Tangipahoa Parish Deaths

AMITE -Times Picayune July 2, 1881

Mr. Benjamin D. Guilett, who died at Amite City Wednesday evening, was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, April 14^th, 1816. About 1820 his father removed to Georgia, and in 1835 to Green county, Alabama. While still a very young man Mr. Guilett adopted the trade of a builder, and when only nineteen years of age was a successful contractor. In 1843 Mr. Guilett went to Aberdeen, Miss., where he carried on the same business until 1851. That year he established a cotton gin manufactory in Aberdeen. From 1867 to 18?2 he resided in New Orleans. Endeavoring to pass the Federal lines after the fall of the city, he was arrested, and sentenced to twelve months’ hard labor at Fort Jackson. Upon the earnest solicitations of his Masonic brethren he was granted a new hearing and released.

After the war he settled in Amite City and engaged in hauling lumber, having lost nearly all his property during the civil conflict. He soon abandoned this occupation and went to the North. There he was fortunate enough to secure a position as general manager of the Mystic River Hardware Manufacturing Company, Connecticut. Again, in 1869, he returned to Amite City and established the Guilett Gin Factory, which has become famous, and turns out annually over one thousand ginning machines.

Mr. Guilett was a man of most benevolent instincts, and did what he could for the benefit of the community to which he lived. One of his philanthropic deeds was the building of a school-house for the children of the operatives in the factory. Finding that one was not sufficient to accommodate all applicants he established others, and yearly paid out a considerable sum to meet the expenses of these institutions.

Times Picayune Oct. 7, 1917

VAN OSDELL – Thomas Jefferson Van Osdell, a Confederate veteran, died in Amite, La., Tuesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas Jones, and burial was from the First Presbyterian Church Thursday, services being conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. O’N. Martindale. Internment was made in the city cemetery. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Robert Wilson, and Mrs. J. L. Young, of Mt. Peller; Mrs. Thomas Jones and Miss Virginia Van Osdell, of Amite.

Times Picayune Mar. 25, 1906

Amite City, La., March 24. – Ebenezer Burnham, 37 years of age, died last night at the home of his son, Postmaster E. E. Burnham, after an illness of several weeks. The funeral took place this afternoon from the residence, internment being made in Amite City Cemetery.

Times Picayune Oct. 7, 1917

RICHARDSON – The burial of Mrs. Rebecca Kemp Richardson, widow of the late Colonel Steven D. Richardson, and sister of the late Judge Breed Kemp, who died at her country home, “Sedgewood,” Tuesday, took place in the Amite, La., cemetery Thursday, the last rites being performed by Rev. Mr. Smith, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation. Mrs. Richardson was 74 years of age, and a native of St. Helena parish. She is survived by one son, R. G. Richardson, of Independence; three daughters, Mrs. Murray Addison, of McComb, Miss.; Mrs. W. O. Schwim, of Hammond; and Miss Lillian Richardson, of Independence; three brothers, H. J. Kemp, of Amite; Dr. John Kemp, of Independence, and Guy Kemp, of Roseland, and one sister, Mrs. John Tate, of Mt. Peller.

Times Picayune May 29, 1897

MARSH – In Amite City, La., Friday, May 25, 1897, Marion Geddes Marsh, aged 8 months and 20 days, daughter of Katie Geddes and Jas. J. Marsh.

The friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral, which will take place this (Saturday) afternoon at 4 o’clock, from N. 743 St. Charles street.

Times Picayune Sept. 15, 1912

AMITE, LA., Sept. 14. – John Barrett, aged 56 years, died at his home here this morning, after a lingering illness. He was a member of the Baptich Church and a Woodman of the World. He was a native of Richmond, Va., but after the death of his mother his father, when John was but a small boy, sold out and was en route to Nashville, Tenn., with a large amount of money on his person, when he was murdered on a steamboat and robbed. There were several small children, all boys, and they drifted around homeless and became separated. John, who wandered from place to place until he came here some fifteen years ago, believed up to the moment of his death that his brothers were still alive although his search for them in recent years has failed. He is survived by his wife. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 10 o’clock from the Baptist Church. The service will be conducted by Rev. J. B. Polk, and the local lodge of Woodmen of the World will conclude the ceremony at the City Cemetery, where internment will be made.

Times Picayune June 22, 1896

Amite City, La., June 21. – J. M. Bland, old resident of this parish, but a native of Union parish, died at Amite City today at 5 a.m., aged 86 years. In his youth he was a dancing master with considerable reputation. Some of his scholars are yet living. Possessing a restless spirit, he tired of giving dancing lessons as a means of living and went into the trapping business, which he pursued energetically and successfully. His partiality for boys was marked and in their eyes he was quite a character and was named by them Colonel Bland. Failing eye sight compelled the old trapper to abandon this business. As the years increased, he became poorer. He spent the last ten years of his life in his modest little home, seeing no one but the boys who were attached to him. During that time he became entirely blind. Never having been married, he had no one to take care of him but an old negro, who showed the nobility of his character by providing for and nursing his blind and kind old master in his last days. But death took away that only support and since the boys have rallied around him and have taken the tenderest care of their old friend. About two months since he was christened in the Presbyterian church. His funeral took place here at 5 o’clock and was largely attended.

Times Picayune Jan. 18, 1892

AMITE, Jan. 16. – Ellsey Hendry, a Mexican veteran, and highly esteemed citizen of this parish, 70 years old, died at the residence of the Hon. Martin Haney yesterday and was buried today.

Times Picayune Oct. 15, 1912

AMITE, LA., Oct. 14. – The funeral of H. C. Bell, who died at his home here Saturday after a lingering illness, took place yesterday morning and was largely attended. The service was conducted by Rev. J. B. Polk, pastor of the Laurel Street Baptist Church. Internment was made in the City Cemetery. He was 72 years of age. He was a Confederate veteran, having served all through the Civil War in the Sixteenth Louisiana Regiment, under Captain N. S. Edwards. The greater portion of his life was spent as a cotton planter on a large scale. He was one of the few survivors of a large and prominently connected pioneer family who contributed much to the upbuilding of the Florida parishes. His widow survives; also one brother, William Bell, of Epney, La.

Times Picayune Nov. 12, 1903

Amite City, La., Nov. 11. – The funeral of Mrs. John Barrett, who died yesterday, took place this afternoon from the Baptist Church, of which she was a devout member. Mrs. Barrett was 46 years of age, and was well known and highly esteemed by all who knew her. She had been an invalid for many years. She is survived by her husband.

Times Picayune May 18, 1910

Amite City, La., May 17. – The funeral of Mrs. Mary E. Hancock, who died yesterday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. C. Cooley, took place this afternoon at 4 o’clock from the home of Major E. C. Cooley, internment being made in the City Cemetery. The service was conducted by Rev. E. H. Clarke. Deceased was a descendant of an old, aristocratic, Southern family, and was for many years a resident of New Orleans, although she has resided in recent years with her daughter, Mrs. E. C. Cooley, of this place. She is survived by her daughter and several granddaughters and grandsons.

Times Picayune Apr. 12, 1913

AMITE, LA., April 1. – The funeral of Mrs. M. M. Snow, aged 94 years, who died last midnight, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. J. Sojourner, took place yesterday afternoon, internment being made in the City Cemetery. Deceased was a native of Maine, being a descendant of an old colonial family of New England. She was a woman of superior intellect and the widow of a prominent New Englander. The local lodge of Masons took charge of the funeral, religious ceremony being conducted by Rev. J. B. Polk, pastor of the Laurel Street Baptist Church, who acted in the absence of Rev. Franklin E. Talmage, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of which deceased was a member. Mrs. Snow is survived by one daughter, Mrs. L. J. Sojourner, and a granddaughter, Miss Nettie Sojourner, both of this place.

Times Picayune Dec. 24, 1919

Amite, La., Dec. 23. – Joseph B. Ogle, a resident of Amite for the past thirty-one years, died suddenly Monday evening while walking on the street. He was born in Illinois in 1855 and came to this parish in 1888, where as a civil engineer he had surveyed and laid out many portions of the parish. With a party of Northern homeseekers he laid out the little town of Roseland. For the past twenty-seven years he has made his home at Campbell’s Hotel. He was 64 years of age and was never married. He leaves a brother, William C. Ogle of Missouri and a sister, Mrs. Martha A. Kell of Fulton, Kan. The body is being held here for further instructions from relatives.

Times Picayune Nov. 20, 1913

AMITE, LA., Nov. 19. – The funeral of John Saal, ex-sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish, who died yesterday, to place from Glynnwood his plantation home, today at 10 o’clock a.m., and was attended by fully a thousand people. The ceremony was performed by Rev. H. W. Bowman, pastor of the First Methodist Church. The service was then turned over to the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Honor. The ceremonies of each order were conducted in the city cemetery. All stores and places of business were closed and Judge R. S. Ellis adjourned court. The Amite High School was dismissed and operation was suspended in the Guilett Gin Factory.

Times Picayune Aug. 6, 1911

Amite City, La., Aug. 5. – The funeral of Mrs. Fannie Bankston McMichael, one of the oldest and most prominent residents of Tangipahoa Parish, who died at her plantation home, two miles below here, yesterday after a very brief illness, took place this afternoon at 3 o’clock from the old family homestead. It was very largely attended by friends and relatives from far and near. The service was conducted by Rev. G. G. Thomas, of the Baptist Church and internment was made in the City Cemetery.

Times Picayune Jan. 31, 1918

Gloster, Miss., Jan. 30. – Naval student Llewellyn M. Gallent of Amite county died of pneumonia at the Great Lakes, Ill., training station Monday, and his body will be brought home for internment. He is the son of L. M. Gallent, a leading citizen of the second district, and is one of three brothers in the service. He is the second Amite county boy to die at the training station.

Times Picayune Apr. 30, 1915

Amite, La., April 29. – The funeral of Miss Ethel Buck, daughter of the late Dr. C. L. Buck, and sister-in-law of Judge Robert R. Ried, who died early Wednesday morning from the effects of a sudden attack of spinal meningitis, at the home of her mother in Independence, took place here yesterday afternoon. The service was conducted by Rev. Mr. Murphy, pastor of the Laurel Street Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. Jno. F. Foster, pastor of the First Methodist Church.

Deceased, who was 45 years of age, is survived by her mother, two brothers, Charles and Dixey Buck of Independence, three sisters, Mrs. R. R. Ried, Mrs. Louis Leferve and Miss Annie Buck, all of Amite. submitted by Marla Zwakman