GENERAL BENJAMIN DORNBLASER         GRAVESTONE PHOTO                      

The Fredonia Daily Herald, Monday, April 10, 1905, Pg. 3:

GEN. DORNBLASER DEAD:

Died Yesterday Afternoon After a

Lingering Illness.

    General Benjamin Dornblaser died yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock after a lingering illness.

    He was one of the most prominent citizens of this county and his death will sadden the hearts of many over this part of the state.  His death had been expected for several days and was not a surprise to those nearest him.

    The funeral services will be held at the residence tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.  The Masonic lodge and the G. A. R., will have charge of the services, Rev. H. W. Chaffee will preach the sermon.

    The obituary will appear in Tuesday’s Daily Herald.

The Fredonia Daily Herald, Tuesday, April 11, 1905, Pg. 3:

OBITUARY.

    Benjamin Dornblaser, whose death was noted in yesterday’s edition, was born in Northampton county, Pa., Oct. 12, 1828.  He died in Fredonia, April 9, 1905, aged 76 years, 5 months and 27 days.

    In early life he went to Illinois, where in Stephenson county, Dec. 30, 1852, he was married to Miss Sarah M. Foster, with whom he has lived happily for over fifty years.  Six children have brought light and joy to the home, all but one of whom are living and were with him at his death.  They are John B., of Chicago, Geo. E., of Sapulpa, I. T., Mrs. J. W. Moore, of Assumption, Ill., and Mrs. G. G. Kennedy and Miss Margaret, of Fredonia.  A little daughter died April 11, twenty three years ago.  Mr. Dornblaser was the last of a family of six children.

    After his marriage he lived for a short time at Rock Run, Ill., afterward at Dakota, Ill., from which place he enlisted in the civil war.  After the war he lived for a short time in Freeport, Ill.  Soon after the war he went to Joliet, where he was warden of the penitentiary.  He then returned to Freeport and later moved to southern Illinois, where he resided until he came to Kansas in 1875.  On coming to Kansas he settled in Fredonia and for the past twenty-three years has lived in the house in which he died.  He was county surveyor at the time of his death and had been for a number of years.  He enlisted in the fall of 1861 in the 46th Illinois Infantry.  He was appointed adjutant and before his regiment went to the front was made major.  Before the close of the war he was a brevet brigadier general and held the rank when he was honorably discharged from the service.  He was an active and efficient member of Phil Harvey Post of this city.  He was also identified with the Masonic Fraternity being not only a member of the Blue lodge but also of Abd el Kader Commandery, No. 27.

    Mr. Dornblaser was a man highly respected by all the people who knew him, and his passing away will be a great loss to this community with which he has been so long identified.

    The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon at 2 o’clock conducted by Rev. H. W. Chaffee.  The G. A. R. Post and the Commandery were both in attendance, the Post furnishing the pall bearers and the Commandery being in charge of the burial services at the cemetery.