FORMER BLAIR MAN DEAD

Wednesday morning’s Omaha Bee contained a news dispatch from West Point, announcing the violent death of P. R. Morganthaler, as follows: “News has reached the city of the death of Philip R. Morganthaler, a former well-known resident of West Point. Mr. Morganthaler left this county some years ago and settled in Greeley county, where he accumulated a comfortable competence, acquiring a large body of land. About ten days ago he was engaged in harrowing a stubble field on his ranch when the straw took fire, frightening his horses and rendering them unmanageable. They dragged him some distance into the fire, in which he was severely burned.

So serious were his injuries that he was immediately rushed to a hospital in Omaha, where he expired on Thursday last. The body was taken to his home at Greeley and was interred today, under Catholic auspices.

He is survived by three children, among whom is Otis Morganthaler, the famous football player of the Creighton university team. He was 62 years of age and when here was engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

Deceased was a resident of Blair for several years. He married Maggie Reifers after coming here. His wife died several years ago at their home in Greeley county where they located on leaving Blair.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used.

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

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