"Alexander in the Well"

Alexander Utter was killed 27 Nov 1843 while digging a Well for his

Uncle Samuel Utter in Walworth co., Wisconsin Territory. Instead of digging

him out Samuel moved the homesite up the road and turned the Well site into a

Family cemetery. Later Samuel sold it to the East Delavan Union Cemetery Assc.

I very sure that Alexander's brother was Job Utter my gr-gr-grandfather who

lived across the road at the time. Alexander was 21 years 7 months and 13

days old when he died.

In honor of the event I have written a Limerick in his memory:

"Alexander in the Well"

by Gary H. G. Utter

In the morning when the air is sweet

Who knows what destiny this day we keep

The wind from the West blows cold across fields of hay

Cold winds through Elms dispense frosty morning haze

Alex raises to greet the morning,

a man's work he'll do today

With Shovel and pick he'll dig his Uncle's Well,

and collect a dollar in pay

To work, with lunch and beer as a midday treat

Now Alexander in the Well eleven feet deep

With rhythmic beat he thus fills the hauling pail

today Sam shall have his sweet water Well

The air is stale the light is pale,

the heavy sodden earth thus smell

What fears grow quietly inside,

as deeper down you slide, into the pale

Good Lord why did they fail to brace that Well

A simple plumb line would have told the tale

Sweet Jesus I feel halfway to Hell but yet only twenty feet

Oh for to feel my destination water sand soon I reach

Couldn't they tell that all was not well,

the wall was not straight

What fearful sounds thus the earth makes,

when it begins to quake

What sounds did our young Alexander make

When he knew he had made a fatal mistake

And in the mind what awful terrible dread

When you realize upon earth again you never tread

Sweet Jesus my soul despairs,

good God one more breath of air

With out stretched arms and open eyes,

searching for light, next time I'll take care

And so young prince this is your fate

And from this hole you will not in life escape

Young man in the bottom of your man made cave

Little did you know today you dug your grave

In the pit so cold and dark yourself you find,

will always be your keep

While above you LIFE moves at the speed of time,

while down below you sleep