The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-31
MRS. BADGER

Ocala is saddened by the death of
one of its best beloved women, Mrs.
Matilda Badger, who passed away at
noon Friday, and was laid to her last
ing rest Saturday morning.
Matilda Carson Leavel, wife of Col.
Edward N. Badger, was born over
eighty years ago on her grandfather's
plantation on Tesheva creek, Yazoo
county, Miss. She was a civil war
bride and was married in Eufaula,
Ala, to which place, with her faithful
slaves, she had refugeed when Vicks-
burg fell, and her home was on the eve
of falling into the hands of the enemy
Col. Badger had been ordered with his
regiment the Fourth Florida) to
Mississippi and there he had met Miss
Leavel After the fall of Vicksburg
he secured eleven days furlough, join
ed his future wife in Eufaula and they
were married in the home of the
mother of the late Mrs. E. P. Rentz.
When Col. Badger returned to the
army he did not see his wife again
for six months. Then he came home
wounded. AS soon as he was able he
went back to his regiment, returning
again wounded in six months. He
again joined the colors and remained
until the close of the war. When Eu-
faula was threatened Mrs Badger,
with those slaves still loyal to her,
came to Ocala.
When peace was signed Col. Badger
decided to practice law in Louisville,
KY, as Mrs. Badgers father was
Kentuckian. They lived in Louisville
eighteen years, returning to Ocala in
1886 and here she has lived ever since
Her husband died in 1892. She was a
member of the Ocala Methodist
church. When Ocala was only vii
lage her brother, George Leavel,
served as pastor in this church.
!, Mrs. Badger was the mother of
eight children, five boys and three
daughters. She died Friday, July %,
at twenty minutes to twelve, and is
survived by her three daughters, Mrs.
Otis T. Green and Mrs. Mary Eagleton
of this city and Mrs. S. G. Meyers of
Jacksonville. She also leaves six
grandchildren, a son-in-law, Mr.. S. G..
Meyers, and a niece, Mrs James
Fleese, of Wildwood, to mourn her
loss.
At the time of her death she was
surrounded by two of her daughters
and three of her grandchildren. Mrs.
Meyers and two of her children were
in Colorado and the third child,
George, is with his ship, the U. S.
North Dakota, and were unable to
leach her bedside before the end came
Quietly as she had always lived she
passed out into the great beyond.
The funeral services were held from
the late home on Oklawaha and were
conducted by the Rev. C. w. White,
pastor of the Methodist church. After
reading the burial service, quartet
composed of the Messrs. Gerig, Mrs.
R. G. Blake and Mrs. George Pasteur
sang the favorite hymn of Mrs. Bad
ger, 'God Will Take Care of YOU"
AT the cemetery the Daughters of the
Confederacy lovingly placed flowers
| in the open grave after the benedic-
ton was pronounced by Rev. White
Mrs. Badger was a charter member
of Dickson Chapter, U. D. c., also
| honorary state president. The erection
| of the monument to the Confederate
veterans which stands on our public
square was largely due to her efforts
The pail bearers were Mr.. G. T
Maughs, Mr.. d. E. McIver, Mr.. S. T
Sistrunk, Mr.. L. w. Duval, Mr.. r. l.
| Martin and Mr. j. L. Edwards.
The Star joins their other friends in
sincere sympathy for the bereavec
relatives, particularly Mrs. Emily
Green and Mrs. Mary Eagleton, the
two daughters of Mrs. Badger who
| live in Ocala and who for years sur.
rounded their mother with the mos
tender care.