Obituary of Ernest Stifle, Crawford County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Cindy McCachern Oblong Oracle, Crawford Co, IL, 6 Oct 1916 Ernest Stifle, a fifteen year old boy of the Dogwood neighborhood was accidentally shot by his companion, Sam Dressback, Saturday afternoon while the two were hunting in the woods north of the Dogwood church. According to the facts given by the Dressback boy at the coroner's inquest the two had been shooting at a squirrel in a tree and a shot had brought it down. The squirrel started to run up the tree again and both boys made for it and sam struck at it with the barrel of his rifle. The gun was discharged, the bullet striking Ernest just below the left shoulder and ranging downward. Finding that he had wounded his companion, the Dressback boy undertook to assist the wounded boy out of the woods, but the lad was able to walk only a little distance before giving up. Sam then laid him down and went to call help, which he obtained from a party in a passing automobile. They picked up the wounded boy but he died before he could be brought to a physician. The coroner impaneled a jury and held an inquest on the case, and the Dressback boy was exonerated from any blame in the matter, all the evidence showing that the affair was purely accidental and that the boy had done all he could to help after the accident occurred. The two boys were about the same age and had been close chums for several years. The Stifle boy was a son of George Stifle who lived in the Dogwood neighborhood, and since the death of his parents, has been making his home with his uncle A. J. Cain and wife. The Dressback boy's parents formerly lived in this city. Ernest Jasper Stifle was born November 19, 1900, in Crawford county, Ill. Died Sept. 30, 1916, age 15 years, 10 months and 11 days. He was the son of George P. and Nettie Stifle, both of whom have preceded him to the great beyond. Ernest is the first to be called away from the family of eight children, who were left fatherless and motherless. He was converted and united with the M. E. church at Dogwood during the meeting held by Misses Mary Olive and May Paul in August 1914. Although his life amont us was short, he was greatly beloved by a host of friends and schoolmates who are mourning his untimely death. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cindy McCachern