Dr. D.S. McElere, who evidently was just passing through the area, was fatally shot by a Villa Grove man, George W. Morgan, who went on a random drunken shooting rampage at the saloon of Miles Standish. The following Saguache "Chronicle" article gives a detailed and "colorful" description of the events.
Saguache "Chronicle," Friday, Sept. 2, 1881, p. 7, cols. 2-3:
"Grave Yard Started.
"I shall start a graveyard in Villa Grove before night" was the exclamation of Geo. W. Morgan when he started on a ‘tear' in our neighboring town a week ago yesterday—and he did; that he fills the first grave himself is a matter of congratulation to all good citizens.
The man Morgan above referred to, [who would probably have been arrested on a charge of horse stealing if he had not prosecuted his graveyard project so speedily and successfully] is well known both in Saguache and San Juan counties. He [followed] ‘cow punching' for a living and as intimated above bore a very unsavory reputation, in fact he was looked upon as a ‘bad man' and he sustained his reputation. Never was there a fuller illustration of the lengths that desperadoes inflamed by the most violent passions, and the poorest whiskey will go, if left to themselves than was seen at Villa Grove, shortly after Morgan had ‘sailed in'. A curious feature in the case is that Morgan is said to have stated in connection with his threat to start a graveyard that "he would be shot before long" as he really was. The circumstances were as follows: about four o'clock in the afternoon after he had ‘filled up' to the brim with [whiskey] he went into the saloon of Miles Standish and [addressing a] number of persons there said he wanted a drink whereupon Dr. D.S. Mc'Elere [who was shortly afterwards mortally wounded] started up and ‘treated' him. As soon as he had this drink down Morgan insisted that the barkeeper should give him a quart of [whiskey], this being refused Morgan then [asked] for sixty-five cents with which to pay a debt he owed to Mr. Sherfic who keeps a saloon next to Standish's, this was also refused and Morgan after asking a second time for the sixty-five cents drew his revolver and fired at the barkeeper Norris, the shot only missing his head [Norris'] by an inch. He then commenced firing [indiscriminately] into the crowd in the saloon which as a natural result scattered as fast as possible going out the front door, one of the shots striking Dr. McElere just as he had reached the outside of the door shattering his right leg and resulting in his death as appears in another column. This shot we understand was the second one discharged from Morgan's revolver; be that as it may Morgan soon after retreated in good order out the back door of the saloon and was making his escape to the open country as fast as [possible] when a shot fired [as the coroners jury found] by some unknown person ended his existence and Villa Grove's graveyard was started. Word was sent at once to Saguache and the county Coroner started immediately for the scene of action [accompanied] by Marshal Noland, Dr. Moon was also summoned and made his way to Villa Grove as fast as possible, A jury had been empaneled before the arrival of Coroner Stubbs and a verdict rendered as above. Everything was done for the wounded man—Dr. McElere—but as proper care could not be given him at Villa Grove he was brought last Saturday afternoon to Saguache accompanied by his wife, and taken to the house of Dr. Moon. It was thought at first that his life could be saved; though his limb would have to be amputated. He sank so rapidly however that it was not thought expedient to attempt amputation. We believe however that his death—which [occurred] last Wednesday morning about 10 o'clock was unexpected, at least it not generally known that he was in a dangerous condition, Morgan's shot however was effective and an other victim of the ‘deadly revolver' reposes in the Saguache cemetery. As will be seen by the obituary notice which appears in another column, Dr. McElere was an old citizen of Colo. and highly respected. He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the expenses of the funeral will be [defrayed] by that order. Owing to the shortness of the notice given it was not judged best to have the order conduct the burial [services]. A few of the [brethren] turned out however and the bereaved widow will receive all the assistance that is in their power to give."
"DIED.
At Saguache August 30th 1881, D. S. McElere, M.D., aged 58 years.
The deceased who came to his death from wounds received at the hands of G. W. Morgan—the graveyard fiend—at Villa Grove, Saguache County, on the afternoon of 25th ult., was we are informed by R. Stubbs, Esq., who was well acquainted with him, an old resident of Colorado, having come to the State in 1859. He is said to have brought one of the first stocks of Drugs ever brought to Colorado. He was born in New York State, and was a namesake and favorite nephew of the late Daniel S. Dickinson, U.S. Senator from New York.
