Myrick, Robert H.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal , 16 May1874
The sad news reaches us of the accidental shooting and probably death of Robert H. Myrick, formerly treasurer of this county. It occurred near Plattsburg, Mo., on Friday of last week. The Ladoga Herald says his wife and family left that place Wednesday to meet him at Kansas City. A letter was received by some friends at Ladoga last Tuesday in which she states she did not learn of her husband’s misfortune until she reached Wellsville, Franklin County, Kansas, where she arrived on Saturday. On making inquiry for H. H. Harrison, who lives a few miles from that place she was informed by the railroad agent that he was expected there every moment, as a man named Myrick, near Plattsburg, Mo., had been shot, and wanted him to come up there. This was the first news of the accident. She immediately started to her husband and found him dangerously wounded. It appears that he carried a gun with him loaded, uncapping it every morning, and on that morning (Friday), he reached into his wagon to take the gun out for that purpose, and unfortunately the hammer caught and the gun was discharged, the whole load entering his breast in a downward direction, leaving a ghastly wound, some of the shot entering his lungs and severing an artery which caused him to bleed profusely. A boy who was traveling with him immediately mounted one of the horses and started to Plattsburg for a doctor. A neighbor woman near by heard his cries and went to his assistance who found his clothes on fire and his breast burned to a crisp. Mrs. M. writes that he is resting a little better, but the doctors, some four or five, do not give her any encouragement.
Captain Myrick served through the war of the rebellion and while in its service lost an arm. In 1866, he was placed on the Republican ticket for County Treasurer. He was elected and held the office one term. He was highly esteemed for his strict integrity and honesty of purpose. At the expiration of his term of office, he removed to Ladoga, where he lived until he started to seek a home in the west. - kz