DEATH IN COVINGTON
The funeral of Bettie Childer, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Childer, took place Sunday afternoon. The remains were placed in the vault at Linden Grove Cemetery and will later be interred in the family lot there. Undertaker Middendorf had charge of the funeral.
The Kentucky Post, December 9, 1901.

DEATH IN COVINGTON
Vannia Childers, the 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Childers, died Sunday of measles at the family residence, 195 West Sixth Street. The remains were interred  in Linden Grove Cemetery Monday afternoon by Rose & Rich.
The Kentucky Post, December 16, 1901.

FOURTH DEATH IN TWO WEEKS
The fourth death within less than two weeks occurred in the family of Robert J. Childers, of 195 West Sixth Street, Covington, Tuesday, when Xeno and Virdie Childers passed away. They were 9 and 4 years old respectively. They died of measles and pneumonia. Two girls died of the same disease, one on December 7 and the other on December 14. Two more children are not expected to live. The grief of the parents and especially of the mother is pitiable and the case is without a parallel in Covington. Childers moved to Covington a few months ago from Grant County and is employed at the Overman & Schrader cordage factory. The funeral of the children took place from the residence Thursday afternoon, and the remains were interred in Linden Grove Cemetery. Rose & Rich had charge of the funeral.
The Kentucky Post, December 19, 1901.

FIVE DEATHS IN ONE FAMILY WITHIN 15 DAYS
That misfortune never comes singly is in evidence in the family of Robert J. Childers, of 105 West Sixth Street, Covington, Kentucky. Five of his children have passed away within the last 15 days and the only remaining one is dangerously ill. The last one to die was a daughter, Nannie, 16, who passed away Sunday. Xeno, 9, and Virdie, 4, died last Tuesday within a few hours of each other. Vannie died on the 14th and Bettie, 14, passed away on the 7th. All of the deaths were caused by measles, which was followed by pneumonia. All of the children have been buried in Linden Grove Cemetery, and the five newly made graves in close proximity are a sad sight to look upon. The parents are on the verge of collapse from caring for the sick, and grief. The funeral of Nannie Childers took place from the residence Monday afternoon and was conducted by Rose & Rich. Childers moved to Covington from Grant County a few months ago and is employed at the Overman & Schrader Cordage Works.
The Kentucky Post, December 23, 1901.

COVINGTON PEOPLE RAISE FUNDS FOR STRICKEN ONES
THEIR SIX CHILDREN HAD SUCCUMBED TO MEASLES
The complete annihilation of the family of children of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Childers of 195 West Sixth Street, Covington, Kentucky, by measles, an account of which was published in Thursday's Post, has aroused the greatest sympathy in the three cities. Six children succumbed to the disease within 18 days. The funeral expenses of the six children robbed the parents of every cent they had and, as the father who was employed at the Overman & Schrader Cordage Works was without work during the time his children were ill, the condition of the two survivors is most pitiable.

Living in a squalid room in the rear of a tenement house with nothing left to make life worth living for and with abject poverty staring them in the face, their lot is a pathetic one. In their hour of distress, warm-hearted neighbors have been ministering to the prostrate parents. The following letter received by The Post shows the sympathy in Cincinnati for the unfortunate survivors. It speaks for itself:

Cincinnati, Ohio
"Editor of The Post:   Dear Sir: Kindly accept this contribution ($5) from employees of a Fifth Street store toward raising a purse in expression of our sympathy and sorrow to the bereaved parents in their humble home in Covington, who, as stated in The Post, lost their 6 children within a few weeks. We trust that others will give their mite and help swell the purse and show a feeling of universal brotherhood."

A pathetic scene occurred at the little home when the money was delivered by a Post reporter. Mrs. and Mrs. Childers broke down and sobbed. Then they asked the reporter to read the not which accompanied the money. When the care was reached Mrs. Childers turned to her husband with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh, it looks as if God had not entirely forgotten us," she said simply. "I thought once that He has and my heart was filled with bitterness. It did seem hard that He would not leave us even one of our little ones, I prayed to Him, oh! how I pray to Him, that one, only one, might be left us, but it looked as if He had shut us out of his heart. It is good of these people to remember us. I want to thank, through The Post, these unknown friends for their sympathy." Then the poor woman broke down again and sobbed as though her heart would break and her husband, his voice trembling with emotion, added his thanks to those of his wife. It was a heart-rending scene and the reporter turned away softly and left them alone in the small darkened room.

They have been so prostrated by the harrowing ordeal through which they have passed that they are completely unstrung and cannot bear to see the house where their children lived. They left Covington Saturday for Stewartsville, Kentucky where they will remain for several weeks with relatives until they can partially recover from the shock.

A novel method has been adopted in Covington to help the parents. Saturday afternoon a number of persons went from one business house to another soliciting funds in a large tin box. They met with considerable success and will continue the work until a neat sum is realized, when it will be turned over to the suffers. It is understood that Covington Lodge of Elks will donate $100 to the fund.
The Kentucky Post, December 30, 1901.

IDA CHILDERS SUES CITY FOR $10,000 DAMAGES
hA frightful accident which occurred on the dump near Philadelphia Street and Crescent Avenue, Covington, Kentucky, February 14, was recalled this morning when Ida Childers, administratrix of Robert J. Childers, filed suit in the Kenton Circuit Court against the City of Covington for $10,000 damages. Childers was an employee of the city at the time of his death and it was his duty to level the stuff hauled to the dump.

The cold weather, it is alleged, had formed a crust over the stuff dumped there and on the day of his tragic death, he was ordered to proceed just the same with his work, his employers knowing the unsafe condition of the place. A heavily loaded city wagon drove on the lot and, upon reaching where CHilders was working, it began to slip. Before he could escape he was caught between the wagon and a heavy wooden post. His life was crushed out. The plaintiff alleges gross negligence.
The Kentucky Post, September 16, 1907.

Submitted by CAH - Thanks!

Home    -    Back to News Present and Past

Beulah Wiley Franks
Grant County Coordinator, KY/ALHN