Grundy County IL Archives Obituaries.....Hunt, William Elbert 1888
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 1, 2007, 6:05 pm

Morris Herald, 1888
Sad Case of Drowning

The news Monday evening that William Elbert Hunt was drowned cast a gloom over 
our city, as would the sad and sudden taking away of any person who was so 
universally respected as this young man.

The facts of this sad occurrence are about as follows: Last Monday 
morning "Bert," as he was familiarly called, his uncle, Frank Hunt, and James 
and Mart Osmonson went seining in the Aux Sable creek; they were about to quit 
fishing and were in the act of taking up their seine; just then it commenced 
to rain, a peel of thunder started them when Frank went up the bank to look 
after his horses, being requested by Bert to look after his animal also; the 
water was quite cold, Bert was no swimmer, and it is more than probable that 
he was taken with a cramp; when he went down he made only one utterance; James 
Osmonson was near him, and as Bert disappeared, James made a lunge for him, 
catching him by the hand, then with his other hand he was about to push Bert 
to shore, (Osmonson being hardly able to swim) when his, Osmonson's, feet 
slipped from under him and he, too, went under, and, he thinks, passed under 
Bert; he was thoroughly frightened, and he then made his way to shore. All 
afternoon work of hunting for the body was vigorously prosecuted; at night 
George Hunt, cousin of Bert, came to town for help; C.W. Johnson, Billy 
Coughlin and John Kindlespire volunteered their services; taking a boat and 
grappling hooks along. They reached the spot about midnight, and the untiring 
manner in which they labored from that time on is commended on all sides. The 
water in the creek had raised a foot during the night, and it was so roilly 
that no good could be accomplished by divers, besides the water was so cold 
that few would have volunteered to offer their service in such work. However, 
men on a raft and in three boats with grappling hooks and garden rakes 
searched the bottom of the stream for a distance of half a mile. Shortly 
before 12 o'clock the people returned to the ill-fated spot where two dynamite 
cartridges were exploded, a seine, with three long log chains attached to the 
lead line was drawn over the spot, but without any avail. The raft was again 
brought into requisition, with Kindlespire and three others aboard. At four 
minutes to 1 o'clock, James Osmonson who had just arrived, remarked: "There, 
just where that raft is is where he went down," before he finished the 
sentence, Kindlespire brought the body to the surface.

It was a noble sight to witness the scores of sturdy men who labored for 
twenty-four hours with cessation.

Deceased was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hunt, and was born in 
Saratoga township, June 14, 1864. He was married to Miss Hattie Eels, of 
Mazon, on March 4, 1886, to whom one child is born. The grief of the parents 
and young wife can be better imagined than described. Leaving home in buoyant 
spirits, in full vigor of health, what must have been the shock to the loved 
ones at home when the heartbreaking news reached them that the son and husband 
was no more! It would be idle for us to describe his many noble traits of 
character, to speak of his exemplary life, of his love for his parents and 
family, as his life on the farm, in the school and in society is too well 
known. May his ashes rest in peace, and may they who have thus cruelly been 
bereft of husband, father, son and friend be comforted in the just belief that 
he safely rests in heaven.

The funeral took place Wednesday morning, (that day set apart to strew sweet 
flowers over the graves of loved ones) at 10 o'clock, Rev. W.A. Phillips 
officiating. The remains were interred in the east cemetery, attended by a 
very large concourse of people.


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