KILLED BY LIGHTNING

Tuesday morning of this week during a heavy thunder shower which struck about 7 o’clock, J. C. Reeh, whose home is about four miles west of this city, was struck by lightning and killed instantly while at the barn doing chores. George Higgins of this city, a boy of 15 years, was the only witness of the tragedy. He went into the barn to avoid the rain, set his milk pail down and Reeh closed the lower door to keep the pigs out when an electric bolt came down the upright timber between the doors, struck him on the head and he fell behind a span of horses and never moved afterward. Young Higgins was but a few feet away and was so badly shocked and paralyzed that he was unable to walk. The house was not far away, and his cries brought Mrs. Reeh who dragged her husband from behind the horses, assisted the boy to the house and alarmed the neighbors. Coroner Pierce was also called and went to take charge of the remains. The deceased was an industrious farmer 31 years of age, and his life was insured in Blair Lodge of Modern Woodmen for $2,000. His wife is a daughter of Soren Jensen and has three small children. Rev. Schafer will officiate at the funeral which will be at the residence at 11 a.m. on Thursday of this week. The Lodge will take charge of the services, and the burial will be at Blair Cemetery. The Republican is indebted to Mayor O’Hanlon who went out to the farm with J. H. Jensen of Tuesday forenoon for the particulars of this sad occurrence.

#2-Published in The Pilot, May 28, 1903

John Reeh, who has lived in Washington county thirty-one years, was struck by lightning and instantly killed at his home several miles west of Blair at about 7:30 Monday morning. His hired man, who was standing several feet from him, was knocked down and severely burned. Mr. Reeh was born in Schleswig, Germany, in March, 1871, and when a year old came with his parents to Washington county, where he has since lived. Seven or eight years ago he married one of Soren Jensen’s daughters, who with three children, two girls and one boy, remain to mourn the loss of a loving husband and father. He leaves, besides his family, his parents, four brothers and two sisters. A wide circle of friends join in extending to the family their sympathy in their sad bereavement. The funeral will take place at the house at eleven o’clock this (Thursday) forenoon under the auspices of the Modern Woodman lodge of this city, and interment will be made in the Blair cemetery. Mr. Reeh was a man of exemplary character and his untimely demise was a severe shock to his many friends.

#3-4 June, 1903 - Blair Republican - John

I am sorry to have to write of the death of our other John Reeh, but we must submit as we do not understand why such things happen. I cannot add much to what has not already appeared in the paper, only the people could see what high esteem he and his family and relatives are held by the long line of carriages that followed him to his last resting place, there being 120 in all. I am safe in saying it was the largest funeral ever seen in this county.

#4-The Pilot-June 01, 1903

The funeral of Joh Reeh which was held last Thursday was one of the largest ever known in the county, upwards of a 125 teams being in line as they passed through the city. Mr. Reeh was held in high esteem, and many friends and neighbors of the family who were in attendance at the funeral by these presence paid a high tribute to a good citizen, a kind and loving husband, father and son.

# 5 - from Pilot-Tribune, May 28, 2013

110 YEARS AGO (1903) This is the very same article as above, reprinted.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #107304637