Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 30, l903

That scourge of humanity, the deadly toy pistol has claimed another victim, who died with all the horrors and suffering of lockjaw, the victim being MR. O.J. LAWHORN, one of the prominent business men of Lamoni. On July 4th his little son had bought a toy pistol and some blank cartridges, and one of the cartridges had become fast in the barrel. MR. LAWHORN took the pistol to extricate the cartridge, and while holding it and shoving on the cartridge, it was exploded, the wad making a painful injury in the first finger of his left hand, just above the knuckle. He paid little attention to the injury at first and continued about his business. Nine days after, on Sunday, July l2th, he complained of his jaws hurting him, and on Tuesday following came to Leon and consulted Dr. Layton. He returned home and on Thursday his jaws became set. His old family physician, Dr. A.W. Sherman, of Burlington, was summoned and two trained nurses secured to attend him. For a few days he apparently was getting better, but a change for the worse followed and death claimed him on Thursday afternoon, July 23, at l o'clock.

MR. LAWHORN was born at Warren, Illinois, Feb. 4, l867, being 36 years, 5 months and l9 days old. With his parents he came to this county when he was quite a small boy, and practically all of his life was spent in this county. He was united in marriage to MISS MINNIE SMITH, daughter of MR. and MRS. J.R. SMITH, Oct. l, l890. The wife and three children, two girls and one boy, survive, two children having died in infancy.

The deceased was a member of the implement firm of Foreman & Lawhorn, who had stores at Lamoni and Mt. Ayr, and was also extensively engaged in farming. He was a member of the I.O.O.F., Knights of Pythias, D. of R. and Modern Woodmen, and carried life insurance policies amounting to $6,000.

The funeral was held Saturday morning, conducted by Revs. E.C. Newland, of Garden Grove and Alfred Knoll, of Davis City, interment being in the Creveling Cemetery near Lamoni.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
March l7, 2003