Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-02-21
JAMES BLEDSOE
DIES At FORT SILL
Popular Mexico Boy With 13sth In
fantry is the First From This
City 10 Die in Service
HAD BRONCHIAL PNEUMONIA
Son Of Mrs. Mamie BledsOe Had En-
listed in the Service Of His
Country Early in War

Private James BledsOe died az SIX
o'clock Thursday evening in the Hos
pital at Camp Doniphan. Fort Sill
Oklahoma. He was the first soldier
from this city to die since war was de-
clared on Germany.
Jimmy" as he was known to ev-
eryone here, for everyone was his
friend, enlisted early in the war in the
Fifth Missouri. Later he went to
Camp Doniphan, Ft. Sill, Okla, where
he was placed with Co. d, 1Ssth U. s.
Infantry. Just a few days ago his
mother, Mrs. Mamie Bledsoe, Of this
city, received wire from Camp DON
iphan, stating he was i'll with bronchial
pneumonia. This vas followed, The
next day, by a message suggesting
that she come at once to his bedside.
Accompanied by her son, Judge c.
C. Bledsoe, the mother went to Camp
Doniphan on the first available train.
"Jimmy's" condition at this time was
very serious and he had gradually
grown weaker until his death at six
o'clock Thursday afternoon. A mes
sage was received here early Thurs
day afternoon, by Mrs. C. C. Bled-
soc, stating there was no hope for his
recovery.
Jimmy" was born near Modesto,
Calf, November IL, 1888. He was
thirty years old at the time Of his
death. His parents had moved from
here to California and resided there
short time, later returning to this
county. Besides his mother, he leaves
two brothers, Judge c. c. Bledsoe, OF
this city, member of the Audrain
County Court and prominent farmer,
and Earl Bledsoe, of Great Falls,
Mont, a young business man of thSt
city, who arrived in Mexico Wednes-
day, too late to reach Camp Doni-
phan before the end. One sister, Mrs.
Pate Elliott, of Molino, also survives.
His father died a number Of years ago.
James Bledsoe was educated in the
Mexico Public Schools. He was never
strong boy, but always cheerful and
friendly, which made him universally
popular. Just previous to his enlist
ment he was member of the clerk
ing staff at the Hotel Ringo, this city.
The body will ARRIVE in Mexico Sat
urday afternoon and will be taken
from the station to the home of his
mother, where it will remain until
the funeral. The news Of his death
has saddened the entire city. As the
first Mexico boy to give his life for
his country, in its war to free the
world from the menaces of German
autocracy, his death touches the heart
of every citizen of Mexico and Au-
drain county, whether they knew him
personally or not. To those who
counted him a friend, and they were
many, the loss Of his happy smile and
always cheerful greeting will make
his death doubly sad.
His death brings home, really for
the first time, that sacrifice the young
men Of America are making for the
peoples of the world. The grimmer
side of the great conflict, which up
until this hour had been a matter of
press dispatches for us, has now en-
tered one of our own homes and with
it the realization of the cost we must
pay, and that as yet we are but in the
beginning of the righteous icorflict.
The Ledger joins the people Of Mex
leo and Audrain county in extending
to Mrs. Bledsoe and the bereaved
members of the family our deepest
and most heartfelt sympathy. Words
cannot mitigate the pain of their loss,
but they have his memory as sol
ace and the thought that he died for
his country and for an ideal, both
splendid and Christ-like.
All Mexico and Audrain county
mourns the death Of Private James
Bledsoe.
Had $4,000 Insurance
Bledsoe, shortly after he entered the
army, took out $4,000 Government
Life Insurance Policy payable to his
mother. This policy is paid monthly
in installments for 20 years. The
government urges every man entering
service to take its policies, the expense
being slight.
The following young men, members
of the Mexico Methodist Church, are
at present on the honor roll as hav-
ing entered the service of their coun-
try;
Frank "A Blank
Russell Creasey
Roy Creasey
r Forsee
Ray Gregory
Lloyd Gilpin
Ray E Miller