Fatal Accident
Fletcher M. Kennedy Dies From Wounds Received While Hunting
One of those innumerable accidents that have brought sorrow to so many homes occurred near this city last Saturday, at 11:30 am, the victim being Fletcher M., the second child and only son of Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Kennedy, of this city.
In company with Eugene Blair, a neighbor companion, young Kennedy had left home to hunt in the country south and east of town. All went well with the two boys until the hour named above, when they attempted to enter the road just south of where the old creamery used to stand, by going through a hedge fence. Both had just passed through the fence when , from some unknown cause, young Kennedy's gun was discharged, the entire contents of the gun passing through the unfortunate boy's right leg.
For a moment young Blair was horrified, but quickly recovering himself hastened to the road and was fortunate in intercepting a buggy driven by W.E. Rousey, a school teacher at Prospect, who assisted the wounded boy into the buggy and brought him to the office of Dr. Barto, of this city. An examination of the wound showed that the muscular portion of the leg and a large portion of the bone had been shot away by the discharge of the gun, while a number of shots had louged in the left leg near the groin. Amputation was found necessary and Drs. Barto, Hughes and Henderson performed the operation.
Owing to the great loss of blood the unfortunate boy was very weak and his condition was considered serious. He was taken to his home, and was left in as comfortable a condition as possible. About four o'clock Sunday morning Fletcher showed symptoms of lockjaw, and medical aid was summoned, but dissolution had set in, and at 8 o'clock death followed.
Fletcher was a bright, vivacious boy of 14 years, and being the only son, was the pride of his parents and sisters, whose grief over his unfortunate ending can not be measured by words. His mother and two sisters had gone to Jacksonville that morning and were totally unprepared for the sad news upon their return in the evening.
The funeral services were held at the M.E. church at 2 pm, Monday, conducted by the Rev. A. Willard, pastor. The attendance was very large, the public school children attending in a body, he being a member of the school. The ceremony at the cemetery was very impressive, and many floral tributes were placed on the grave by loving hands and sorrowing hearts.
The pallbearers were Gene Blair, Leland Wemple, Jay Wemple, Frank Todd, Bert Farmer and Ned Brown, all schoolmates of the deceased.
---------[ran Nov 29th 1899]
In Memoriam
Fletcher Marvin Kennedy was born south of Waverly, Ill., August 28, 1885. When four years of age he with his family moved to Sangamon county, where they lived seven years, moving to Waverly in August , 1896. Fletcher was the only son of Frank and Julia Kennedy, in a family of nine children. This alone gave him a prominent place in their hopes and affections. But his kind and cheerful disposition, his honest and reliable principles, his obedient ways and affectionate disposition, proved him worthy of all the love they lavished on him. He was very precious in the hearts of each sister. He has been a companion in all their sports and joys, a sharer in all their sorrows, and a helpmate in all their labors.
He made friends among all classes and today sympathy abounds in all hearts. His brief life of 14 years, 2 months and 28 days, came to a close November 26, 1899, as the result of an accident.
Submitted by: Rhonda Deatherage