Rood, Norman W. 1908-1924

ROOD, THOMPSON, FARNHAM

Posted By: David Hagemeier (email)
Date: 12/11/2014 at 02:01:06

Fatal Automobile Accident
A most deplorable automobile accident occurred between 7 and 8 o’clock last Wednesday evening which caused the death of a promising young Waukon High School boy. The Sophomore class with Supt. Elkema and other teachers present, had indulged in a picnic supper at the Old Stone House and were starting for home.

A Buick touring car driven by Lloyd Thompson, son of Albert Thompson of Round Prairie, accompanied by Milton Farnham of this city in the front seat and Norman Rood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Rood of Paint Creek Township, alone in the back seat, went over a fifteen foot bank just north of the bridge near the Stone House. The car rolled to the bottom crushing young Rood so terribly that death must have been instantaneous. The boys in the front seat escaped with minor injuries and the car was badly wrecked.

The car was not going fast as the boys had to stop at Harvey Clark’s nearby to return a lantern. There was a heavy fog and mist on the windshield and in looking for the Clark gate the driver got too close to the bank and the car toppled over. But the primary cause of the accident is the unfenced condition of these graded roads, and this is the second death in this county this summer arising from this condition.

The terrible accident cast a pall of gloom over the school and community. Norman was sixteen years old, a bright, manly boy, popular with his schoolmates and teachers. He was the youngest of a family of four, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rood, two brothers and a sister, have the sympathy of all in their grief.

The remains were brought to the Martin undertaking rooms and taken to the sorrow-stricken home Thursday morning. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon, services at the West Paint Creek Synod church, Rev. Unseth officiating, at 1:30 and interment in the cemetery there. As a mark of respect for the deceased Supt. Elkema, his teachers and classmates attended the funeral in a body.

Source: Newspaper clipping scrapbook.

Note: Woodmansee Cemetery listing for West Paint Creek Synod:
Rood, Norman Walter 1908-1924 Sep 24