James Samuel Lindsey ⁷⁴

   Cause of his death was lock jaw.

Middleport Weekly Press
September 17, 1860
Illinois

Died at the residence of his mother in Onarga on Saturday, Sept. 8th, James S. Lindsay, Esq, in the 22d year of his age.

Never since we have assumed the duties of a public journalist have we been called upon to chronicle a sadder item of intelligence than the above. But a few days since, the deceased was in our office in the enjoyment of full health, light-hearted and happy, but now he is no more. One day last week, while at home, he went and assisted in shelling corn for pastime. In so doing, his hand was caught in the cogs of the machine and before it could be stopped, the fingers and a portion of the hand were crushed. The accident was not considered to be of a dangerous nature until some days following when lock-jaw set in and in forty-eight hours James S. Lindsay was dead.

Mr. Lindsay was born in this county, where he has since made his home. Last spring he completed his education at Lombard University, in Galesburg, from which institution he graduated with the highest honors and where he made a large circle of friends whose hearts will be deeply saddened by the intelligence of his death. He had returned home to commence an active life among those whom he had been raised and had not his career been so suddenly and unexpectedly stopped, he was destined to have been a prominent and leading man.

Mr. Lindsay, intellectually, was far above mediocrity. As an author, he has written several very fine essays and a number of romances, many of which have been published. As a speaker he possessed extraordinary faculties. His manner was graceful, his intonation clear and distinct and always good tempered and courteous to his opponents, he was respected by all who knew him. In the present political campaign, Mr. L established his reputation as a superior orator and forcible debater.

But with the world all before him, bright and happy, with a certain prospect of the realization of his most ambitious plans, he has been called away. His death was peaceful and calm. In the full possession of all his faculties, he looked forward to the future that was about to open its portal to him, without fear or dread. We can scarce realize it, as we write. We can fancy now that we see his pleasant smile, that we hear his joyous laugh, that we feel the presence of his friendly grasp, and we cannot but utter "can it be so!"

With us his numerous friends sorrow. With us, to his mother and to his relatives they send kind words of sympathy, and with them drop the tear o'er his newly made grave and utter "our noble friend, James S. Lindsay, loved as a brother, now free from pain, free from all the sorrows of the world, "resquiescat in pace."

After James crushed his hand in a farming machine, it was thought he would be OK; however, lock jaw set in and he died shortly after at the age of 22.

  Events

• He appeared on the census in 1850 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois. He lived in the household of Lemuel Boyd.

• He appeared on the census in 1860 in Iroquois County, Illinois. He lived in the household of his mother.

• He was educated at Lombard University in 1860 in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. He studied law and was valedictorian.

• He enjoyed writing romance books that were published.

• He was buried at Del Rey Cemetery in Del Rey, Iroquois County, Illinois.