LaSalle County Illinois Obituaries Extracted From The Illinois Free Trader, Ottawa, Ill., 1840-1841

1840-1841 Obituaries from The Illinois Free Trader in Ottawa, LaSalle County Illinois.

BAIN, Dr. Aaron Obituary

Most Melancholy Accident
On Sunday last Dr. Aaron Bain, of this place, was drowned at our ferry. Truly a melancholy accident! Mysterious indeed are the dispensations of Providence! We have lost one of our very best citizens. No man has ever lived among us, who enjoyed more of the confidence and respect of the community. No man has ever had a deeper hold upon the affections and esteem of the people of Ottawa. His real merit as a man – his kindness to all in society – his great skill as a physician, were highly appreciated, and their loss has created a void not readily to be supplied. Taken suddenly from us, in the prime of life and in the full tide of usefulness, his death has cast a melancholy gloom over the minds of all, which time can scarcely dissipate. This afflictive bereavement to his many friends in this country, acquired during a residence and an extensive and useful practice in his profession of nearly five years, must prove peculiarly distressing to his relatives and acquaintances in the State of New York, whom he expected very shortly to visit, had his life been spared. Dr. B. had been on the south side of the Illinois River visiting a patient, and on his return, about noon, set out from the south shore of the river on a ferry boat. There were aboard ten or twelve loose cattle, a horse, (Dr. B's) and five men – the two ferry-men, a stranger, Mr. Hopkins and Dr. B. About fifteen rods from the south shore, in a strong current, and amid high waves under a driving wind, the tossing of the boat affrighted the cattle and they rushing to the bow of the boat, it soon filled with water and went under. A scene of confusion and dismay ensued. All were instantly floundering in the stream where the water was about fifteen feet deep and very rough by reason of the wind and current. One of the ferrymen and the stranger by some means got hold of the boat when it rose, and with it floated ashore. The other ferryman and Mr. Hopkins kept afloat until they were taken up by two men who went with a skiff from the north side. Dr. B. was seen to mount his horse as the boat was first sinking – he was afterwards seen floundering in the stream with his horse – a moment afterwards he was seen floating on his back with his head down stream, and but a moment before the skiff reached him he sank to rise no more. Dr. Bain was a native of Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York, and about twenty-nine years of age. [The Illinois Free Trader, (Ottawa, Ill), April 2, 1841]

WOODRUFF, Lucius Obituary

Died on the 29th ult., at this place, Lucius Woodruff, formerly of Broome County, N.Y. Mr. Woodruff was an enterprising young man esteemed by all who knew him, and by his death we have lost a good citizen. On Sunday his remains were conveyed to the village cemetery, accompanied by a procession of the Ottawa Masonic Society, of which he was a member, and a large number of citizens. Peace to his Manes! [The Illinois Free Trader, (Ottawa, Ill), September 4, 1840]