Bromley, John Sherman 'Johnny' died 1887

BROMLEY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/29/2019 at 21:06:42

Clayton County Register, Thur., 21 Apr. 1927.

The following is taken from the last issue of the North Iowa Times of McGregor:

About 5 o'clock Monday evening a sad accident occurred, which brings sorrow and distress to Martin Bromley and family. The youngest son, John Sherman, was on the bluff, called Point Ann, south of the city, with a number of other children searching for wild flowers, and it is presumed got too near the precipice and slipped, falling down the almost perpendicular embankment to the level, near the railway track, and within eight feet of the switches. It occurred near to the spot where young Forsyth fell some years ago, who fortunately survived the great shock to frame and injury to body. In this case the fall was all the more severe, and the distance much greater, full 200 feet, if not over. When picked up the little fellow was unconscious and terribly mangled. He was immediately taken home and Dr. Clark called, who, on examination, found the back of his head fractured and bruised, a hole in front of head above the forehead and left arm twisted, and the body more or less bruised. Kind friends assisted relatives and the family, but death claimed the boy. He lived until yesterday morning at 1 1/2 o'clock, when he passed into that sleep that knows no awakening.

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Added by S. Ferrall 8/28/2019:

The above news article omitted the fact that it was reprinted from a much older issue of the McGregor paper - probably from a "News from 40 Years Ago" column. As reported in 1887:

Fatal Accident
McGregor, April 13th, 1887 - Monday evening John Bromley, the 11 year old son of Martin Bromley, fell off from Point Ann, south of the city a distance of about 150 feet. His skull was fractured; a hole was cut in his head above the forehead, and was badly bruised about the body. He was picked up unconscious, and lingered until 1:20 this Wednesday morning, when he died.

~Elkader Weekly Register, Thursday, April 14, 1887

….and the original obituary:

A Sad Accident - Johnny Bromley, 11 Years Old, Falls from Point Ann

About 5 o'clock Monday evening a sad accident occurred, which brings sorrow and distress to Martin Bromley and family. The youngest son John Sherman was on the bluff, called Point Ann, south of the city, with a number of other children searching for wildflowers, and it is presumed got too near the edge of the precipice, and slipped, falling down the almost perpendicular embankment to the level, near the railway track, and within eight feet of the switches. It occurred near to the spot where young Forsyth fell some years ago, who fortunately survived the great shock to frame and injury to the body. In this case the fall was all the more severe, and the distance much greater, full 200 feet if not over.

When picked up the little fellow was unconscious and terribly bruised and mangled. He was immediately taken home, and Dr. Clark called, who, on examination, found the back of the head fractured and bruised, a hole in front of head above the forehead, and left arm twisted, and the body more or less bruised. Kind friends assisted the relatives and family, but death claimed the boy.

He lived until yesterday morning at 1 1/2 o'clock, when he passed into that sleep that knows no wakening.

Johnny was a bright, intelligent boy, and during the hours of suspense, while he lay in an unconscious state, hovering between life and death, his little schoolmates, at morning, noon and night, gathered at the home in gropes to hear how Johnny was getting along. "Will he get well?" "Must he die?" "I'm sorry, awful sorry!" were questions that came from more than one little fellow - all feeling sadly over the untimely loss of their dear little companion.

The funeral will take place from the family residence on Main street at 2 o'clock p.m. to-day, Thursday. Friends and family are invited.

The department of the public school in which Johnny attended adjourns to be present at the funeral, and the class in the M.E. Sunday School to which Johnny belonged will be present in a body, with their teacher O.C. Buck.

~North Iowa Times, Thursday, April 14, 1887