Iowa Old Press
The Algona Republican
Algona, Iowa
Wed. November 10, 1897
VICTIM OF VICIOUS BULL.
John F. Peterson, a Farmer Living Near Swea City, Killed Thursday.
The Ugly Beast Rushed Upon Him in the Dusk and Throwing Him Down, Broke His Neck.
SWEA CITY, Nov. 8.—John F. Peterson, a farmer living some five miles northwest of this place, was set upon and killed Thursday evening of last week by a vicious bull. The bull was known to be ugly, and Mr. Peterson, though bent with rheumatism and hard work, was the only man of whom the animal was afraid. It is surmised that owing to the fog and the gathering of darkness, the animal did not recognize Mr. Peterson. At all events, he made a fierce assault upon him, probably taking him by surprise, and knocked him down against a wire fence, and jumped upon him and stamped him with his fore feet. Mr. Peterson’s back was broken and several ribs were fractured. He was rescued by his boys, who were near the yard, and whose attention to what was going on was first attracted by the way the cattle were “bunched up” and by the demonstration they were making. Mr. Peterson was gasping his last when relief came and expired at once. Dr. Saunders was hurriedly sent for, but the victim of the bull’s fury had been long dead with the physician arrived.
Mr. Peterson was a thrifty and hard working farmer, and had accumulated a comfortable property. He leaves a wife and several grown up sons and daughters. He was very highly thought of in the community. The funeral occurs today.
The Algona Upper-DesMoines
November 10, 1897
John F. Peterson, a Swede farmer living in Swea township, was killed Friday evening by a bull which he had in his feed lot. He was loading steers and went out in the evening. When found he was nearly dead. He was an old man. The bull was dehorned.
The Algona Courier
November 12, 1897
John F. Peterson, a Swede farmer living in Swea township, Kossuth county, was killed by a bull which he had in his feed lot. Mr. Peterson formerly lived near Marcus.
[transcribed by L.Z., May 2021]