Born in Taylor Twp., Fulton Co., PA to Judge Thomas G. Gracey and Henrietta (Sprowl) Gracey. Married Mary Belle (Snow) on 11 Oct 1888 in Pennsylvania. Death was on Bald Eagle Knob, Fulton Co., PA.
News Article was from a LIVING Sprowl (ancestry.com user name: sprowlseeker) and was in the Fulton Democrat - Nov. 13, 1902 (pg. 1)
Published 13 Nov 1902 , Fulton County, Pennsylvania, USA
"Killed on Hunting Trip: Winchester Bullet Crashes Through Jos. H. Gracey's Head - The first fatal gunning accident to occur within Fulton county this season took place on Sideling Hill Mt. in Wells Twp. Saturday morning when Joseph H. Gracey was instantly killed by a rifle bullet. Every year a party of Altoona hunters go into that section to hunt deer, and Mr. Gracey accompanied them as on former occasions. The men who were in the party on this occasion were Joseph H. Gracey, J. N. Dougherty, Charles Sprowl, Frank Sprowl, Maurice Bivens, Ernest Meredith, Abe Burket and E. H. Westover. Who fired the fatal shot will probably never be known.
A deer had been started and it ran near a half dozen of the hunters who were conversing together. Each man opened fire and a moment later the deer fell dead. The hunters called to the other members of the party to come up to the spot, and all responded but Gracey. It was known that he was not far away when the shots were fired, and when he failed to put in an appearance, a search was instituted. They had not advanced more than about 50 yards when they found his lifeless body. A gaping bullet wound in his head from a Winchester rifle of heavy caliber told the story of instant death. The missile had entered his mouth and plowed its way upward through the brain and came out of the top of his head. His brains were oozing from the wound.
It is hard to get the correct particulars of the shooting. The most likely story, however, is that on one "crossing" six of the sportsmen had congregated to determine which was the better plan to get a deer started. Tarrying there some time one of the party farther down the side of the mountain shouted that a deer was coming that way. Each man was in readiness to shoot at the first sight of the animal, and when at length it came in sight, they fired several shots. Four of these 6 men were Altoona hunters and each used a Winchester repeating rifle. The other 2 carried shot guns. It is said the deer was killed with buckshot. If that is the case the blame will rest between the 4 men from the Mountain City.
Mr. Gracey was the son of the late Judge Gracey, and was prominent in this section. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and also a member of the Order of the Odd Fellows, who had charge of the funeral which was held on Sunday. Rev. Shaeffer conducted the services in the absence of the deceased's pastor."
NOTE: The transcribed obituary that I have from the Gracey Family Bible varies slightly and mentions the hunter whose bullet killed Joseph was E. H. Westover.
News Article was from a LIVING Sprowl (ancestry.com user name: sprowlseeker) and was in the Fulton Democrat - Nov. 13, 1902 (pg. 1)
Published 13 Nov 1902 , Fulton County, Pennsylvania, USA
"Killed on Hunting Trip: Winchester Bullet Crashes Through Jos. H. Gracey's Head - The first fatal gunning accident to occur within Fulton county this season took place on Sideling Hill Mt. in Wells Twp. Saturday morning when Joseph H. Gracey was instantly killed by a rifle bullet. Every year a party of Altoona hunters go into that section to hunt deer, and Mr. Gracey accompanied them as on former occasions. The men who were in the party on this occasion were Joseph H. Gracey, J. N. Dougherty, Charles Sprowl, Frank Sprowl, Maurice Bivens, Ernest Meredith, Abe Burket and E. H. Westover. Who fired the fatal shot will probably never be known.
A deer had been started and it ran near a half dozen of the hunters who were conversing together. Each man opened fire and a moment later the deer fell dead. The hunters called to the other members of the party to come up to the spot, and all responded but Gracey. It was known that he was not far away when the shots were fired, and when he failed to put in an appearance, a search was instituted. They had not advanced more than about 50 yards when they found his lifeless body. A gaping bullet wound in his head from a Winchester rifle of heavy caliber told the story of instant death. The missile had entered his mouth and plowed its way upward through the brain and came out of the top of his head. His brains were oozing from the wound.
It is hard to get the correct particulars of the shooting. The most likely story, however, is that on one "crossing" six of the sportsmen had congregated to determine which was the better plan to get a deer started. Tarrying there some time one of the party farther down the side of the mountain shouted that a deer was coming that way. Each man was in readiness to shoot at the first sight of the animal, and when at length it came in sight, they fired several shots. Four of these 6 men were Altoona hunters and each used a Winchester repeating rifle. The other 2 carried shot guns. It is said the deer was killed with buckshot. If that is the case the blame will rest between the 4 men from the Mountain City.
Mr. Gracey was the son of the late Judge Gracey, and was prominent in this section. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and also a member of the Order of the Odd Fellows, who had charge of the funeral which was held on Sunday. Rev. Shaeffer conducted the services in the absence of the deceased's pastor."
NOTE: The transcribed obituary that I have from the Gracey Family Bible varies slightly and mentions the hunter whose bullet killed Joseph was E. H. Westover.
