Monroe, Ambrose Lawrence -- 1902 - 1928

HENDERICKSON, MONROE, KOOPMAN, HALTZMAN, MICHAEL, DESOTEL

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/6/2005 at 21:53:09

AMBROSE MONROE, ACCIDENT VICTIM, DIED MONDAY A. M.

Ambrose Monroe, whose serious injuries from accidental shooting were related in last week's Herald, passed away at Postville Hospital at one-thirty o'clock Monday morning, January 23, 1928.

Ambrose Lawrence Monroe, son of Louis and Christine Henderickson-Monroe, was born in Castalia, Iowa, October 17, 1902, and received his education in the public schools of that city.

He was married on August 26, 1925 to Miss Frieda Koopman of that locality, their union being blessed with one daughter.

Ambrose was an industrious young man, upright in all his dealings, a good husband, father, citizen and friend, well liked by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife and one daughter; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Monroe; three brothers, Earl, George and Charles; six sisters, Mrs. Goldie Haltzman of Fayette, Mrs. Iva Michael of West Union, Mrs. Abbie De Sotel of Monona, Della, Florence and Irene at home, to each and all of whom goes out the tenderest sympathy of all in their sad and sudden bereavement.

The Funeral, which was largely attended, was held from St. Paul's Lutheran church in this city at two o'clock Wednesday afternoon, January 25, the Rev. E. T. Finck officiating. Interment in Postville cemetery.

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CASTALIA MAN IS SHOT ACCIDENTALLY ON WAY TO HOME

Ambrose Monroe, Aged 25, Discharges Rifle While Crawling Thru Fence

ON WAY TO RECOVERY

Ambrose Monroe, the 25 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Monroe, southwest of Castalia, was the victim of a near-fatal shooting accident on Monday afternoon when the ball from a 22-short cartridge entered his body just below the heart and lodged in his liver as his rifle was discharged while pulling it through a wire fence after him.

As we get the story, Ambrose, who is a young married man, with his wife had been spending several days at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koopman of that same locality, where he had been assisting in cutting wood. Having finished the work at noon Monday, Ambrose concluded he would go over and visit his folks, and so saying picked up his rifle and started out at about 1:30 o'clock.

Between 2 and 3 o'clock that afternoon Louis Monroe was out in the dooryard at his home when he thought he heard someone at a distance calling, but looking about could see no one. After a few minutes had elapsed he heard the call again and more distinctly and looking in the direction from which the voice came, saw someone sitting on the ground and with his arms beckoning him to come. Hurrying toward the man he was fearfully shocked to discover it was his own son, blood trickling from a wound in his side and too weak to go farther. Picking him up in his arms he carried him home and summoned Dr. Carr of Clermont, who came and dressed the wound and made Ambrose as comfortable as possible.

When the doctor called next day evidences of internal hemorrhage were present and it was decided best to remove Ambrose to Postville hospital, where it was found he was bleeding from the liver and it became necessary to operate to remove the clots of blood that were filling the abdominal cavity, since which time he has been somewhat easier, though his condition is still quite serious.

As Ambrose tells the story the accident happened on the Mrs. Malone farm, where he was after a rabbit. He had his rifle, a 22-calibre, cocked and had to crawl through a fence, and while endeavoring to pull the rifle through after him, muzzle first, the gun was accidentally discharged, the ball penetrating his body just below the heart and taking a downward and somewhat slanting course, lodged in his liver. Realizing his condition he started toward his father's home, going little by little until he could endure the pain no longer, when he would sit down to rest and call out for help and in this manner covered more than 100 rods and when discovered by his father was about 20 rods from home and almost completely exhausted.

What the final outcome may be it is too early yet to determine, though at last report he was holding his own, and it is the wish and hope of all that he may weather the storm, and he has youth and strength in his favor.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping, hand dated January 1928, from my mother's obituary collection.