Johnston F. Perkins aged 7 years

JOHNSTON, JOHNSON, PERKINS

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra
Date: 10/12/2002 at 02:12:20

ACCIDENTLY KILLED
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BOY AGED 7 ACCIDENTALLY SHOT AND KILLED BY HIS UNCLE AGED 13
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Mr. C. H. Johnston, of Lebanon, this county, a long time friend of the publishers of the REPUBLICAN, was in our office Monday and from him we learned the particulars of the terrible and distressing accident in which his son Earl Johnson aged 13 years, and his grandson Johnson F. Perkins, aged 7 years, were the parties, the accidental shooting resulting in the almost instant death of the youngest boy.

Last Saturday Earl and his nephew playmate, both of whom, along with the mother of the dead boy, resided with the mother's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Johnston, were over across the street in Lebanon, watching some men handling chickens for market, when the boys saw a hawk flying near. As the hawks had been bothering the chickens some on the Johnston premises the boys at once thought to get a shot at it, and they ran across the street to get their 22-breech-loading rifle to shoot it. Clyde, the oldest, undertook to place a shell in the gun as he brought it out from the house to the edge of the porch, his nephew Johnston F. standing a few feet away. As he inserted the cartridge or attempted to insert it, the gun was discharged, (the boy cannot explain just how, in his strained and agonized condition), the ball striking Johnston about half an inch under the right eye. The child fell to the ground and the cries of Earl brought members of the family, hurriedly from the residence, the grandparents, the mother and the other children being at home. The unconscious little fellow was carried into the house at once, but in 15 minutes he was dead. That the explosion of the cartridge was premature is indicated by the fact that some of the powder from it slightly burned the eyes of the boy who held the gun.

It is difficult to realize the agony that the grandparents, the mother, and especially the uncle boy playmate, must endure because of the manner of this death. Deep sympathy go to them and to the other grandparents of the dead child, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Perkins, residents near Mt. Zion. A large [concourse?] of people attended the funeral, which was held Sunday at the Lebanon M. E. church at [2?] p.m. [can't read] Rev. H. F. Gilbert [charge] of the services. The burial was in the Lebanon cemetery.

(Photocopy of this obit is located on page 72 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, Iowa Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in February 2000. Name and date of newspaper not given but the REPUBLICAN is mentioned in the obit.)

I am NOT related to this person and am posting it for those who may find him/her in their family tree.

[Original Post 20 Feb 2000]