Officer Down Memorial Page

On June 30, 1891 , apparently in the preformance of his duties, Elijah was shot and killed. "The graveyard at Burlington was used as a dumping ground for garbage by a few individuals and it became necessary to forbid it. On June 30, 1891 , Frank Pierce came to the graveyard with a load of garbage and was informed by E. H. Wishard that he could no longer unload there. Pierce had a reputation for ugly acts, and he drew two revolvers and shot Wishard. Pierce was arrested and brought to jail, and by the time he arrived a mob of about five hundred awaited him. They would have lynched him had not the militia been called out and blank cartridges used. This was the second time that a mob came near lynching him, as he had been sought by one in 1888."--From " Iowa History Project", Annals of Iowa , Vol. XI Iowa City, January, 1914, Attempted Lynchings in Iowa by Paul Walton Black. "Governor Drake on Thanksgiving day pardoned out the notorious whisky searcher of Des Moines, Frank Pierce, who was sentenced to four years imprisonment for the murder of E. H. Wishard. He had yet two years to serve and should have done so."--From the Fayette County Union Newspaper, December 3rd & 10th, 1896.

The death certificate says the cause of death was gunshot wound at the hands of Frank Pierce. It lists the date of death as July 1, 1891 and that he was to be buried in Woodland Cemetery on July 2.

Fellow Citizen
History buff
September 6, 2007

Within the last few weeks in Canada, we have been mourning the passing of 6 Royal Canadian Mounted Police who were gunned down in the line of duty. We honor them as we honor Elijah, one of our own, who met his death in the line of duty.

Vernon R. Wishart
Canadian relative
July 20, 2006

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer
June 18, 2006

Rest in peace Uncle Wishart knowing that you are finally being recognized for your ulimate sacrifice serving the citizens of Des Moines.

Sgt Edward L. Campbell
OKC Police G-G-G-Nephew
June 17, 2006

The service and sacrifice of both you and your destitute family are not forgotten.
Rest in peace, uncle, rest in peace.

Mary
g-g-g-niece
June 8, 2006

Officer Wishart,
It has taken almost 115 years, but you are finally being honored. I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Des Moines. It's a travesty of justice that your murderer only served six years.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

Anonymous
Anonymous
June 7, 2006

REST IN GOD PEACE.

GILBERT DANIEL
June 7, 2006

May you Rest in peace knowing that you have been remembered even after so much time has passed.Thank you for you service.

June 7, 2006