Rosenboom, John died 1904

ROSENBOOM

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/6/2013 at 13:20:00

Alton Democrat of Jun 4, 1904
John Robinet was in town this week from northeast of town and told of the death from lightning of his neighbor John Rosenboom Tuesday night. The details of the tragedy are as follows:

James McCarty a neighbor had stopped at the Rosenboom farm for shelter during the storm. Mrs. McCarty was with him and went into the house. McCarty and Rosenboom were both in the barn, standing near the door when Rosenboom remarked that they had better run for the house or stand back from the door.

He had hardly completed his statement when he was struck by the lightning. McCarty was knocked
down and badly stunned. He did not regain consciousness for some time. Mrs. McCarty and Mrs. Rosenboom found the men lying in the barn, one dead and the other helpless. They got the men out of the barn, which had taken fire, and Mrs. McCarty got the horse out of the barn, cutting the halter straps with a butcher knife. One horse and colt were burned with the barn. A cow standing near the barn was killed by the bolt of lightning.

McCarty has almost recovered from the shock. Mr. Rosenboom was a young and prosperous farmer thirty-seven years old, and leaves, besides his wife, four small children. At the inquest the only mark on his body was a black spot under one pocket in which he had a wrench when struck.

(No exact identifying information on this John Rosenboom could be found by the submitter. There were many Rosenboom, Rozeboom and variations of spelling of the name in the area. Contact our page coordinator if you have information on this person.)