How Peter Ducklow Became Blind in One Eye

[Updated September 17, 2009]

Thomas and Elizabeth Ducklow’s youngest son, Peter Edward Ducklow, was a well-known and respected sheep farmer in the Township Oconomowoc of Waukesha County.  He had a large flock of Merinos, a breed of sheep that is especially valued for its soft wool in garment making.  Peter’s farm was just a few miles north of the City of Oconomowoc and about five miles south from the original Ducklow homestead.

Raising sheep, especially in the pioneer farming period of the mid 1800s to early 1900s, had a large number challenges—not the least of which was keeping predators at bay.  Fox, coyote, wolves, and even badgers would attack for any easy meal. Sheep have few defenses against predators, explaining how the ancient profession of shepherding and use of herding dogs came about.  However, hiring a full-time shepherd was not a practical solution for most farmers in Wisconsin at the turn of the twentieth century.  The tools to keep sheep protected were fences, dogs and rifles.

One day [see footnote] Peter’s use of a gun during an attack of his flock had a life-changing consequence.  As he had done perhaps a thousand times before, he loaded his rifle, took aim at an attacking animal, and pulled the trigger.  But this time Peter did not feel the expected recoil from the butt of the gun on his shoulder. The bullet somehow jammed.  The explosion that normally forces the bullet out the barrel of the rifle had instead tore the firing chamber apart sending shrapnel directly into Peter’s face.  No doubt Peter dropped to the ground, bleeding profusely, writhed in terrible pain.  His most serious injury was metal shards embedded in his aiming eye. The pupil was shredded badly; to a degree that all hope of future sight from eventually was abandoned. 

His wife Helena and sons Thomas and Maurice likely took up the burden of Peter’s farm work, in addition to performing their normal chores, while he recuperated from the accident.  Peter did recover and made the adjustment of seeing the world now with one eye.  He continued sheep farming with his son Maurice until his death in 1940, at age 77.

Peter Edward Ducklow, Circa 1934

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Footnote:  It is not clear when this accident occurred.  It was after Peter’s marriage to Helena in 1901, and before the christening of Elizabeth Helen Ducklow in 1934. 

This story was originally shared with me by Betty Ducklow Steinhoff.   

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