KERR, Henry: Died 1899

KERR

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/21/2013 at 15:40:51

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. 29 June 1899

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
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Mr. Henry Kerr, a Mt. Sterling Merchant, Killed by the Premature Discharge of a Gun.

Our people were shocked and pained Tuesday by the news of the accidental shooting and death of Mr. Henry Kerr, a merchant of Mt. Sterling, and one of the leading citizens of the southern part of the county. The accident occurred about 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. The particulars are as follow:

Tuesday morning Mr. Frank Bassett, a traveling salesman, went from Mt. Sterling to Neva, Mo., to sell Mr. Parish, the Neva merchant, a bill of goods. As the day was pleasant, Mr. Bassett took a carriage and made up a little party to go with him, consisting of Mr. Kerr, Mr. Alfrey and Mr. Curt Blackledge. They took a lunch with them, and Mr. Kerr put his 22 caliber rifle in the buggy.

Arriving at Neva the business was transacted, and the party started back to Mt. Sterling, Mr. Parish accompanying them. They came back as far as Fox River, which is not far from Neva, but about five miles from Mt. Sterling, and stopped in the shade of the spreading trees to eat their dinners. After dinner the gun was brought into requisition by way of amusement to shoot at a target. Mr. Kerr handed the gun to Mr. Parish while he pinned a piece of paper on a tree. Mr. Parrish and Mr. Kerr were but a few steps apart. The former was talking to some member of the party, when the gun went off unaccountably. It was not at first supposed any one had been shot; but as Mr. Kerr turned it was noticed an unwonted pallor rested upon his face. Mr. Parish called to him if he had been hit. Mr. Kerr did not answer, but sank to the ground. Blood was noticed on his nostrils and (??) in 10 minutes he was dead.

??? amination showed that the ball had entered the back near the shoulder, and is supposed to have ranged downward and passed through the heart.

The deceased was 37 years of age, and leaves a wife and two children. He was the head of the firm of Kerr Bros., merchants and stock dealers of Mt. Sterling. They were doing a splendid business firms of the county. Mr. Kerr was also one of the directors of the county agricultural society. His death is a sad loss to his family, who are prostrated by the blow, and to Mt. Sterling and the county.

The funeral will be held at 1 o'clock today, the burial being at the Harness cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 191, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA