Ole Peterson Rockjar, 1863-1890

ROCKJAR, ROYKJAR, ROIKGER, PETERSON, PEDERSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/13/2009 at 07:01:51

Ole Peterson Roykjar was found dead in the barn of Chas. P. Clay of Voss, Iowa [the town is now extinct] in Jack Creek township on Wednesday morning October 29, 1890.

Ole Roykjar was a man of 27 years old, a Dane who came to this country several years ago and purchased a quarter section of land near Mr. Clay's. He with a partner worked the place until the partner moved away. He being a single man then rented his farm and has since worked for Mr. Clay as head man. While plowing last summer, he had a sunstroke from which he never fully recovered. He would be attacked with severe pains in his head, and at such times was unable to work and needed watching and at several times expressed the desire to be dead and out of the way. The idea that he was a burden to others seemed to affect his reasoning. A change was advised and he went to Monona County, where he visited friends and it was supposed was no worse. For several weeks he had been thinking of going to the old country and had written to friends here to fix up his business and he was to have gone in about two weeks. When Henry Weir went to the barn Wednesday morning early, he ran upon him hanging by a rope to a beam above. It is supposed he came to Emmetsburg Tuesday evening and walked from there to Mr. Clay's. He had fastened the rope overhead and jumped from a box near by. His neck was broken. He was an unusually fine workman and a gentleman. He will be missed much in that neighborhood. The funeral services were conducted at the home of Mr. Clay Thursday by Rev. S. W. Steele. [His remains were placed in the Jack Creek cemetery.]

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Northern Vindicator, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, October 31, 1890.