HARDIN, Merritt E. 1876-1891

HARDIN

Posted By: LA (email)
Date: 3/5/2010 at 09:41:46

A Son of Dennis Hardin Killed.

A Luverne paper kindly sent us gives the following sorrowful account:
"A heartrending accident occurred in Springwater township on Tuesday. Merritt E. Hardin, the fifteen year old son of D. A. Hardin, being killed by the accidental discharge of a shot gun. On Tuesday forenoon he left home, driving a two wheeled cart, to go to the creek east of his father's place, to hunt ducks. The loaded gun rested on the bottom of he cart and leaned against the seat by his side. Some time later some Germans stopped the horse, which was going home without a driver. They kept it two or three hours expecting some one to claim it and finally turned it loose again. The animal proceeded home at once. Terrible suspicions were at once aroused in Mr. Hardin's mind by the non-appearance of his boy, and he at once started out with a fast horse to find him. A few rods from the creek a shocking sight met his eyes. There in the road, in a pool of his own blood, lay the body of his son, cold in death. The grief of the father may be better imagined than described. The cause of the death was a horrible wound in the right side. No one knows just how the fatality occurred, but it is supposed that the gun slipped off the bottom of the cart, and as it fell, the hammer struck the boards so as to discharge the gun. The heavy charge of duck shot took effect in the side and tore its way almost through the body. That death was not instantaneous, in spite of the terrible injury, is shown by the fact that the gun was found in the road eight or ten rods from the body, indicating that the boy had tried to make his way homeward. He had also taken off his vest and extinguished the fire caused by the discharge at such close range,. Merritt was born at Postville, Iowa, Jan. 15, 1876, and was fifteen years, three months and twenty days old; just springing into promising young manhood. He was trusty, honest and manly, and beloved by all who knew him. His happy face will be missed by all. His bereaved parents have the sympathy of all who know them in their terrible affliction."

Postville Review
May 16, 1891
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