The Davenport Weekly Gazette (Davenport, Iowa) Wednesday, 15 Aug 1883, page 10

A singular accident befel [sic] Joel Stoddard, a farmer 76 [the 7 is not clear] years of age, living near Chelsea, on the 9th inst. He fell upon his own scythe while mowing, cutting the ligament and bone of his right thigh so that he will probably die.