were
fighting under the stars and bars,
but those who are acquainted with
the circumstances fully realize that
when it was time for fighting and
not for talking Hi Bledsoe was the
first man to appear and the last to
leave.
BORN IN OLD KENTUCKY.
Hiram NJ Bedsoe was born in
Bourbon county, Kentucky, seventy
three years ago. He was given the
same name as his father, who was
minister of the Christian church.
When Hi was but small boy Elder
Bledsoe moved to Lafayette county,
Nilsson where he bought farm
near Lexington. The outbreak
OF the Mexican war found young
Bledsoe less than 20 years of age,
but he enlisted as a private and
served throughout the war, being in
many engagements and distinguish
ing himself for bravery in the battle
of Sacramento.
When the brief war with Mexico
was over the young man returned to
where he lived quietly
on the farm for several years. The
border TROUBLES between the people
who lived on the two sides of the line
dividing Missouri and Kansas were
just beginning and the fighting
blood in "Hi" would not be still
He organized the first company of
what were known as the Border
Ruffians" and led them over into
Kansas.
When the border warfare had
largely ceased, Bledsoe returned TO
Lexington, where he lived an une-
Eentful life until the beginning of
1ostillties between the north and
south In 1861 he organized the
irsa Missouri battery end was elect
ID captain.
There was not battle In Missouri |
n which the men under General |
Sterling Price took part, that was
lot made more fierce by the pres
,nee of Bledsoe's battery, and it
,oon became known an al sides. So |
Effective was the work of this battery |
md SO many qualifications for lead
'rship did Captain Bledsoe display
hat he was made Colonel of the 1st
Missouri regiment, The guiding
minds of the confederacy came TO
,now the worth OF Colonel Bledsoe
md he was moved to the division
,ask af the river, and made colonel
# artillery under Gen. Joe johnson.
Ie also served under General Hood
nd was given the rank of brigadier
general.
Colonel Bledsoe was wounded five
lines during the war, but none of
lis injuries was of serious nature
When the war closed Colonel I
3ledsoe returned to Lexington once
more, and several years later he
moved to Pleasant Hill where he
esided up to the time of his death.
When the United States govern
nent decided to make national {