Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: William O'BRIEN ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, 10 June 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern February 11, 1889 It Proved Fatal Blood Poisoning Ends Mr. O'Brien's Life The Ex-Policeman Expires Yesterday Morning at His Home on Ninth Street- His Terrible Condition- The Funeral to be Held Tuesday Afternoon. About ten minutes after eleven o'clock yesterday morning ex- Policeman William O'Brien died of blood poisoning at his home on Ninth street. This was the result of an accident which he sustained in the pinery near Washburn about two weeks ago when a log fell upon him and crushed his right leg. It was some days before it was thought necessary to bring him to Oshkosh for treatment and when this was done blood poisoning had commenced its fearful work. The right leg was black. A surgical operation performed Saturday revealed the terrible nature of the disease. O'Brien exhibited no symptons of pain when an incision was made as deep as the bone. The flesh on the leg was literally rotten. Before he died gangrene had appeared in his left leg and William Spikes the undertaker in charge, said hat he had never before seen such a terrible case of blood poisoning. He left orders that none of the dead man's children should the body as Mrs. O'Brien wished they might. The undertaker did not think it safe for anyone to touch the remains. The bed clothing used by the deceased was burned and every precaution taken to prevent any friends from having their blood poisoned as a result of contact with the body or the articles which it came in contact. William O'Brien was born in Cecil county, Maryland January 17, 1850. He came west in 1855 and since that time had been engaged in lumbering, with the exception of one year when he was a member of the Oshkosh police force. He leaves a wife and five children , the oldest of the latter being about nine years and the youngest fifteen months. The funeral will be held tomorrow, the services at the house on Ninth street occurring at one o'clock and those at Grace church, where the Rev. John Blyman will officiate, taking place at half past one o'clock. Although at times rough in outward appearance William O'Brien was a noble hearted man and he had many friends. An instance of his bravery is recalled in an incident which occurred a few years ago when he jumped into the river with his clothes on and rescued the body of a drowning boy named Vosburg.