Obit: Humiston, Jesse (26 May 1834 - 19 Nov 1898)

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Surnames: HUMISTON CROSSETT GIBSON HUMMISTON

----Source: Clark County Republican Press (Neillsville, Wis.) 11/17/1898

Humiston, Jesse (26 May 1834 - 19 Nov 1898)

Jesse Humiston, a resident of the town of York, Clark County, was drowned by falling head first in a ditch near Merrillan last Wednesday. The Merrillan Leader of last Friday contained the following account of the accident:

"Wednesday noon word was brought to town that the one armed medicine peddler from Neillsville had been drowned in a ditch near Ben Miller's. Justice Reichenbach empanelled a coroner's jury early in the afternoon, and together with Dr. Tisdale as physician, went out to hold an inquest. The facts developed that the fellow was driving through the country in company with a little son of a neighbor, and after he had crossed the bridge going from Merrillan this side of the Miller farm, he got out of the buggy and was so intoxicated that he fell over backward, rolling over so that his head and shoulders went into a ditch, in which there was only about a foot of water. The boy tried to assist him out, but finding himself powerless, ran to the house of John Grosh for help. Mrs. Grosh, who was at home alone, returned with him and found that that the fellow was drowned. The verdict of the inquest was that he "came to his death by accidentally falling into a ditch, partly filled with water, and drowning." His name was Jessie Humiston, and he owned a farm in the town of York, Clark County, about eight miles northeast of Neillsville, where he leaves a wife and two daughters. Thursday morning his son-in-law, H. Gibson, and brother-in-law, F. C. Freer, came over from Neillsville with Undertaker J.B. Lowe, and the body was embalmed and taken home on the noon train."

From what cam be learned Mr. Humiston had been subject to dizzy spells, and the supposition is that he was taken with one of them and fell into the ditch as above described. Deceased was born at Rome, N.Y., May 26, 1834 came to this state in 1874, locating in the town of York. He enlisted Nov. 24, 1861, in Co. M. 2nd New York heavy artillery, and was discharged at Petersburg, Nov. 23, 1864. He was married to Miss Lestina Crossett, June 23, 1875. Three children were born, two of whom survive, Mrs. Maud Gibson and Jessie, aged 10. Funeral services were held Saturday, and interment took place in the York Cemetery.