Elmer, the three year old child of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kruger who live five miles south of Fontanelle, died Monday from rabies. The child, while playing in the yard at its home three weeks ago, was bitten by a dog belonging to a neighbor. The parents did not know the animal had symptoms of hydrophobia and paid little attention to the incident. Last Friday the little victim was seized with violent illness and Arlington physician was called. Its condition grew worse and two days later a Fremont physician was summoned. Medical aid proved ineffective and the child died. The physicians pronounced it hydrophobia. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at the home at two o’clock and also at the German church five miles north of Arlington at three, Rev. Mr. Hilgendorf officiating.

#2-15 May, 1905 - The Pilot - William H. Elmer Kruger

A very sad incident occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Kruger, who reside about four miles north of town, the latter part of last and the first part of this week, in the sudden illness and death of their little two year and a half old son, Elmer. It appears that about three weeks ago while playing about the farm, a neighbor’s dog happened along and sprang upon the child biting him on the lip and drawing blood. The little fellow ran to the house and his mother bathed and cared for the wounds afflicted, which to her did not seem to be of a serious nature. The dog was immediately shot, which proved to be a fatal mistake as it is now the general opinion that it was in the first stages of rabies. However, all seemed to be going well with the boy up to last Saturday when a loss of appetite was observed, and on Sunday morning vomiting spells and convulsions occurred whenever any liquid of any kind was given him. Dr. Davies was summoned at five o’clock in the afternoon and again at 10:00 p.m., the latter time accompanied by a trained nurse, and all that human and medical aid could do was done to save the little one, but of no avail, for at the hour of nine o’clock Monday morning the sweet angel of eternal peace drew near and stooping plucked the little flower that had bloomed but a short time and carried it to the bosom of “Him Who doth all things well”, leaving bereft a kind and indulgent father and an idolizing mother. Funeral services were held at the house and German Lutheran church Wednesday afternoon, Rev. J. Hilgendorf officiating. Interment took place in the German Lutheran cemetery four miles north of town where the remains were followed by a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends - Arlington Review Herald.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #51898569