Person:Hugh Scanlon (1)

Lead Daily Call newspaper, July ___ 1931 - "The body of Hugh Joseph Scanlon, 39, a resident of Lead for many years was found sitting in an upright position behind the steering wheel of his automobile by his mother, Mrs. Anne Scanlon, about 9:30 o'clock Saturday morning. A .22 caliber rifle was lying across his lap, and a bullet from the rifle had entered his head through the right ear. Scanlon, who had lived in Lead since he came here with his family when he was two years old, had been employed as a grave digger in the South Lead cemetery. He had prepared the grave for the Sonza funeral Saturday morning and had returned home. The family had planned to drive into the country for the day, and the rifle which caused the fatal wound was to be taken along for target practice. The family and friends of Scanlon believe that he had loaded the gun and that it may have gone off while he was putting it into the back seat. It is believed the fatal shot was fired about 8:30 o'clock...The deceased is survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna Scanlon, two brothers, Dan and Eugene, both of Lead, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Johnson and Mrs Kate Komboy, both of Denver...Interment is to be made in the Catholic cemetery in South Lead beside the grave of Mr. Scanlon's father. Born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1892, the deceased came to the Black Hills with his parents two years later and since that time has made his home here continuously."

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-18 show Hugh Scanlon, age 25, residing on Summit Street in Lead; born August "18," 1892 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania; occupation - miner at the Homestake Mining Company in Lead; single; height - medium, build - slender, color of hair - black, color of eyes - dark brown.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FILE #137100 - (Record index notes that he died in Lawrence County on July 4, 1931)

Family links:

Parents:
 Daniel Scanlon (1845 - 1913)

 

Burial: South Lead Cemetery Lead Lawrence County South Dakota, USA