Tripp, Jessie 188? - 1903

TRIPP

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/24/2014 at 02:02:14

Elgin Echo, Thur., 10 Dec. 1903.

Jessie Tripp, the 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Tripp, alone and with no one to witness the unfortunate accident, met death on the public highway in Highland Friday of last week. The family were removing into the Highland creamery property and young Tripp, accompanied by his father had gone there with a load of potatoes. The father remained at the place and the boy started for home with the team. Just reaching the house there is quite a steep hill and at the bottom of the decline the boy met death. Just how it happened will probably never be known but it is supposed he fell from the wagon, alighting on his head, and the wheel passing over his face and head broke his jaw and crushed the back portion of his skull.

The team he was driving continued on its way and reaching the home, while going to the barn, got the harness tangled on a pump. The lady of the house seeing their predicament, went out and unharnessing them, put them in the barn, but thought nothing of the occurrence as the horses were often sent home alone when the men were busy. The team arrived home about 3:30 o'clock.

That evening while Gus Hader was looking for a cow which had strayed he found the boy in the road unconscious. He informed his parents and the lad was taken home where he expired at 8:00 o'clock that evening, without regaining consciousness. It is said he lay in the road for about three hours, and as the day was quite cold it is probable he was chilled through and through.

At first a theory of foul play was advanced by some but it is now believed the unfortunate occurrence was purely accidental.

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NOTE: Highland is a township located in Clayton county. A separate article in the same paper and date notes that the remains were interred at Auburn, a township in Fayette county.

Submitter is not related.

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