Horrible Death of Mr. A.L. Maupin

(Located in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Prairie Grove, AR)

The Prairie Grove Herald 10 March 1910

Horrible death of Mr. A.L. Maupin
Caused by an explosion of dynamite at his home near town this morning.

The uncertainty of life has again been 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 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 then think that in a few hours they were to view his lifeless body.

About 10 o'clock this morning Mr Maupin was engaged in blowing stumps out of his pasture near his home, with dynamite, and was carrying a quantity of this 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 the 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 away by the concussion, 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, and found that death had been in an instant. He summoned help and the body was brought to town and prepared for burial. The funeral will be held Friday morning. A more detailed narrative of Mr. Maupin will be given next week.

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The Prairie Grove Herald 17 March 1910

Mr. Maupin buried Friday at noon.

The funeral services of Mr. A.L. Maupin, whose death occurred last Thursday, as noted in last week's Herald, was held at his late home, "The Oaks," at 11 o'clock on Friday morning, the services being conducted by Rev. J.E. Wylie, pastor of the Southern Presbyterian Church.

Abraham Lincoln Maupin was a native of the Old Dominion state, having been born in the Linville's Creek section of Rockingham County, Va., June 24 1846. He was a son of Dr. W.S. Maupin of Albemarle county, Va., 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 Oct. 29, 1872 he was married to Miss Emma Campbell of Frederick county, Va., 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, Teas. Five years ago Mr. Maupin with his family moved to Prairie Grove.

When a boy of 15 years Mr. Maupin was attending school at Harrisonburg, Va., the boom of Fort Sumpter's cannons 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 Va. Calvary, Captain Winfield's Co., Stonewall Brigade, which was organized June 17, 1861. He was wounded in several battles and was away from his command just long enough to recover, when he would rejoin it, and served to the end of the four years struggle. He was with the intrepid Capt. Jesse McNeill when he made the memorable and daring raid into the enemy's camp at Cumberland, Md., with 65 volunteer men and captured Major Generals Kelly and Crook. In writing of this daring exploit Capt. McNeill says: "I will say that to Lieut. Welton 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 my grave the kindest and warmest feelings for all whom I had the Honor to command."

Mr. Maupin was a devoted father and husband, and a man of untiring zeal in any cause that he espoused. True to his friends, he was willing to do anything in his power for them. His love for his children and domestic animals was one of his characteristics.He feared nothing, and while actively engaged in waht 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. Wylie's funeral oration was based on the hope we have as found in Phillipians 1,6: "Being 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 Confederacy, attended the burial 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 in which the deceased was held.

Mr. Lincoln Maupin did not arrive home until Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Allen Campbell and Mr. Henry Magruder came from Tallala, Okla., to attend the funeral but missed railroad connection and did not arrive in time.