Reid, James B. died 1863

REID, READ

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/14/2025 at 14:59:07

DIED - On Thursday the 10th inst. at 3 p.m. James B., son of Wm and Ann Reid. Aged 6 years and 6 months.

The death of this youth was of more than usual melancholy character. He was crushed by a pet bear owned by Wm. Comsett and usually well secured by a chain, but at the time of the casuality had broken his chain. Mr. Comsett was fatting him for the fall market and as we are informed, was strictly careful with him.

The youth lingered several days and his physician, Dr. Andros, had lively hopes of his recovery but some internal injury that skill could neither discover nor heal, took him to the last home of mortality.

It is due to Mr. Comsett to say that he was a faithful attendant on the little boy and that the kindest relations existed in the families of each. It is due to public safety to say that such common curiosities as chained bears should be excluded from civilized society.

~Weekly North Iowa Times, Wednesday, September 16, 1863; pg 2

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Note: The Weekly North Iowa Times of the previous week reported this incident .....

W. Comsett had a pet bear, Jas. Read played with him. The bear broke the chain, pursued the boy, and caught him in a house where a dozen frightened persons were, some man present struck the bear with an axe and infuriated him, he rushed to the street where M. O'Brien saw him and shot him dead. Such "pets" are a curse and should be shot down anywhere with impunity. The boy though badly wounded, is likely to recover under the skillful treatment of Dr. A.