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Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Marcus De Lafayette Childers ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Marcus De Lafayette Childers
LAST NAME: Childers FIRST NAME: Marcus MIDDLE NAME: De Lafayette NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 1 March 1847 DIED: 8 May 1895 BURIED: 11 May 1895
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Farmer
BIRTH PLACE:  Missouri
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
IOOF - M. D. Childers, age 49, born in Missouri, died in Salem of Bright's disease.
1880 OR CENSUS - Martin [sic?] D. Childers, age 33, farmer, b. Missouri, is enumerated with his wife Nancy, age 28, b. Missouri, and children Mary, age 8, Lindsy, age 6, and Ida, age 1, all born in Oregon.
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OBITUARY: 
M. D. Childers is Dead. 
His Death Sudden and Startling. The Real Cause not Yet Ascertained.
Whether Caused by Diseased Condition or by Drugs Requires a Scientific Determination. 
Marcus D. Childers died at his home on Church street next to the Central school house last evening at 7:40. As yet the cause of death is not known positively to the physicians. 
Mr. Childers went home Tuesday night about 9 o'clock. He had with him a small piece of ice and obtained a pitcher of water which he took upstairs with him, saying he wanted a cool drink. He has been in the habit of lying abed somewhat of late and was also a heavy breather when sleeping, consequently no alarm was felt by the family during the forenoon, notwithsanding his long sleep and somewhat noisy breathing. But about 1 o'clock some of the family, went to his room to rouse him, when they were horrified to find him in a stupor. 
Dr. J. A. Richardson was immediately summoned, and a little later Dr. C. H. Robertson was called in, then Drs. Morse and Cusick were brought. Everything that human skill could suggest was done to resuscitate him, but without more avail than to keep the sparks of life flickering until the hour first mentioned. He never recovered consciousness or showed the least sign of sensibilty from the time he was discovered. The cause of his death is as yet a matter of speculation and none of the physicians will give a positive opinion thereon. "It is a difficult matter," said Dr. Richardson, the first called in, "to look at a dead man and tell the exact cause of death, and Mr. Childers was practically dead when we saw him." 
It will require an autopsy to determine the cause and until the arrival of his brother from Corvallis this morning is is not known whether or not a scientific examination will be made. 
Dr. Richardson had treated Mr. Childers for kidney trouble two years ago, but does not know of his being afflicted with it to any extent the past year or more. His family and some acquaintences, however, speak of his having bladder trouble and suffering from it a good deal. 
A Statesman reporter talked with all four of the physicians who were in attendance, for the purpose of ascertaining as nearly as possible the supposed cause of death, inasmuch as there were numerous theories, the first being that a dose of morphine was the cause, others that it was apoplexy, heart disease, etc. Dr. Richardson kindly devoted a good deal of time to explaining the symptoms and the cause from which it was possible for them to spring, and stated his most firmly grounded opinion to be that death resulted from hemorrhage at the base of the brain. Some of the indications belonging to this were lacking, but so it was with any other theory offered. The cause might have been morphine or other opiate, but the blue skin and other characteristics were wanting. It might have been uraemic poisoning as partially indicate, but he does not think it was the latter. 
The deceased ate a hearty supper Tuesday evening, something not likely if he had a serious kidney affection. Dr. Morse was inclined to the opinion that death resulted from a complication of uraemic poisoning and morphine, which accounted for the complexity of symptoms. Dr. Morse was with the patient longer than any others. He made an analysis of the urine and found it charged with albumen, and unfailing sign of kidney disorder. He also says the muscle action of the patient, the condition of the eyes and other noticeable features of the case were against the theory of apoplexy. Dr. Robertson practically agrees with Dr. Morse. He assisted in the urinalysis. 
A further and more minute examination will be made today. Dr. Cusick was more strongly inclined to the belief that his condition was the result of morphine or some other preparation of opium. He thought the indications in that direction were stronger than any other. Dr. Richardson took pains to make inquiry at all the drug stores and could find no evidence of Mr. Childers having procured morphine or other poisonous drug, nor could any information he obtained from any other source. He was not a user of narcotics and had a horror of opium using in any form. His family say he never took anything of the kind in sickness or health. He was a man of large frame, florid complexion, short neck, rather fleshy, and had taken no active exercise for a long time, all favorable conditions for an apoplectic tendency and the theory of Dr. Richardson is strongly fortified in the absence of an autopsy. The fact that Mr. Childers was out of business, that he had been unlucky and had lost a good deal since embarking here five years ago, cause a good many to believe that his death was the result of a drug administered by himself with that intention. He was morose and had been very downcast for sometime, and men with whom he was associated a good deal say they are not surprised at his death; the he has often hinted lately that there was no use in living. Yet all will be inclined to believe and hope that this theory is a mistaken one and that death, sad in itself, came without invitation. 
Marcus DeLafyette Childers was born in Missouri March 1, 1847, coming to California at an early age and to Oregon when about 17 years old. At 22 years of age he was married to Miss Nancy Lundy of Linn county, to whom six children were born, only two of whom are living--Mary and Ida--both educated and accomplished young ladies. Mrs. Childers has been afflicted with rheumatism for a long time so that she could scarcely leave her bed, but was lately improving so that she could get around on crutches. Mr. Childers lived several years in Klamath county, where he was elected sheriff twice, but he resigned about five years ago, came to Salem and entered the saloon business. He was not adapted to it. He was too easily made the prey of unscrupulous associations and he lost money. He quit the business about two months ago and has done nothing since. He was a member of the Linkville lodge A. O. U. W. and was also a Knight of Pythias. The first will pay $2,000 to his widow and he had also other insurance in Masonic Aid associations. 
No funeral arrangements have been made, awaiting the arrival of a brother who lives south of Corvallis, but it is expected that the burial will be under the auspices of the Workmen and the Knights, who kindly sent watchers to the residence last night and proffered every assistance. 
Daily Oregon Statesman, Thursday, 9 May 1895 1:3-4. 

