The copper era and Morenci leader., 1921-11-18
OLDP|ONEER PASSES OVER GREAT DIVIDE
 THIS WEEK

att sSsb
 DIED-At the home of MT. and
 Mrs Ben C. Ferhman, Thursday
 night at $50 o'clock, Gon. Ben
 Nj. Crawford, Clerk of the Super
 for Court of Greeniee county,
 aged 78 years.
 The above brief announcement chronicles a sad event which had bs CD expected for several months past Following a slight fall which the de ceased sustained while descending the court house stairs three months ago, rapid and marked decline set in, due to extreme feebIeness ana hardening of the arteries. For a time he was able to sit up for the most of, the day but during the past two months was confined to his bed, and during the past three weeks has required the constant attention os two nurses. About two weeks ago a brother came from Whittier, Cali fornia. to see him and it was amour ced then by his, attending physiciai few. days.
 During his enforced confinement Ee never com plained and to those who knew him we'll and loved him. it is a happy thought: to know that nc tortnring pain marked his last i'll, ness.
 The end came at exactly $50 F. m. Those at the bedside were J. L.. Await. the night nurse, Paul Crow ley, from Steeple Rock, ,- N. M, wiic was sent for at. the request of the deceased two days ago; Ben c. Ferh- man and ". B: Kelly. The end was peaceful as if he had fallen asleep.
 The funeral services will be. held under the auspices of Clifton Lodge Elks. Exalted Ruler Frank Springer and officers officiating. The services will be held at the Auditorium Sun day afternoon at ? ?. m,
 It is no exageration to say the Hof Ben M Crawford enjoyed the widest acquaintance and circle of friends of any man in the county. It may be said he was known to everyone men. women and little children who delighted iii calling him *tncIe Ben. and in later years he took a delight in thesr company. e 2 In political affairs Ben Crawford always took a lively interest and was life long Democrat. The first public office he ever. held was that of Sheriff of Graham county, when Solemonvilia| was the county seat. in 1884. and his first administration was so satisfactory he was reelected by~n large ma iopity nueine Cleve. lands last administration he was & momhor of the pemocratic: Na- tionali Committed. He was also d member of the first Constitutional Convention of Arizona in 1891. He was a Snutherner by birth and brecd- ing having been born in Maryland. There hn lived his: early life and was educated. He early heard the call of the west and went to Texas in the late seventies later coming to Silver City and later to Clifton where he has, resided almost continuously for the past thirty years during most of the earlier period being engaged in mining and prospecting with val ing fortune. but. in common with so many of the old ,pioneers. departed this life with but little worldly. goods. yet rich in the blessings cf love anG friendship. Hon Mark A Smith. late U. S., Senator from Arizona, and the deceased. were life loLg bosom friends and one of the cheering in ciderts of his last, few days was the receint uf 'a lett Sr t sftqp. his old friend-one of the sweetest letter . of coincidence and courage lever pen ned from. one man to annt5er. '
 The face of "Uncle Ben, will be sadly missed in orr midst but his noble and enSsaring qualities wiil endure always in tour memories An other Arizona pioneer has Gone Wes; across The Great Divide, followins close in the footsteos ,of, Randotnh and Baker. and it is f, the hour Ike this that the true Significance of that beautiful Flks motto is borne in up on us "The faults of or brother, we write upon the: sands. their vir- tues upon the tablets Of love and memory" . Successor Will Be Ben C. Ferhnen,
 Following the requirements of the Statutes the Board of Superviso~S were convened in sspecia; session, by Chairman Stanton. sor this fF'ridNvl afternoon and Ben c. Fe.hman. De putty Clerk of the Superior Court. was anpointed to he Clerk of the Court to fill tho unexpired 'terr cf the de cee sed until January l. 1923. MT Ferhmln has been deputy clerk ot the court since the organization of the county and has on more than one occasion been complimented by the bench and bar for the efficient man, ner in which the affairs of the office have been conducted.