Mr. Stubbs informs us that he knew the deceased for 20 years, and that his reputation and standing has always been of the best. He has resided mostly in the northern portion of the State, and is well known at Denver and Central [City.]"
Saguache "Chronicle," Friday, Sept. 2, 1881, p. 7, cols. 2-3:
"Grave Yard Started.
"I shall start a graveyard in Villa Grove before night" was the exclamation of Geo. W. Morgan when he started on a ‘tear' in our neighboring town a week ago yesterday—and he did; that he fills the first grave himself is a matter of congratulation to all good citizens.
The man Morgan above referred to, [who would probably have been arrested on a charge of horse stealing if he had not prosecuted his graveyard project so speedily and successfully] is well known both in Saguache and San Juan counties. He [followed] ‘cow punching' for a living and as intimated above bore a very unsavory reputation, in fact he was looked upon as a ‘bad man' and he sustained his reputation. Never was there a fuller illustration of the lengths that desperadoes inflamed by the most violent passions, and the poorest whiskey will go, if left to themselves than was seen at Villa Grove, shortly after Morgan had ‘sailed in'. A curious feature in the case is that Morgan is said to have stated in connection with his threat to start a graveyard that "he would be shot before long" as he really was. The circumstances were as follows: about four o'clock in the afternoon after he had ‘filled up' to the brim with [whiskey] he went into the saloon of Miles Standish and [addressing a] number of persons there said he wanted a drink whereupon Dr. D.S. Mc'Elere [who was shortly afterwards mortally wounded] started up and ‘treated' him. As soon as he had this drink down Morgan insisted that the barkeeper should give him a quart of [whiskey], this being refused Morgan then [asked] for sixty-five cents with which to pay a debt he owed to Mr. Sherfic who keeps a saloon next to Standish's, this was also refused and Morgan after asking a second time for the sixty-five cents drew his revolver and fired at the barkeeper Norris, the shot only missing his head [Norris'] by an inch. He then commenced firing [indiscriminately] into the crowd in the saloon which as a natural result scattered as fast as possible going out the front door, one of the shots striking Dr. McElere just as he had reached the outside of the door shattering his right leg and resulting in his death as appears in another column. This shot we understand was the second one discharged from Morgan's revolver; be that as it may Morgan soon after retreated in good order out the back door of the saloon and was making his escape to the open country as fast as [possible] when a shot fired [as the coroners jury found] by some unknown person ended his existence and Villa Grove's graveyard was started. Word was sent at once to Saguache and the county Coroner started immediately for the scene of action [accompanied] by Marshal Noland, Dr. Moon was also summoned and made his way to Villa Grove as fast as possible, A jury had been empaneled before the arrival of Coroner Stubbs and a verdict rendered as above. Everything was done for the wounded man—Dr. McElere—but as proper care could not be given him at Villa Grove he was brought last Saturday afternoon to Saguache accompanied by his wife, and taken to the house of Dr. Moon. It was thought at first that his life could be saved; though his limb would have to be amputated. He sank so rapidly however that it was not thought expedient to attempt amputation. We believe however that his death—which [occurred] last Wednesday morning about 10 o'clock was unexpected, at least it not generally known that he was in a dangerous condition, Morgan's shot however was effective and an other victim of the ‘deadly revolver' reposes in the Saguache cemetery. As will be seen by the obituary notice which appears in another column, Dr. McElere was an old citizen of Colo. and highly respected. He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the expenses of the funeral will be [defrayed] by that order. Owing to the shortness of the notice given it was not judged best to have the order conduct the burial [services]. A few of the [brethren] turned out however and the bereaved widow will receive all the assistance that is in their power to give."
"DIED.
At Saguache August 30th 1881, D. S. McElere, M.D., aged 58 years.
The deceased who came to his death from wounds received at the hands of G. W. Morgan—the graveyard fiend—at Villa Grove, Saguache County, on the afternoon of 25th ult., was we are informed by R. Stubbs, Esq., who was well acquainted with him, an old resident of Colorado, having come to the State in 1859. He is said to have brought one of the first stocks of Drugs ever brought to Colorado. He was born in New York State, and was a namesake and favorite nephew of the late Daniel S. Dickinson, U.S. Senator from New York.
Mr. Stubbs informs us that he knew the deceased for 20 years, and that his reputation and standing has always been of the best. He has resided mostly in the northern portion of the State, and is well known at Denver and Central [City.]"
