OLSON, Otis 1882-1900

OLSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/14/2021 at 19:52:38

Otis Olson
1882 – June 4, 1900

Worth County Index, Northwood, Iowa, Thurs. June 7, 1900, p.3
Otis, the 18 year old son of Henrick Olson, who lives on section 11, Danville Township, died Monday morning from what is generally thought to have been the accidental discharge of a small 22 caliber rifle which he was carrying. The young man, who had been sick for the past year and who was not very strong mentally, did only light work around the farm and spent a good share of his time shooting gophers and rabbits with the rifle mentioned. On the morning in question he helped to do the chores, and at about eight o’clock he remarked to his sister that he would go out and shoot gophers awhile. The father had gone to the creamery with milk and the brother was plowing corn at the neighbors, so that Otis and his sister were alone at home, the mother having died a year ago last winter. About nine o’clock the sister went to the barn for some eggs and found Otis a couple of rods north of the barn lying on his face, dead, the bullet from his rifle having entered under the chin and lodged in the brain. The sister hastily summoned Measrs. B. Holstad and P. J. Hankehaus, near neighbors, who carried the body into the house. Coroner Hurd was sent for and went to the place in company with Dr. Graeser of Kensett, who had attended the young man during his sickness. The facts in the case, however, were so plain that no inquest was deemed necessary and the remains were turned over to the sorrowing relatives.