William H. Johnson

William H. Johnson Killed
The whole community was shocked this afternoon to hear that William Johnson, one of the earliest residents of this place was suddenly killed while making hay here. He was struck by a hay fork which fell striking and passing entirely through this body. The doctor was called but Mr. Johnson died before the doctor arrived.
The accident happened about three o'clock and Mr. Johnson lived about twenty minutes after.

--Roberts Herald.  19 June 1929.

As stated in the Herald last week William H. Johnson of this place was killed accidently about three o'clock last Wednesday afternoon, June 19th, 1929, aged 59 years, 5 months and one day.
He was helping Emil Seng put up hay and had brought in one load from the field that afternoon and had sent up two fork loads from the wagon. When he pulled the fork back for the third load he pulled it rapidly and when the carriage came to the end of the track it jumped over the guard and fork and carriage came upon him. The fork struck him in the back and pierced one of the large blood vessels causing death from hemorrhage within a short time. No one saw the accident except two small children who were in the yard. When the other men arrived the fork was lying on the load of hay and Mr. Johnson was on the ground about eight feet from the load. The picked him up and carried. him to the house.
Elias Gullett drove to Roberts and got Dr. Rueck and someone else called Dr. Boshell from Melvin. Dr. Rueck arrived before he died but could do nothing for him except to ease him. His wife and daughters also arrived before he died.
Coroner Samuel Hanson was called and the following jury empaneled: Dr. E. J. Rueck, Emil Seng, Arthur Seng, Elias Gullett, Ernest Warnke and Cecil W. Kennedy. They returned the following verdict. "We the undersigned jurors sworn to inquire of the death of William Johnson find that he came to his death by being punctured by a prong of a hay fork which fell with a carrier and rope from the end of the track in the barn to the top of a load of hay he was unloading. The prong entered his body in the back of the right side of the spine in the region of the seventh or eighth rib causing a wound one and one half inches in diameter and about ten inches deep. Death due to internal hemorrhage."
The funeral services were held at the home Friday afternoon, June 21st, at three o'clock, Rev. C. A. Sullivan and Rev. John T. Killip officiating. Interment was in Lyman Cemetery. Roberts Camp No. 2039 M. W. A. had charge of the ceremony at the grave. The following obituary was read at the funeral:
"William H. Johnson, son of Sherman and Emaline (Alford) Johnson was born at Cropsey, Illinois, January 18, 1870. He grew to manhood in the vicinity of his birth, was educated in the public schools and married Miss Carrie M. Johnson of Melvin May 27, 1891. To them were born seven children, three girls and four boys: Muriel Calhoun of Hagerstown, Maryland, Pearl Roberts and Erma Kennedy of Roberts, Harold, Lynne, and Ducelle of Chicago and Bruce, the youngest still at home, all of these with their mother survive him.
"He was a member of the Woodman Camp and M. E. Church of Roberts. His occupation was framing; respected and honored by all who knew him; as an honest industrious, quiet, home loving man, he will be greatly missed, not only by his immediate family but all his neighbors and friends.
"His peculiar characteristics were patience, quietness, and self-control. He went through life uncomplaining and whatever crisis came up, he put his own interests aside and followed the dictates of God.
"Sudden death took him out of this world June 19, 1929. Earth is poorer but Heaven is richer. We will try by God's help to be reconciled to our fate and strive to meet him in the better world where parting will be no more.
"Good night down here; good morning up yonder."
Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Calhoun and son Billy Carl of Hagerstown, Maryland, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Johnson and sons Dwight and Floyd of Danville, Lynne and Ducell Johson of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. George Patterson and Mrs. Nettie Deady of Onarga, Attorney and Mrs. Wayne Miller of Peoria, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ward and Mrs. Mary Alford of Cropsey, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Day of Piper City, Mrs. and Mrs. J. W. Miller, Miss Dorothy Miller, Mrs. Cornelia Day, Mrs. Robert Swanick and Mrs. Anna Miller of Melvin, Mrs. Joseph Johnson and sister of Morris, Clifford and Eunice Johnson of Blue Island, and Mr. and Mrs. Cleytus Day of Champaign.

--Roberts Herald.  19 June 1929