Dr. D.S. McElere, who evidently was just passing through the area, was fatally shot by a Villa Grove man, George W. Morgan, who went on a random drunken shooting rampage at the saloon of Miles Standish. The following Saguache "Chronicle" article gives a detailed and "colorful" description of the events.
Saguache "Chronicle," Friday, Sept. 2, 1881, p. 7, cols. 2-3:
"Grave Yard Started.
"I shall start a graveyard in Villa Grove before night" was the exclamation of Geo. W. Morgan when he started on a ‘tear' in our neighboring town a week ago yesterday—and he did; that he fills the first grave himself is a matter of congratulation to all good citizens.
The man Morgan above referred to, [who would probably have been arrested on a charge of horse stealing if he had not prosecuted his graveyard project so speedily and successfully] is well known both in Saguache and San Juan counties. He [followed] ‘cow punching' for a living and as intimated above bore a very unsavory reputation, in fact he was looked upon as a ‘bad man' and he sustained his reputation. Never was there a fuller illustration of the lengths that desperadoes inflamed by the most violent passions, and the poorest whiskey will go, if left to themselves than was seen at Villa Grove, shortly after Morgan had ‘sailed in'. A curious feature in the case is that Morgan is said to have stated in connection with his threat to start a graveyard that "he would be shot before long" as he really was. The circumstances were as follows: about four o'clock in the afternoon after he had ‘filled up' to the brim with [whiskey] he went into the saloon of Miles Standish and [addressing a] number of persons there said he wanted a drink whereupon Dr. D.S. Mc'Elere [who was shortly afterwards mortally wounded] started up and ‘treated' him. As soon as he had this drink down Morgan insisted that the barkeeper should give him a quart of [whiskey], this being refused Morgan then [asked] for sixty-five cents with which to pay a debt he owed to Mr. Sherfic who keeps a saloon next to Standish's, this was also refused and Morgan after asking a second time for the sixty-five cents drew his revolver and fired at the barkeeper Norris, the shot only missing his head [Norris'] by an inch. He then commenced firing [indiscriminately] into the crowd in the saloon which as a natural result scattered as fast as possible going out the front door, one of the shots striking Dr. McElere just as he had reached the outside of the door shattering his right leg and resulting in his death as appears in another column. This shot we understand was the second one discharged from Morgan's revolver; be that as it may Morgan soon after retreated in good order out the back door of the saloon and was making his escape to the open country as fast as [possible] when a shot fired [as the coroners jury found] by some unknown person ended his existence and Villa Grove's graveyard was started. Word was sent at once to Saguache and the county Coroner started immediately for the scene of action [accompanied] by Marshal Noland, Dr. Moon was also summoned and made his way to Villa Grove as fast as possible, A jury had been empaneled before the arrival of Coroner Stubbs and a verdict rendered as above. Everything was done for the wounded man—Dr. McElere—but as proper care could not be given him at Villa Grove he was brought last Saturday afternoon to Saguache accompanied by his wife, and taken to the house of Dr. Moon. It was thought at first that his life could be saved; though his limb would have to be amputated. He sank so rapidly however that it was not thought expedient to attempt amputation. We believe however that his death—which [occurred] last Wednesday morning about 10 o'clock was unexpected, at least it not generally known that he was in a dangerous condition, Morgan's shot however was effective and an other victim of the ‘deadly revolver' reposes in the Saguache cemetery. As will be seen by the obituary notice which appears in another column, Dr. McElere was an old citizen of Colo. and highly respected. He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the expenses of the funeral will be [defrayed] by that order. Owing to the shortness of the notice given it was not judged best to have the order conduct the burial [services]. A few of the [brethren] turned out however and the bereaved widow will receive all the assistance that is in their power to give."
"DIED.
At Saguache August 30th 1881, D. S. McElere, M.D., aged 58 years.
The deceased who came to his death from wounds received at the hands of G. W. Morgan—the graveyard fiend—at Villa Grove, Saguache County, on the afternoon of 25th ult., was we are informed by R. Stubbs, Esq., who was well acquainted with him, an old resident of Colorado, having come to the State in 1859. He is said to have brought one of the first stocks of Drugs ever brought to Colorado. He was born in New York State, and was a namesake and favorite nephew of the late Daniel S. Dickinson, U.S. Senator from New York.
Mr. Stubbs informs us that he knew the deceased for 20 years, and that his reputation and standing has always been of the best. He has resided mostly in the northern portion of the State, and is well known at Denver and Central [City.]"
