Britton - Frank - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal August 19, 1898

Frank Biritton. of Company 51. Dies at' Chickamauga H and Will Be Brought Home For Burial

On Thursday Murk Hays received a telegram from Chickamaunga announcing the death of Benjamin F. Britton, of Company M. He had been in the hospital there for several days but no serious termination of his illness was expected until just before he died. He was ill with malarial fever and his death occurred at 7:30 on Wednesday evening. It was first, decided to bury the young man at Chickamauga but yesterday it was determined to bring the body here, his mother and other relatives being grief stricken. The funeral will not occur before Saturday.

Frank Britton as he was familiarly known, was a son of James K. Britton, who is in the employ of the Standard Oil Company in this city. Frank had been in the employ of Mark Hays for two years but when the call for troops came he was ready to enlist and did so. He was one of the recruits taken by Adjutant Powell and Sergeant Harney and passed the best physical examination of the whole lot. His fine physique was remarked on by all the board at the time of his enlistment. While in the employ of Mr. Hays who was regarded as a most valuable and efficient man and his army record was in accord with that he made as a civilian. He was ready for every duty and was always cheerful. He made himself very popular in camp and was liked by officers and men. In the hospital he was uncomplaining and the seriousness of his condition may have been unknown to his attendants. On last Saturday The Journal published that he was in the hospital but not seriously ill. On Sunday his father came to the office and solicitouslv inquired if it were true that he was only slightly under the weather. Herman Coons, who had just arrived, assured him that such was the case. "I was uneasy," said Mr. Britton, as Frank never complains even when in bad shape. I nursed him through a case of typhoid fever and although he came very near to death he never once murmered. One not knowing might believe he was only slightly ill." Fred Tutt arrived Wednesday from camp and he states that he visited Britton in the hospital on Monday and found him sitting up. He seemed all right and when Tutt left on Tuesday he heard that Britton was even better than on the day before. The young man was very anxious for service in the volunteer army and his life was as much of a sacrifice to duty although be had fallen on the field of battle. He leaves one child, a three-year-old boy, who is with his parents. Frank was 24 years of age - transcribed by kh

At the funeral of Frank Britton Saturday last, the hearse was drawn by Mark Hays’ team of heavy bays, the team being that which the young man drove before enlisting in the army. Before he left he expressed the wish that if he died and should be brought home for burial he should be drawn to his last resting place by the faithful team he had had charge of so long. -s

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 26 August, 1898