MARTIN KNUTSON NO MORE

Another Washington County pioneer, Martin Knutson, passed away 8 o'clock last Saturday evening at Hastings, Neb. The body arrived here on the 5 o'clock train Monday afternoon, and was taken to the family residence, corner 4th and Washington streets, from which the funeral was held at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Rev. S. W. Richards officiating.

Martin Knutson was born near Christiana, Norway August 12th, 1852, and when two years of age came with his parents to this country. They settled near Berlin, Wis. where they remained for about thirteen years, coming to this county in 1866, settling on a farm on York Creek about eight miles northwest of this city.

When he was married to Miss Letta Hansen on Dec. 3rd, 1874, they moved on a farm near the old home where they lived until they moved to this city about nine years ago. It was on this place that the shooting accident occurred in which Mr. Knutson came so near losing his life; his recovery, in fact, being little short of the miraculous.

On Sunday, July 23, 1882 in company with Dr. C. A. Raver of Tekamah and a mason who has helping build a new house on the place, Mr. Knutson went out hunting for wild game. He had shot off one barrel of his shotgun and was reloading it when the powder flask fell on the hammer of the other barrel, causing it to discharge.

The load tore off the index finger of his left hand, which was over the barrel and then struck him in the forehead, tearing away a portion of the frontal bone and a portion of the brain. Dr. Jesse Conant was called from Herman and believing the patient couldn't possibly recover, dressed the awful wound as best he could and sewed it up.

Drs. S. B. Taylor and M. D. Bedal of this city arrived a little later and did what whey could, but did not think it possible for him to live through the night. He did, however, and the next morning they re-opened the wound and took out several more pieces of bone and dressed it so skillfully that the patient finally recovered consciousness and the wound gradually healed over.

Up to within about two and one half years ago Mr. Knutson was able to conduct his business affairs with the same care he had always given them, though he never regained his eyesight, and the remembrance of his going about town either unaided except for his cane, or directed by one of the children, will long remain with us.

Mr. Knutson leaves a wife and seven children, four boys and three girls, besides one sister, Mrs. W. A. Raver, who lives with her husband on a farm out on York Creek. The eldest son, Anton, is a graduate of the state University, and since then has been the proprietor of the Co-opertive Book Store in Lincoln.

#2-14 Apr., 1904 - Blair Republican and The Pilot obit dated 11 Apr., 1904 - Martin Knutson

Martin Knutson, who was taken to the insane asylum about two years ago, died Saturday evening about eight o'clock. The body will be brought to Blair this afternoon, scheduled to arrive on the 4:50 train. The funeral will take place from the home on West Washington street tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 23, 1882 Mr. Knutson, who lived about ten miles northwest of Blair, was out hunting with a double barreled muzzle loader, one barrel had been discharged and as he was reloading it the powder flask dropped, striking the hammer of the loaded barrel, discharging the load in the face and tearing away the bones of the forehead. For weeks he lingered with no hope for recovery but under the skillful treatment of Dr. Clark, he regained his strength.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #116125262