The Franklin Times, Thursday, July 8, 1920
Lightning Kills Youth.
During a thunderstorm Saturday afternoon, Elmer Eldridge was killed by an electrical bolt together with the team with which he was plowing corn on the A.C. Moffett farm near Rohrer rented by his father. The boy was holding one horse by the bit in an effort to lead it away from a pile of fresh baled hay which he and his father and brother had stopped to cover up on their way to the house to take shelter.
Seeing that the storm was nearly on them Mr. Eldridge told the boys to leave the hay and they would go to the home of Otis Simms just across the road. As one horse was slow to lead Elmer caught it by the bit and at that moment the bolt struck, knocking the father and sons and all six horses down. Elmer fell in his father's arms and both had their feet pinned under one horse.
Mr. Simms happened to see them fall and was son on hand to render aid. He and Mr. Eldridge carried the boy's limp form to the Simms home and summoned physicians from Waverly and Modesto. So terrific was the force of the bolt that the boy's hand and the muscle in his arm were bursted, and the hand was burned where he had held the bit.
Elmer Franklin Eldridge was born Feb. 26, 1906, and died July 3, 1920, aged 14 years, 4 months and 5 days. He was the second son of Frank and Amy Summers Eldridge who survived him with two brothers, Loren and Curtis, and one sister, Clara. He also leaves his aged grandparents and numerous other relatives.
The funeral was held at the family home Sunday afternoon in charge of Rev. F. E. Smith, of Waverly, and largely attended. Interment was made in the East cemetery at Waverly. The beautiful flowers were cared for by Misses Helen Seymour, Edna Watts, Edna and Ena Simms. The bearers were chums and playmates of the deceased for years, Reed Watts, Everett Tinsley, Lester Watts, Jesse and George Baker and Floyd Dawsett.