Frank Bryant, who was so badly burned on the night of February 19, died on the 28th ult., after nine days of terrible suffering. Frank, desiring to go away on business early, got up about midnight and lit the lamp to see what time it was. He went back to his room shut the door and then seemed to have suddenly sickened and fell to the floor unconscious. The lamp which he was carrying broke by his side and the oil ignited and at once began to burn. The rest of the family were sleeping up stairs, his wife being absent at the time visiting a sick daughter. Hally, Frank's little boy, happened to wake up by coughing, and hearing his father groaning gave the alarm by waking his step brother, Willie Kiddoo, who ran down stairs and tried to open the bed room door, but could not as the out side knob was broken off. He called to Frank to open it, but he could not speak, he answered by knocking on the door. Will then ran to a window and raised it, but as Frank had fallen under this window it was on fire so he could not get in until he first threw in snow. During all this time Frank was lying there in the fire with his feet and lower limbs burning. Willie finally got into the room, opened the door and pulled Frank out of the fire into another oom where he soon came to enough to walk, but he was badly burned, so much so that when he started to walk the entire sole fell off from one of his feet. He lingered along in great pain until the evening of the 28th when he died suddenly having just requested the lamp taken out of the room saying he felt liek he could go to sleep. In ten or fifteen minutes the watchers went back into the room and found that life had taken its flight. He was buried in Westfield cemetery. Two brothers, Thomas, of Kansas City, and John, of Springfield, Illinois, attended the funeral. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. H. W. Fisk at Peniel church.

(Keithsburg Times - March 7, 1888)

We heard Wednesday morning of the death of Frank Bryant, residing near Joy, who has been quite extensively engaged the past few years in shipping stock from that section of the county. Mr. Bryant's death was caused from the inhaling of fire and smoke and from burns received at the same time. About two weeks ago one night about midnight he lighted the lamp in his bedroom and went out into another room to find what time of night it was, his business requiring him to arise early next morning. In starting to return he fell to the floor in a fit or something of that character, the lamp falling and breaking by his side, and the oil igniting and soon causing a brisk fire about him. In going into the room where he fell he had closed the door behind him, and although hearing something like a call, his family did not think to investigate for some little time. When they did, they found something against the door, which afterwards proved to be his body, but the flames and smoke in the room were so thick, and they not knowing what the impediment to their progress was, they left the door and went to an outside window, which they broke in and then threw in snow till the fire was put out. By the time they were able to rescue the body, he was so badly burnt and had inhaled so much fire and smoke, that the subsequent medical attention could not restore him, and after lingering till Wednesday he expired.

(March 2, 1888)

Birthdate provided by contributor #47939017.