Kolthof, Percy, died 1904 age 27.

KOLTHOF

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/18/2011 at 18:59:11

SHOCKING DEAtTH

Mention was made last week of Uncle William Kolthof and wife being called to Sioux Falls to the bedside of their son Percy who was in the hospital there. No particulars were obtainable at that time of his ailment but word came later that he had met with an accident at Montrose [South Dakota] where he worked at the printing business. The Montrose Herald gives perhaps the most authentic account of what happened to him. The Herald says:

"On Wednesday afternoon Percy Kolthof met with a rather serious and peculiar accident. He was in the saloon conducted by Walter Champman when Seymour Hughes entered carelessly swinging a parasol. The parasol had a steel rod rather sharp at the point. Seymour was swinging it round with considerable force when the handle came off and remained in his hand. The main part of the parasol, however, went through the air as if shot from a gun and struck Mr. Kolthoff on the side of the head. The sharp end penetrated his hat and the outer portion of his skull causing a rather painful injury. He walked around a short time afterwards, but was taken to his room at the Star restaurant, where our local physicians Drs. Spencer and Gage were called to examine him. It was decided to send him to Sioux Falls to be operated upon as it seemed necessary for a trephining operation to be performed. The matter was soon arranged and he was taken over on the five o'clock train. Seymour Hughes and Thomas McDonnell accompanied him. It is thought that Kolthoff is seriously injured but we hope he may be out again in a short time. His parents Mr. and Mrs. William Kolthoff are an aged couple who reside at Alton, Iowa. They were informed by telegraph of the accident to their son."

In response to the telegram sent Uncle William telephoned to his wife who was visiting at Sioux Center and the two left on the noonday train Thursday by way of Worthington for Sioux Falls. When they reached Percy's bedside he was semi-conscious and unable to speak--his tongue and right side being paralyzed. His brotherinlaw Harry Boatsma--formerly of Alton but now of Maiden Rock Wisconsin--was at his bedside also. Monday morning at ten o'clock Percy died and by a post mortem examination it was found the brain had been penetrated an inch and a half.

The remains were brought here Monday evening by the sorrowing parents and the funeral was held from the home in southeast Alton and the Reformed church Wednesday afternoon. Percy was raised in Alton and learned the printer's trade in this office. A large concourse of friends attended the funeral which was conducted by Rev. Van Duine. Percy would have been twenty-eight years old in September. Besides his aged parents he leaves four sisters. They are Mesdames Boatsma of Wisconsin, DeGooyer of Pella neither of these two being at the funeral and Ver Hoef of Boyden and Brandt of Sioux Center and a half brother Jerry De Bruin of Chicago.

Source: Alton Democrat, August 6, 1904.