Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1893 — DEATH OF PHILIP MIKESELL. [ARTICLE]

DEATH OF PHILIP MIKESELL.

Philip Mikesell, aged about 60 years and an employee of Burns’ livery stable since last June, died Monday morning, about 10 o'clock, at the residence of Wm. Burns, on Van Rensselaer street. The immediate cause of his death was lung fever, but the disease was concentrated in one locality and made much more dangerous by an accident he met with on Sunday, the Bth inst. He was hitching up a team in the barn and one of the horses, b ing frightened, started violently ahead and pushed Mr. Mikesell against the door post and badly bruised his chest, with its collar. He complained some at the time but did not seem badly hurt, and continued about his duties until night. The next morning, however, he was sick abed and Mr. Bams had Mm taken to his son’s home, for better care. Tuesday, Dr Alter was called and found him sufferibg from lung fever In spite of all that could be said, however, Mikesell continued to get about more or less, and on the Thursday before his death even walked to the barn, from where he was at once taken back, in a sled, by Mr. Burns. Sunday he began to grow worse but was not thought very dangerous until Monday morning. He has lived in White and Carroll counties all his life; has had three wives, all of whom are dead, but leaves 12 or 13 children. Mr. Barns was at the depot, telegraphing for hjs children to come and see him, at the time he died. The body was taken to Monticello for the funeral, but interment was made in a cemetery in Carroll county. The deceased was an industrious.man, and a faithful and valuable one, in his capacity. A Wonderful Young Marksman. A novel and interesting exhibition was given at Iroquois club rooms last Friday evening and repeated at the Opei a House, Saturday night. John H. Long, the popular Monon conductor, of Lafayette, was here as a Witness in the Renicher vs. Monon case, and with him he had his ten year old son, Claience, the champion boy rifle shot of the world; and it was the boy’s wonderful proficiency with his j-isle, that forwed the exhibition. He shoots With a 22 calioer rifle, off-hand and open sights, and does some wonderful and almost incredible things with his gun. He shoots with unerring precision from a dozen different positions. Shoots a cigar out of his father’s mouth, and shaves a card in.two edgewise, in his father’s fingers. Mr. .Long himself is an enthusiastic and very skillful marksman. Both of the above exhibitions were free, given merely to oblige a number of people who had heard of and desired to witness the lad’s wonderful skill.