Saguache "Chronicle," Friday, Sept. 2, 1881, p. 7, cols. 2-3:
"Grave Yard Started.
"I shall start a graveyard in Villa Grove before night" was the exclamation of Geo. W. Morgan when he started on a ‘tear' in our neighboring town a week ago yesterday—and he did; that he fills the first grave himself is a matter of congratulation to all good citizens.
The man Morgan above referred to, [who would probably have been arrested on a charge of horse stealing if he had not prosecuted his graveyard project so speedily and successfully] is well known both in Saguache and San Juan counties. He [followed] ‘cow punching' for a living and as intimated above bore a very unsavory reputation, in fact he was looked upon as a ‘bad man' and he sustained his reputation. Never was there a fuller illustration of the lengths that desperadoes inflamed by the most violent passions, and the poorest whiskey will go, if left to themselves than was seen at Villa Grove, shortly after Morgan had ‘sailed in'. A curious feature in the case is that Morgan is said to have stated in connection with his threat to start a graveyard that "he would be shot before long" as he really was. The circumstances were as follows: about four o'clock in the afternoon after he had ‘filled up' to the brim with [whiskey] he went into the saloon of Miles Standish and [addressing a] number of persons there said he wanted a drink whereupon Dr. D.S. Mc'Elere [who was shortly afterwards mortally wounded] started up and ‘treated' him. As soon as he had this drink down Morgan insisted that the barkeeper should give him a quart of [whiskey], this being refused Morgan then [asked] for sixty-five cents with which to pay a debt he owed to Mr. Sherfic who keeps a saloon next to Standish's, this was also refused and Morgan after asking a second time for the sixty-five cents drew his revolver and fired at the barkeeper Norris, the shot only missing his head [Norris'] by an inch. He then commenced firing [indiscriminately] into the crowd in the saloon which as a natural result scattered as fast as possible going out the front door, one of the shots striking Dr. McElere just as he had reached the outside of the door shattering his right leg and resulting in his death as appears in another column. This shot we understand was the second one discharged from Morgan's revolver; be that as it may Morgan soon after retreated in good order out the back door of the saloon and was making his escape to the open country as fast as [possible] when a shot fired [as the coroners jury found] by some unknown person ended his existence and Villa Grove's graveyard was started. Word was sent at once to Saguache and the county Coroner started immediately for the scene of action [accompanied] by Marshal Noland, Dr. Moon was also summoned and made his way to Villa Grove as fast as possible, A jury had been empaneled before the arrival of Coroner Stubbs and a verdict rendered as above. Everything was done for the wounded man—Dr. McElere—but as proper care could not be given him at Villa Grove he was brought last Saturday afternoon to Saguache accompanied by his wife, and taken to the house of Dr. Moon. It was thought at first that his life could be saved; though his limb would have to be amputated. He sank so rapidly however that it was not thought expedient to attempt amputation. We believe however that his death—which [occurred] last Wednesday morning about 10 o'clock was unexpected, at least it not generally known that he was in a dangerous condition, Morgan's shot however was effective and an other victim of the ‘deadly revolver' reposes in the Saguache cemetery. As will be seen by the obituary notice which appears in another column, Dr. McElere was an old citizen of Colo. and highly respected. He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the expenses of the funeral will be [defrayed] by that order. Owing to the shortness of the notice given it was not judged best to have the order conduct the burial [services]. A few of the [brethren] turned out however and the bereaved widow will receive all the assistance that is in their power to give."
"DIED.
At Saguache August 30th 1881, D. S. McElere, M.D., aged 58 years.
The deceased who came to his death from wounds received at the hands of G. W. Morgan—the graveyard fiend—at Villa Grove, Saguache County, on the afternoon of 25th ult., was we are informed by R. Stubbs, Esq., who was well acquainted with him, an old resident of Colorado, having come to the State in 1859. He is said to have brought one of the first stocks of Drugs ever brought to Colorado. He was born in New York State, and was a namesake and favorite nephew of the late Daniel S. Dickinson, U.S. Senator from New York.
Mr. Stubbs informs us that he knew the deceased for 20 years, and that his reputation and standing has always been of the best. He has resided mostly in the northern portion of the State, and is well known at Denver and Central [City.]"
Inscription
Aged 59 Y's 6 M's & 15 D's
Gravesite Details
Birthdate calculated from inscription information
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