Died of Ureamic Poisoning. 
Such the Scientific Revelation in M. D. Childers' Case
His Funeral Arrangements. 
There was one mistake in the complete account of Marcus D. Childers' death yesterday. He was not a Knight of Pythias, but he was a Freemason. Drs. Richardson, Morse and Robertson yesterday concluded it would be proper to hold a post mortem examination and with the consent of the family it was done, that the exact cause of death might be ascertained as near as science would reveal it. 
The result was an agreement that the theory advanced by Drs. Robertson and Morse was the correct one, namely, that the death was caused by uraemic poisoning, a result of Bright's' disease of the kidneys. The scientific examination revealed a fatty degeneration of the liver, very marked, and also of the heart, to a small extent, and there was no disease of the heart outside of that. The brain was in a healthy condition. There was no indication of morphine poisoning. The result will set at rest all theories or doubts and will establish the fact, gratifying in the existing sorrow, that he died from natural causes. 
Daily Oregon Statesman 11 May 1895 pg 4 

THE FUNERAL. 
The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock this afternoon under the auspices of the A. O. U. W. as will be seen by the following notice handed in last evening: All members of Protection and Valley lodges, A. O. U. W., and all visiting and sojuourning brothers are earnestly requested to be present and assist in the funeral of our late bother, M. D. Childers (of Linkville lodge) at the residence, 375 Church street, at 2 p. m. A car will be in waiting to convey all to the cemetery. W. T. Rigdon, W. M. Valley Lodge. Pall bearers have been selected as follows and they are requested to be present: R. D. Holman, J. M. Payne, Frank Davey, William Armstrong, O. D. Huttton, D. L. Greene. 
Weekly Oregon Statesman 16 May 1895 2:5

Mr. Childers' Burial. 
The services at the funeral of M. D. Childers yesterday were conducted by Rev. S. C. Adams, whose address at the house was most appropriate and well worded. Thought short, it was full of sincere thoughts, hearty and intelligent, without sophistry or any harsh or grating domatisms. A long line of carriages and a large concourse by street car, United Workmen and ladies of the Degree of Honor predominating, followed the remains to Rural cemetery, where the last sad rites were performed, and where the tears of many sympathizers were mingled with those of the invalid mother and two daughters who are left to mourn a kind husband and father.
INSCRIPTION: 
No marker
SOURCES: 
LR 
IOOF Register of Burials 
Saucy Survey
1880 OR CENSUS (Jackson Co., Table Rock, pg 77A) 
DOS 9 May 1895 1:3-4 
DOS 11 May 1895 pg 4 
WOS 16 May 1895 2:5
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 845 SPACE:  LONGITUDE:  LATITUDE: 
 
 

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