Born in Taylor Twp., Fulton Co., PA to Judge Thomas G. Gracey and Henrietta (Sprowl) Gracey. Married Mary Belle (Snow) on 11 Oct 1888 in Pennsylvania. Death was on Bald Eagle Knob, Fulton Co., PA.
News Article was from a LIVING Sprowl (ancestry.com user name: sprowlseeker) and was in the Fulton Democrat - Nov. 13, 1902 (pg. 1)
Published 13 Nov 1902 , Fulton County, Pennsylvania, USA
"Killed on Hunting Trip: Winchester Bullet Crashes Through Jos. H. Gracey's Head - The first fatal gunning accident to occur within Fulton county this season took place on Sideling Hill Mt. in Wells Twp. Saturday morning when Joseph H. Gracey was instantly killed by a rifle bullet. Every year a party of Altoona hunters go into that section to hunt deer, and Mr. Gracey accompanied them as on former occasions. The men who were in the party on this occasion were Joseph H. Gracey, J. N. Dougherty, Charles Sprowl, Frank Sprowl, Maurice Bivens, Ernest Meredith, Abe Burket and E. H. Westover. Who fired the fatal shot will probably never be known.
A deer had been started and it ran near a half dozen of the hunters who were conversing together. Each man opened fire and a moment later the deer fell dead. The hunters called to the other members of the party to come up to the spot, and all responded but Gracey. It was known that he was not far away when the shots were fired, and when he failed to put in an appearance, a search was instituted. They had not advanced more than about 50 yards when they found his lifeless body. A gaping bullet wound in his head from a Winchester rifle of heavy caliber told the story of instant death. The missile had entered his mouth and plowed its way upward through the brain and came out of the top of his head. His brains were oozing from the wound.
It is hard to get the correct particulars of the shooting. The most likely story, however, is that on one "crossing" six of the sportsmen had congregated to determine which was the better plan to get a deer started. Tarrying there some time one of the party farther down the side of the mountain shouted that a deer was coming that way. Each man was in readiness to shoot at the first sight of the animal, and when at length it came in sight, they fired several shots. Four of these 6 men were Altoona hunters and each used a Winchester repeating rifle. The other 2 carried shot guns. It is said the deer was killed with buckshot. If that is the case the blame will rest between the 4 men from the Mountain City.
Mr. Gracey was the son of the late Judge Gracey, and was prominent in this section. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and also a member of the Order of the Odd Fellows, who had charge of the funeral which was held on Sunday. Rev. Shaeffer conducted the services in the absence of the deceased's pastor."
NOTE: The transcribed obituary that I have from the Gracey Family Bible varies slightly and mentions the hunter whose bullet killed Joseph was E. H. Westover.
News Article was from a LIVING Sprowl (ancestry.com user name: sprowlseeker) and was in the Fulton Democrat - Nov. 13, 1902 (pg. 1)
Published 13 Nov 1902 , Fulton County, Pennsylvania, USA
"Killed on Hunting Trip: Winchester Bullet Crashes Through Jos. H. Gracey's Head - The first fatal gunning accident to occur within Fulton county this season took place on Sideling Hill Mt. in Wells Twp. Saturday morning when Joseph H. Gracey was instantly killed by a rifle bullet. Every year a party of Altoona hunters go into that section to hunt deer, and Mr. Gracey accompanied them as on former occasions. The men who were in the party on this occasion were Joseph H. Gracey, J. N. Dougherty, Charles Sprowl, Frank Sprowl, Maurice Bivens, Ernest Meredith, Abe Burket and E. H. Westover. Who fired the fatal shot will probably never be known.
A deer had been started and it ran near a half dozen of the hunters who were conversing together. Each man opened fire and a moment later the deer fell dead. The hunters called to the other members of the party to come up to the spot, and all responded but Gracey. It was known that he was not far away when the shots were fired, and when he failed to put in an appearance, a search was instituted. They had not advanced more than about 50 yards when they found his lifeless body. A gaping bullet wound in his head from a Winchester rifle of heavy caliber told the story of instant death. The missile had entered his mouth and plowed its way upward through the brain and came out of the top of his head. His brains were oozing from the wound.
It is hard to get the correct particulars of the shooting. The most likely story, however, is that on one "crossing" six of the sportsmen had congregated to determine which was the better plan to get a deer started. Tarrying there some time one of the party farther down the side of the mountain shouted that a deer was coming that way. Each man was in readiness to shoot at the first sight of the animal, and when at length it came in sight, they fired several shots. Four of these 6 men were Altoona hunters and each used a Winchester repeating rifle. The other 2 carried shot guns. It is said the deer was killed with buckshot. If that is the case the blame will rest between the 4 men from the Mountain City.
Mr. Gracey was the son of the late Judge Gracey, and was prominent in this section. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and also a member of the Order of the Odd Fellows, who had charge of the funeral which was held on Sunday. Rev. Shaeffer conducted the services in the absence of the deceased's pastor."
NOTE: The transcribed obituary that I have from the Gracey Family Bible varies slightly and mentions the hunter whose bullet killed Joseph was E. H. Westover.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
