BENJAMIN F. BELLOWS
Independence Daily Reporter, Wednesday, February 9, 1921, Pg. 4:
Was Faithful to Every Trust and For Many Years a Friend to Washington School Pupils
Benjamin F. Bellows, aged 73 years, passed away last evening at 7:30 o’clock at the family home, 614 North Twelfth street, after suffering from a cancer of the stomach for some time. The deceased was born in Little Hocking, Ohio, June 6, 1848, where he grew to manhood. During the month of February 1864, he enlisted in Company F, of the 73rd regiment, Ohio volunteers infantry, serving with that company during the war. He was discharged May 30, 1865, when the war closed. Mr. Bellows has been a resident of this city for the past twenty-two years, and numbered his friends by the score. He was janitor at the Washington school for several years and the children, both young and old, made friends with him.
Mr. Bellows was a devoted member of the Christian church and was ever willing to take any part assigned to him. He has been a member of the McPherson Post. G. A. R. for the past twenty-one years and was very faithful. He served as chaplain of the order for several years and proved himself worthy. His death brings sorrow to his many friends and his presence will be missed by all. Besides his wife, he is survived by one daughter.
Funeral services will be held at the family home, 614 North Twelfth street, Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, conducted by Rev. F. L. Pettit of the First Christian church. The G. A. R. will attend the funeral in a body and will have charge of the service at the cemetery. Burial will be made in Mount Hope cemetery.
South Kansas Tribune, Wednesday, February 9, 1921, Pg. 4:
The long illness of Benjamin F. Bellows, 614 North Twelfth street, closed in death last evening after months of suffering from a cancer of the stomach. He was born in Little Hocking, Ohio, June 6, 1848, and during the Civil war enlisted and served in the Seventy-third Ohio Company F, and was mustered out at the close of the war, and soon after came west. He lived in Independence twenty-one years a good citizen, a member of the Christian church, and the Grand Army, and was its chaplain for years until too feeble to officiate. Previously Mr. Bellows was caretaker of the Washington school and every pupil knew and esteemed him a friend. But, the past few months he has been a great sufferer, and cared for by his wife and her assistants. The funeral will be Thursday at the home at 2:30 o’clock, and in charge of the G. A. R. with ritual service at the grave. His loved pastor, Rev. F. L. Pettit, officiating at the home and at Mount Hope cemetery.
Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas.