Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-06-22
WAS A SAD ACCIDENT.
DENNIS O'BRIEN is KILLED
BY THE ACCIDENTAL;
DISCHARGE OF.
A STCIC
A Sl.Ex I.-..

The town was shocked from centre to
circumference last night about half
past five O'Clock by the report that
Dennis O'Brien had accidentally shot
himself. The report was soon, alas!
verified and our genial neighbor whom
we had met in the best of spirits few
hours before lay cold and silent in
death.
He was cleaning an old shot gun at
the barn and had sent the hired man
to the house for some kerosene to use
for that purpose. It was while the
hired man was absent for that purpose
or just before he returned thas the gun
| went off with the disastrous result.
The charge went into his body in the
front just below the ribs to the left
side Of the median line. Death was
| almost instantaneous and no account
could be obtained from the dying man
how the accident happened. The
coroner summoned a jury for an in
quest, and the verdict returned was
that his death was caused accidentally
| by the discharge of a gun in his own
hands.
| Mr.. O'Brien has been resident of
Kandiyohi county since 1871. He was
a native of Ireland, born July 7, 1889,
and was the son of Martin and Mary
O'Brien, also natives of that land.
In 1871 the parents of our subject emf
grated to America and located in the
Dominion of Canada, where they en-
gagged in farming. Mr.. O'Brien re-
ceived fair education in the common
schools Of Canada, and after leaving
the school-room commenced in life for
himself by clerking in store. In
1862 he came to the states, and for the
succeeding eight years was engaged in
mining operations in California, Mon
tana, Nevada and Idaho. He was
successful in this venture, and after
the expiration of eight years returned
eastward and located in this county,
where he purchased GAO acres of land
and engaged in general farming and
stock operations for. sixteen years.
In 1880 he participated in Che orga-
nization of the Kandiyohi County
Bank, with which he has since been
Identified. He was also actively in
terested in real estate and loan brok-
erage, and was formerly connected
with a syndicate which owned thirteen
ELEVATORS in different sections of the
country. On March 4, 1885, he was
appointed postmaster by President
Cleveland, which position he filed
with satisfaction to all parties con-
cerned. Mr.. .O'Brien was married in
| 1869 to Miss Kate Findlan, and this
union has been blessed with the four
following named children: Mary, Mar
tin, Andrew and Julia. Mr.. O'Brien
was prominent business man of this
city, and an adherent to the principles
of the democratic party. In 1883 he
was chairman of the county demo-
cratic central committee, and for a
number OF years was regularly a.dele-
gate to the state democratic conven-
tion. Was president of the Big Stone
County Bank until Jan. l, 1884, when
he resigned. Last September be dis
solved partnership with John IA. Pc
terson; of Kandiyohi, I'M the elevator
| business. +. 49,; ~: Is. ,;,-:
| AS will be seen from the. above Mr..
O'Brien was a ma of extensive busi-
ness ability. He was we'll and favor
ably known throughout this section of
country. :, .-.-' ..~:.~i
The funeral will take: place to-mor-
row Wednesday, June %, at 10
O'Clock a. M, at the house, and will
proceed from there to the Catholic
church, where High Mass will be rem
dered, and from there to the Catholic
cemetery where his remains will be in
TERED.
The !O'Brien family is one of the
most extensively known and highly
respected in Kandiyohi county, and
everyone feels deep sympathy for
the sorrowing widow and children so
suddenly beereft of the husband and
and father. = # 81. T. 49,. -. ....
Il