Elmore - Luke - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

The Gordon, Neb. Journal gives the following particulars of the death by drowning of a little son of Dr. J. Q. Elmore. It will be remembered that Dr. Elmore is a son of the late Thomas Elmore who resided in Ripley Township. The news of his bereavement will be read with painful interest by his old neighbors and friends:

Last Saturday afternoon our little city was startled by the sudden report that Luke Elmore, younger son of Dr. J. Q. Elmore, was drowned in the branch about a mile east of town. Soon scores of men, women, and children were hurrying to the dread spot, only to find that the sad news was too true. The lifeless form of little Luke lay upon the bank and over his body was bent the agonized face of his father, who was first to reach the pool. The usual methods of bringing to life in drowning were restored to, but the father knew too well that all was of no avail. Soon the distressed mother arrived and the body was carried home where Dr. C. G. Elmore and other willing hands did all that could be done to bring back to consciousness the lifeless form. The sad new was telegraphed the aged grandmother at Brooking, S. D., and the funeral was postponed until 10 a.m. Wednesday, awaiting her arrival, when a large concourse of sorrowing friends assembled at the Presbyterian Church to pay their respects and express their sympathy for the afflicted family in this saddest bereavement.

Luke was a beautiful and most promising child; the idol of his parents, a general favorite in school, and on the play ground. He was loved by all. In school and Sunday school he was always prompt and regular in attendance and was honor pupil in most of his classes. Many are the little hearts that are saddened by his cruel fate. In company with another little boy he went down the railroad last Saturday after dinner, and went wading in a pool of water where no one presumed there was the slightest danger lurking. At 3 o’clock his body was a corpse. He stepped into a deep hole and went under and his companion was too small to get him out.