Abraham Lincoln Maupin

MAUPIN, A.L. - The uncertainty of life has again has very forcibly brought to the minds of the people of this community in the sudden and tragic death of Mr. A.L. Maupin, which occurred at his home, “The Oaks” one-half mile northwest of town this morning resulting from the explosion of a quantity of dynamite which he was carrying in a basket. No death that has occurred recently has so shocked this community as the sudden taking away of Mr. Maupin in such a manner as was his fate. Early this morning he drove to town in his buggy and little did our citizens think that in a few hours they were to view his lifeless body. About 10:00 o’clock this morning Mr. Maupin was engaged in blowing stumps out in his pasture near his home with dynamite and was carrying a quantity of the dangerous explosive in a basket. He had just lit a fuse under a stump and had started to make his getaway when from some cause the dynamite in the basket exploded, causing his instant death. From the condition of his body he had evidently just picked up the basket and was yet in a stooped position when the explosion occurred. The exact cause of the explosion will perhaps never be known but the supposition is that a spark from his pipe, of which he was an habitual user, fell into the basket and set off the dynamite caps. A Mr. Roston was in the field assisting in the work and was 30 or 40 feet away working on another stump. He was blown some feet by the explosion, but turned and saw Mr. Maupin’s body as it fell to the ground. He hastily notified the family that Mr. Maupin had been hurt, but there being sickness in the home and no one present but the ladies, they could not go to the field, but summoned Dr. McCormick, who was the first to view the body ---unreadable ---- The funeral service will be held Friday morning. A more detailed narrative of Mr. Maupin will be given next week. [Prairie Grove Herald 3/10/1910]

The funeral service of Mr. A.L. Maupin whose death occurred last Tuesday as noted in last weeks herald, was held at his late home, “The Oaks” at 11 o’clock Friday morning, the services being conducted by Rev. J.E. Wylie, pastor of the Southern Cumberland Church. Abraham Lincoln Maupin was a native of the Old Dominion State, having been born in the Linville’s Creek section of Albemarle County, Virginia, June 24, 1846. He was the son of Dr. W.S. Maupin of Albemarle County, Virginia, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Lincoln of Rockingham County, and was a grandson of Col. Abraham Lincoln, a veteran of the war of 1812.. On October 29, 1872 he was married to Miss Emma Campbell of Frederick County, Virginia, who, with their four children, two sons and two daughters survive him. They are Messrs. Richard Maupin, Mrs. H.D. Cummings and Miss Emily Maupin of Prairie Grove and Mr. Lincoln Maupin of Van Court, Texas. Five years ago Mr. Maupin with his family moved to Prairie Grove. When a boy of 15 years Mr. Maupin was attending a school at Harrisonburg, Virginia the boom of Ft. Sumpter’s cannon sounded the alarm of war and Virginia called her sons to rally to the defense of her cause, the school room could not hold him and no soldier responded with more alacrity than did this warmhearted blithe son of Virginia. Mr. Maupin was a member of the 7th Virginia Cavalry, Captain Winfield’s Company, Stonewall Brigade, which was organized June 17, 1861. He was wounded in several battles and was gone from his command just long enough to recover, then he would rejoin it, and served to the end of the four year struggle. He was with the intrepid Capt. Jesse McNeill when he made the memorable and daring raid into the enemies camp at Cumberland, Maryland with 65 volunteer men and captured Major Generals Kelly and Crook. In writing of this daring exploit Captain McNeill says: “ I will say that to Lieut. Wolton and the brave men who accompanied me, I ascribe all honor, and I cherish it as a pleasant memory that I was called to the command of such a brave, heroic band of men and I shall carry with me to the grave the kindest and warmest feelings for all I had the honor to command.” Mr. Maupin was a devoted father and husband and a man of untiring zeal in any cause he espoused. True to his friends, he was willing to do anything in his power for them. His love for children and domestic animals was one of his characteristics. He feared nothing and while actively engaged in what he believed to be his duty he was cut down before he had felt the decrepitude of old age and in accordance with an oft expressed wish “that he might go suddenly” he passed into the great beyond. Mr. Wylies funeral oration was based on the hope we have as found in Philippians 1:6 :”Bring confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Prairie Grove Camp of Confederate Veterans and Prairie grove Chapter of Daughters of the Confederacy attended the funeral in a body, and the Camp had charge of the exercises at the grave. The many beautiful floral tributes bore mute testimony to the esteem the deceased was held. Mr. Lincoln Maupin did not arrive home until Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Allen Campbell and Mr. Henry Magruder came from Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend the funeral, but missed railroad connections and did not arrive in time. [The Prairie Grove Herald 3/19/1910]

Shocking Accident at Prairie Grove – By phone to daily – Prairie Grove, Ark. Mar. 10 – The most shocking accident occurred near town about 10 o’clock this morning which snuffed out the life of Mr. A.L. Maupin in an instant. He lived on the J.E. Mock farm, one mile north of Prairie Grove and was engaged in blowing up stumps with dynamite this morning when a premature explosion literally blew his body into pieces. Mr. Maupin was well known and highly esteemed in the community and his tragic death is universally deplored. He was about 55 years of age and came here five years ago from Virginia. He was carrying the dynamite in a basket and it is supposed that fire from his pipe fell and ignited the fuse. [Fayetteville Democrat 3/10/1910]