Julian F. Archibald 1884-1933

ARCHIBALD, OCONNER, CHENEY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/18/2011 at 21:09:21

Bullet Wound in Fatal to Estherville Man
J. F. Archbald [Archibald] Passes Away Monday Night
Death Result of Accident With .22 Calibre Rifle

J. F. Archibald who was found at his home on East Hayes street at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon with a bullet wound from a .22 caliber rifle in his forehead, passed away at the Coleman hospital at eight last evening. Just how the tragedy occurred will, of course, not be known. Mr. Archibald was an enthusiastic hunter and there were several other guns, shotguns, about the room. Some in their cases and others knocked down and there were cleaning rags about.

Mr. Archibald had been in poor health for some time and he had not been at his regular work at the Rock Island since May, 1932. For many weeks he was at the hospital for treatment of erysipelas which settled in his leg making him lame. In spite of this he was cheerful and had spent part of his last afternoon with his son Earl and a boy companion. The boys went out and when they returned later did not hear Mr. Archibald about. They went to the basement to play thinking that he might perhaps be asleep upstairs and remained there until they heard a groan. They hurried upstairs and discovered him there wounded but conscious. He was taken at once to the Coleman hospital.

Mr. Archibald is survived by his son, Earl, 17, and daughter, Florence, 16. Mrs. Archibald passed away about six years ago. There are also three sisters, Mrs. Ruth O’Conner residing in Canada, Miss Fae Archibald and Mrs. Kate Cheney of Chicago and a brother Bly Archibald, whose address is not known here.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the Presbyterian church with Dr. A. G. Bailey in charge. Interment will be made in Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 29, 1933)

J. F. Archibald is Fatally Wounded While Cleaning Gun
J. F. Archibald, an engineer on the Rock Island, was wounded by a bullet from a twenty-two rifle he was cleaning last Monday afternoon. He passed away on the following morning as a result of his wounds.

He was at his home alone last Monday afternoon and had apparently been cleaning some guns he had at home. One had exploded in some manner, the bullet entering his head.

His son, Earl, who returned home about four o’clock found his father in an upstairs room lying on the floor in a pool of blood. A physician was summoned and he said the wound would probably prove fatal.

Mr. Archibald had been ill for sometime past. He was in the Coleman hospital for several months. Since he had been home his health had been poorly.

Just what or how the accident happened will never be known. Mr. Archibald is well known in this city, especially in railway circles. He has resided here for years and he has always been a great lover of hunting and fishing, especially the former.

He leaves to survive him untimely death, a son, Earl, and a daughter, Florence.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday at two o’clock at the Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Arthur Bailey will have charge of the services. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 30, 1933)