Thompson, Charles 1869 - 1887

THOMPSON, YOUNG

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/21/2022 at 22:44:39

Elkader Register, Thur., 06 Jan. 1887.

New Year's Day, 1887, brought with it distress and bereavement to the family of Hon. J. F. Thompson, such an affliction as only those who have been so stricken can realize. This was the accidental shooting by (of) their only boy Charles.

A great part of New Year's day Charley spent with his school mate John Everall, son of Auditor Everall. They had been playing chess much of the time, but had also been, in the afternoon, to some traps they had in the woods, taking their guns with them. They came back to the house of Mr. Everall and took their guns into the sitting room, but at the request of Mrs. Everall, took them out and placed (them) in the kitchen behind the wood box. There they remained while the boys engaged in another game of chess, until a little before five o'clock, when they concluded to pay their traps another visit. John remarked that he must saw a few sticks of wood before he went, Charley took both guns, one in each hand and went out of the house, followed by John.

They went to the wood pile and John commenced sawing, Charles standing near with a gun in each hand, the butts resting on the ground. After one or two sticks had been sawed Charles said they had better go, to which John assented, and proceeded to tie his head with a scarf. He was trying to tie it behind when Charles said: "Turn around and I will fix it." John did so and felt Charles' hands pull the ends of the scarf, and at the same instant heard a report and was thrown forward on his knees. Upon looking around he saw Charles laying on his back, with a wound above the left eye. He called for help, and assisted by his sister Mattie and Mr. Gregorson, carried the boy into the house. Dr. Cain was at once summoned, but the wound was too severe for medical skill to avail, and shortly after 12 o'clock Sunday morning Charles passed away, without having recovered consciousness.

Charles Thompson was born at Lone Rock, Wis., Dec. 7th, 1869, and was consequently 17 years and 26 days of age at the time of his death. His parents removed to Elkader when he was but three years of age, and he has grown up in our town. He was an industrious boy, well liked by all who knew him, and his death was a severe shock to all.

The funeral occurred on Monday afternoon at two o'clock. Services were held at the house by Rev. Lusk, after which he was laid to rest in the East Side cemetery. The funeral was very largely attended.

(Same paper, date, and in an earlier part of the paper was the following;)

Mrs. Henry Young, son and daughter of Patch Grove, Wis., are in town, visiting J. F. Thompson's family, being called here by the death of Charles Thompson. Mrs. Young is a sister to Mrs. Thompson.