Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1899-07-12
Two Good Men Gone.


 assassin. Tor the purpose Of robbing
 their store at this place, removes
 from our midst two prominant aud
 fOrceful characters who as boys and men have been among us for nearly quarter of a century. Since they
 became men they have been leading spirits in every way they possibly could to advance the interests and conditions of Verde valley and sur rounding country.
 Robert NJ. Rodgers was born in Arkausas, March 30. 1861, and came ' to Arizona in 1877 or 1878. He was married in Prescott, Arizona, to Miss Harriet Shull, September il. : lSS6, his wife and two children suE- vive him aud are hyIug at Camp Verde, and Is one of the best of wo- men and the lIttle ones are lovely children.
 Clinton DsWitt Wingheld was ! bern iu Arkansas December l3, 1871, and came to Arizona in 1874. and ! has resided here ever since. He was never married. He is son of that all round good citizen, Henry Wing geld and his mother is one of the best and most nosle women and mothers 1 ever knew.
 They were both young men, yet having lived here so long it seemed as though they were older than they really were, and should be classed as sturdy patriots of the old school and their examples will have an influence in this neighbOrhood for many years to come. even when their epitaphs are hidden with the dust of age and the messy marble rests over those they passed in youth. Both were good men, useful and tue aud, the very soul of honor in every way. A complete story of the life of each charity and faith that those who may come after them cannot study 10 vain.
 They came to the Verde valley when boys and grew up here aud as young men were strong in limb and heart. This part of Arizona was then wild, but they helped to plant the family tree and done their full share to rear good community and make a great state of Arizona
 Their faults, if they had any, were the common faults of all humanity, as none are perfect, no, not one.
 They were brave, great and heroic, always doing the best they could for kith and kin, home and country. l They came from stock of that rag ged and aggressive mould that con tinued with patience and courage 1 against the universities Of life that l make the world better that they 1 lived. Narrow, indeed, would be 1 the man who now would withhold ! the full need of praise to their many deeds of charity and kindness to the penple where they were nearly raised and have llyed among so long. Well has he lived whose virtues and vices are so propOrtioned that when death strikes the balance the good is so much the evil IS too small for account.
 Thus Mack Rodgers aud Clint Wing6eld lived. They were en gagged in general merchandising here aud were ever ready to do their part m taking care of any one in distress. liberal contributors to hel p our schools, churches and every ben eticial enterprise that was started in this community that in any way could help to build up patient and patriotic civilization. They were too of Gods noblemen and 1t seems sad to think that He who holdetb 1 our lives in the hollow of His hand, i should have called both these good l men so suddenly. Yet, it very fore 1 ibly reminds us of that lesson that has been to many of our hearts be fore, that hopes must fade and friends must part till liie's dark days are over.
 They each had teautiful casket and were both buried in one grave in the new cemetery Cn lower Verde l near the new church.
 The funeral services were conduct ! by Rev. C. Thompson of the NJ. E. church. The funeral procession was fully halfa a mile long, there be 1 ing about sixty buggies, carriages and wagons, all loaded, besides many on horse back. Nearly 400 people 1 from all parts of the valley and sur rounding country were present, in- l cluding several from Jerome.
 Six young ladies dressed in white. namely, Misses Grace Rodgers. JeI- nie KitcheTside, Mary Thompson. Posey Hance, Bertha aud Etta Ma hurin, rode on horse back in front 1 and after the caskets had been 4 lowered into the grave they sang | At the Cross, at the conclusion of | which they showered a perfect deluge of flowers into the grave upon the caskets.
 W. $. Head. w. Arnold, Joe Marr, W. F. Wilber, John Wood and Geo. W. Hance, all old men and old | timers, acted as pail bearers Tor Mack Rodgers, and Dr. J. A. ketch- | erside, Frank DickeBson, Len Young, Oliver Benedict, Dale Owens and Tom Hawkins, all young men, acted as pail bearers for Clint Wing l field.
 The funeral took place on the FouTth of July, instead ofthe barbe- i cue and grand celebration that was to have taken place on that date.
 This horrible tragedy and loss of these two good men caused old, gray headed men to weep like child ] ren.
 have been requested to write this article, and in fact 1t is usually expected of me to report the news here to the JoURNAL-MINER, and ask space in behalf of the two families as we'll as the friends of the two de deceased, to thank everyone for their many acts of kindness in this sad bereavement, and may He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb help them to bear their terrible af- fiction. not CG'y a th'ir loss but our loss. These two good and noble men were my friends and I loved them and it is ,vi,h a sad and heavy heart that ! VI -.,r 'lis article. May they rest in t.-.- G. W. H.