Taylor County Obits
January 1894

The Butler Herald
Tuesday, January 23, 1894
Page Three
Died
Mr. Matchett Johnson, son of Mr. Berry Johnson of Macon County living near the line of Taylor, died Thursday night last after a long illness.  He leaves besides his family many friends to mourn their loss.

The Butler Herald
Tuesday, January 30, 1894
Page Three
A Sad Scene
Mrs. W.L. Bateman found Dead in White Water Creek
Unfortunate White Water, one of the most beautiful and ever flowing streams in Taylor County has been the victim of another sad occurrence.  This time it hides beneath its waves the form of a lady who was everything that a wife, sister or a friend could be in this life, but she preferred death rather than live and sought a watery grave.  The point at which the act was committed was one mile below Bateman & Colbert’s mill and in ten feet of water.  She had evidently made a survey previously of the surroundings in order to be sure of her design as otherwise she would have been unable to have found her way through the pitch darkness of the night. For several days Mrs. Bateman had shown signs of insanity and on Wednesday Dr. White was called in to examine her case and found her in a bad condition.  He prescribed for her and thought she would be better soon.  The intentions of Mrs. Bateman however were firmly fixed in her mind for she had previously made an effort to destroy her life with poison but was prevented from doing so by members of the family.  About 10 o’clock Wednesday night after the family had retired for the night Mrs. Bateman arose from her bed and in her night clothing she hastened out the front door and ran down the road to White Water creek about a quarter of a mile from the house and into the creek she plunged and a life precious in the sight of many was soon at an end.  The alarm was given as soon as Mrs. Bateman disappeared from the house, but the night was unusually dark and rainy.  Diligent search was made but no traces of Mrs. Bateman could be found.  Every suspicion pointed to the fact that Mrs. Bateman had drowned herself and a still watch was kept over the pool until day break next morning by the family and friends in the neighborhood.  As soon as day began to dawn, with eager eyes the hair of Mrs. Bateman was seen floating upon and interred in the cemetery near her home on Friday morning.  No cause is assigned for the deed except a general derangement of the mind. Mrs. Bateman, formerly Miss Ann Shepherd, was in the 54th year of her age, and was married to Mr. W.L. Bateman about eight years ago with whom she has lived happily, (paper torn).  She was a sister of Mr. P.G. Shepherd, of Garden Valley and Mrs. – B. Fowler, Jr. of this county besides having other relatives and many friends in this county.  The deceased was a member of the Freewill Baptist church and lived a consistent Christian life.  The sympathies of the people are extended in behalf of the bereaved husband, relatives and friends.

A big thanks goes out to Carla Miles ← for submitting this information!

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