The next time you find yourself with nothing to do and feel like taking a leisurely drive, think about traveling to Rudy in Crawford County to visit a historic cemetery and pay your respects to young girl who tragically lost her life in 1902.
Among a number of headstones and memorials that you will find dedicated to members of the Wofford family you'll find an aged and weathered obelisk that marks the grave of 7-year-old Bessie Harlow Wofford.
One of eleven children born to Reverend Benjamin Franklin Wofford and Iowa Clementine Parks Wofford, Betsy had been born July 15, 1894 at the homestead in Rudy.
The June 14, 1902 edition of the (unedited) Van Buren Press article tells the story succinctly:
"The Sad Death of Little Bessie Wofford of Rudy
On last Saturday, June 7th, little Bessie Wofford aged about 7 years and 11 months, daughter of B.F. Wofford of Rudy. was at the residence of Mrs Mary Webb near Oliver Springs and about dusk Mrs Webb requested her son Homer, about 18 years old, to kill a chicken.
The son proceeded to comply with the request, taking a 22-caliber target gun to shoot the chicken. His mother informed him that the gun was not loaded where upon the son stepped into the hall of the house, cocked the gun and at the same time tried to unbreach the gun to load it when his finger touched the trigger and to the surprise of all the gun fired.
Just at that moment poor little Bessie ran across the hall, and the bullet struck her about three inches below the neck and just to the right of the center of the breast and range toward the heart. She died within about thirty minutes,, being unconscious all the time.
Her remains were interred in the Oliver Springs graveyard last Sunday evening."
The loss of young Becky was a tragic blow to the family. She had been the last born of the brood and from all reports was dolted on as was familiar in that day and age for the youngest child in a big family. The Wofford family had moved to Arkansas from Georgia sometime between 1871 and 1874 and records indicate Benjamin Franklin her father, was a Baptist preacher as well as a "very progressive farmer and fruit raiser".
Many of the sons and daughters of the couple were already in their mid to early twenties when the tragedy occurred. Most of them, who had already taken on spouses themselves, still lived within shouting distance of the family homestead.
As if the loss of Bessie wasn't enough, yet another tragedy struck the family just a little more than a month later.
Once again, we turn to the pages of the Van Buren Press from July 19, 1902.
"The Fatal Accident to B.F. Wofford
From the last issue of the Monett (Mo.) 'Star' we clipped the following account of the fatal accident which befell Mr B.F. Wofford of Rudy at the former place last Friday week:
At about 4:00 train came in from the south in which were two Carlos watermelon owned by Mr. Wofford and a man named Steele.
The gentleman were shipping to Eastern markets and accompanying their shipments. When the train arrived the two men left the caboose and started for the yardmasters office to ascertain what hours the car would be made up ready to go out.
They had to cross several tracks and Mr. Wofford was walking just in front of Mr Steele. A switch engine was at work nearby and 'kicked' some cars down the track.
It was quite dark in the men failed to see the cars as they came toward them, and Mr. Wofford was struck and knocked down, but Mr. Steele evaded the cars by stepping backwards. When the cars had passed Mr, Wofford was found with both legs badly mangled and crushed from his knees to his feet.
The injured man was placed on a stretcher and was later taken to the office of Dr Hawkins and Dusenberry where an examination was made and it was decided that amputation would be necessary. Up this time the misfortunate man was perfectly rational and conversed with the doctors regarding his injuries. He consented to the operation and was perfectly willing that the surgeons should proceed.
Just as they were about to begin the work the patient sank suddenly and died in a few moments. The doctor said he died from the shock of his nervous system.
The relatives of the deceased were notified and they instructed that the remain should be shipped home for burial. They will be sent to Rudy, Arkansas today.
The coroner was summoned to hold an inquest and the body turned over to Constable Jewett to await the arrival of the coroner Mr. Wofford was a Baptist preacher and also a very progressive farmer and fruit raiser. He is quite well known here having made several trips to the city in former years selling watermelons and other farm products to the merchants here."
Once again, members of the Wofford family from near and far were called together once again in the Oliver Springs Cemetery. Less than 40 days after laying their much-loved sister and daughter to rest, the family gathered in the same place to say they're goodbyes to the patriarchal head of their family.
So if you one day find yourself in the mood to take a stroll through a Stone Garden, a leisurely drive up Highway 59 and a right turn on State Highway 282 will lead you to the final resting place of a beloved daughter and father.
