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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: LizzieL on Wednesday 30 July 14 10:59 BST (UK)
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While researching the family of a great uncle by marriage, I have discovered a reference in a Dublin newspaper to the death of his brother Alexander Morrison Mackenzie who was living and working in Kansas city and died in an accident at his place of work on 27 Dec 1884.
Their father was Archibald Mackenzie US Vice Consul in Dublin.
I have been unable to find out any more about the accident and would be grateful if anyone who had access to any newspaper archives for the area and time period could see if there was anything reported in the papers.
Thank you
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Hi,
Have you tried http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ ?
Sandra
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Thanks for the link.
But the Kansas city papers don't seem to start until a few years later, unfortunately. It doesn't look like anything was reported any further afield. Probably not an unusual accident for the time.
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Oh according to this link - they started 1884 ???
The Kansas City times. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1884-1901
Preceding Titles: The Kansas City daily times. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1882-1884
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90061444/
How about - Kansas Historical Society ?
http://www.kshs.org/p/genealogy-indexes/18943
Sandra
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Thanks, I missed that, just found the one starting in 1901, I'll investigate that and the historical society link
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It's a subscription site, but on Genealogy Bank, there are some old Kansas City newspapers. http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers/explore/USA/Missouri/Kansas_City/ If you search for Alexander Mackenzie from 1884 through 1884, you can see a snippet of an article from the Kansas City Times that says he was crushed by an elevator.
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Thank you, yes I can just see that behind the subscription form.
How awful, a tragic family. His father killed himself two years later after an unsuccessful attempt to murder his wife (Alexander's mother) the day after their 30th wedding anniversary. The death of this son was mentioned at the inquest as a reason for his depression.
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You're welcome. I don't know if there's a fee involved, but the Kansas City library will do obituary look-ups. http://www.kclibrary.org/kchistory/obituaries
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LizzieL just wondering if you managed to obtain a copy of the newspaper article about Alexander's unfortunate death... also wondering if you have a copy of the inquest details on Archibald MacKenzie? These names also appear in my family tree.
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I have several newspaper articles about the death of Archibald Mackenzie but not the death of his son.
Due to computer problems, I cannot access my family tree files at the moment.
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LizzieL,
I have a sub which includes the 1884 article on Alexander MacKenzie.
He had only been in Kansas City for 5 weeks, travelling from Liverpool to Washington Territory.
He took a job for 3weeks working in a slaughter house.
The elevator was outside the building and was used to lift stunned animals up to the slaughter room.
The lift was lowering as Alexander passed underneath.
It hit him on the head and his neck was broken immediately
The article states that his father was a wealthy dealer and Vessel owner in Dublin
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Thank you very much for the additional information. Very sad business. The incident was mentioned at the inquest into the suicide of his father, the main thing that "pushed him over the edge".
His father was a ship broker, originally from Scotland, but had been in Dublin for many years. Although he was British, he was the American Vice - Consul in Dublin, so I guess he did a lot of business in America.
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No problem LizzieL,
If you wish a copy of the 1884 article, PM me with your email address and I will gladly send it to you.
I have searched through genealogly bank but, so far this is the only entry that I could find about this accident
Anne
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Anne I think I managed to send you a PM (my skills at using Rootschat not great!). I was hoping you could also forward me a copy of the newspaper article about the death of Alexander, who was my great granduncle.
Many thanks.