Ben Chatman, son of William and Ella Chatman, was born December 3, 1893 and died March 12, 1917

Ben was on his way home from West Frankfort, when he was knocked from the train in an accidental manner.  He was standing on the back of a work train when his head hit the frame work of a bridge and he was knocked off, falling a distance of 45 feet.  He was almost instantly killed by the fall.

He leaves to mourn his death a mother, step-father, one brother and two sisters, two half-brothers and one half-sister, his father having preceded him to the great beyond.

Ben was to have been married to Miss Mary Hale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hale, of near Raleigh, on March 18.

A short funeral service was conducted by the Baptist minister of Raleigh, after which the body was laid to rest in the Masonic Cemetery.