DOWNES, William J. 1874-1898

DOWNES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 8/28/2019 at 23:30:40

William J. Downes
1874 – July 28, 1898

New Hampton Tribune, New Hampton, IA., Tues., July 26, 1898, p.8, col.6
Last Friday while Wm. Downs Jr. was unloading hay at the home of his father near Saude he stepped backwards off the load and in doing so let drop his fork and fell upon it, the handle entering the rectum to considerable depth, lacerating the bowels in a terrible manner. Mr. Downs is a heavy man and fell with such force as to splinter the handle. He rode to town the same evening and has ever since been under the care of Dr. Lewis and at this writing is getting along nicely. Under the circumstances the greatest wonder is expressed by all that his injury was not instantly fatal. Lawler Dispatch
New Hampton Tribune, New Hampton, IA, Wed., Aug 3, 1898, p.5, col.4
We are pained to learn that Wm. Downs of Utica Township, an account of whose injuries we clipped from the Lawler Dispatch of last week, died from the effects of the injuries on Thursday morning. He was a fine young man and his untimely death casts a shadow of gloom over the community and falls with crushing force on the heart of his old father whose prop and stay he was, his other son being in Cuba with the Rough Riders. The Tribune extends the sympathetic hand to the grief stricken father and friends.
New Hampton Tribune, New Hampton, IA, Wed., Aug 3, 1898, p.5, col.2
Died of His Injuries
While unloading hay at the home of his father near Saude Friday, the 15th Wm. Downs Jr. stepped backward off the load and in doing so let fall his fork and fell upon it, the handle entering the rectum to a considerable depth lacerating the bowels in a terrible manner. A neighbor who was in his employ lost no time in driving him to Lawler where he was placed under the medical treatment of Dr. Lewis until the time of his death, which took place the following Thursday evening at about 9 o’clock.
The subject of this sketch was born in Jacksonville Township in 1875. His boyhood days were spent attending school in the rural schools of Utica Township when he afterwards completed a normal course at the Valder College of Decorah. After obtaining a good education he resolved to make use of it on the farm where he has ever since been engaged as a hard, untiring and successful worker. In the calling away of Mr. Downs, Utica Township losses one of her best young men. He had many traits of character that go to build up the foundation of a good and useful man. He always stood for right and did not concern himself in any way in what did not concern him, and was always respected and spoken of in words of praise. Through his sickness be bore it patiently and unflinchingly like a brave soldier to the end. His sister, Mrs. James Hurd, of Pipestone, Minnesota was sent for and was at his bedside until the time of his death. His untimely death leaves his bereaved father very lonely and heart sick without a younger shoulder to rest upon.
His remains was brought to the home of his father Friday morning and on the next day a large assemblage of relatives and friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to their honored friend. The funeral services took place from St. Ignatus church where a requiem mass was celebrated by the pastor, Rev. Father Reilly who spoke in words of praise of the deceased, after which all that was mortal of our dear young friend was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the church. May he rest in peace. A Friend