Aberdeen Weekly News Friday, August 08, 1890
John S. Dennis, brother of Hon. L. C. Dennis, was instantly killed Sunday morning on the Dennis farm south of the city. He was standing on the platform about his windmill, engaged in oiling the machinery, when it is the supposition that the mill turned quickly in response to a sharp gust of wind and knocked him off. He fell a distance of twenty-five or thirty feet and struck the watering trough with his head and shoulders. His neck was dislocated and death was instantaneous. A hired man was standing under the windmill at the time, but was looking elsewhere and did not know that anything was wrong until aroused by the body as it struck the earth.
The deceased was a single man and 34 years of age. He was well spoken of by all and was an industrious and respected citizen. His parents live on the place on which he met his death and were early on the scene. Funeral services were held Monday forenoon at 11 o ‘clock.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith