Why was there such a long gap in Belle Tisdale's correspondence? Were some of her papers lost? Or did life (and death) get in the way?
There were a lot of deaths in the Tisdale and Booksh families between 1875 and 1890.
1876 June 16 - Belle's father B. F. Tisdale (covered in a previous post)
1877 August 14 - Grandma Bernice Pratt's brother Arthur G. Connelley
1878 May 1 - William Tisdale Pierce, Belle's sister Mary's son
1878 March 31 - Sam's sister Mary Eliza "Lizzie" Booksh
1880 November 27 - Belle's grandfather William Henry Pratt
1883 November 17 - Edwin Clyde Pierce, Belle's sister Mary's son
1886 January 07 - Sam's father Charles Booksh
1886 April 06 - Belle's sister, Mary Bernice Tisdale Pierce
1887 September 27 - Belle's cousin, Francis Tisdale Forbes
1890 June 23 - Belle's Grandma Bernice Connelly Pratt
Many of the obituaries, death notices and funeral cards for these people were found tucked in between the pages of the family bible.
1877 Connelley Arthur Goldsmith obituary
clipping from unknown newspaper n.d. [assumed August 1877]
Belle Tisdale Booksh collection
transcribed by Vera Booksh Zimmerman, 1 June 2013
Another Pioneer Gone
Arthur G. Connelley, one of Carroll county's most estimable, and respected citizens, …[illegible].......
Tuesday last, August 14, 1877, aged seventy-eight years one month and twenty-five days.
Mr. Connelley had his foot severely bruised a short time since, by a horse treading upon it, and the nervous shock produced a severe chill, from which he never recovered, but continued to sink gradually until the end.
Father Connelley was born and spent his early years in Scott county, Kentucky, where, in 1833, he attached himself [to] the church. Emigrating to Indiana in 1835 he [settled] in Carroll county, [Indiana] and soon after became a member of the Baptist church in which he remained one of the most zealous and influential communicants up to the day of his death.
His wife, whom he survived about two years, was a sister of Preston and William H. Calvert.
The deceased was the father of twelve children, nine daughters and three sons, of whom six of the former and one of the latter survive him.
Mr. Connelley was for many years engaged in the furniture business in this city and by industry and integrity commanded the respect of everybody, and amassed quite a fortune.
He died at his residence east of town, surrounded by his family and friends. His remains were interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, and were followed to the grave by a large concourse of citizens who thus united in paying a last tribute of respect to their kind old comrade and friend.
One by one the roses fall,
Drop by drop the spring runs dry.
One by one, beyond recall,
God takes them to his home on high.
