J.M. Ribble - Hood County, TX - Graves Mentioning a Cause of Death on Waymarking.com

Mr. Ribble's stone grave marker has some kind of inset decoration at the top, but it has been well-weathered by time and the elements. It appears to be a hand with its index finger, pointing Heavenward. Another stone is set into the headstone, and it reads:

James and Byla Ribble
Both died from the
bite of a rabid dog.

The inscription is:

Jm. Ribble Born December
the 11th 1866

And Died January 7th 1875

The Long Creek Cemetery Association has added a complementary grave marker that summarizes what's on the original headstone, which is admittedly tough to read if not up close. They also give 1866 as the birth year, which contradicts the biography at Findagrave (see Website). His memorial there has some details on how he was attacked while defending his nephew -- also buried here -- from a dog:

"James Ribble was born December 11, 1855, in Honey Grove, Texas, to John Ribble and Susan Hunter Ribble. James had two sisters and five brothers: Edward (Edd), Ellen, Harvey (Harve), Elizabeth (Lizzie), John, William (Bill), and Thomas (Tom). He had one half-brother, Jacob Cross, Jr. (Jake).

Around the latter part of 1874 to the early part of 1875 a rabid dog bit James, age 19, and his nephew, William Byla Ribble, age 4. The story goes that James saw Byla in trouble with the dog heading toward him. James tried to rescue Byla but both were bitten. Nearly 5 years earlier the family had to go through rabies when John was bitten. They thought that this was going to be a long ordeal for James and Byla and were very surprised when both died after suffering a short illness. The date they were bitten is not known, yet they both died in January of 1875. They lived at the border of Hood County and Parker County. James and Byla were buried in Long Creek Cemetery where Byla's mother is buried and James' brother, John, is buried."

Type of Death Listed: Illness or Disease Website (if available): [Web Link] Cause of death inscription on headstone: Not listed

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