Dallas Morning News
9 Feb 189 Front Page Death From Morphine, The Singular Story of Elisha (meaning Elijah-mis-named in the article) Shaw of Bells Sherman, Tex., Feb. 8 - Some forty years since Elisha Shaw moved to Grayson County, Tex., from Illinois and located near the present town of Bells. He went energetically to work and when the war came up left his family comfortably fixed and took up his arms in behalf of the South. When the war ended he came home, went to to work and made a good citizen. He was highly respected and had been for years a member of the Masonic Fraternity. Although in his seventy-first year he was hale and hearty. About three months ago he suddenly disappeared from home and no trace could be found of him though a thorough search was made for him by his sons, who are all well to do and respected farmers and with one exception citizens of the same locality as that in which they were reared. About three weeks ago a neighbor while passing an old deserted house near the residence of the missing man, found him asleep on the floor. When awakened he stated he had been in Illinois on a visit with his relatives. He went home and remained there for about a week when he suddenly disappeared again and a telegram was received at Bells that he was dying in a hotel in Whitesboro, this county, from the effects of morphine. His son, James Shaw, left at once for the scene but arrived too late to find his father alive. It appeared the drug had been purchased the night before and the drug clerk says he sold him sixty grains. He had not taken all, for when he was prepared for the casket today quite a quantity of the drug was found in the wrinkles of his shirt where it had evidently been dropped from the old man's hand as it was being conveyed to his mouth. His remains were interred in the Chaffin cemetery (now referred to as the Shaw Cemetery), four miles west of Bells, this afternoon at 4 o'clock. From those who were most with the old gentleman after his return from Illinois. The News reporter, while in Bells today, learned that he had been visibly off mentally for a day or two before he left the last time. Shaw Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 Grayson County TXGenWeb |
