JOHN CHRISTIAN HECKER 1876-1928

HECKER, BENDENBENDER, MOODY

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/11/2005 at 14:59:46

LOCAL BUSINESS MAN MEETS TRAGIC DEATH ON HIS DAIRY FARM

John C. Hecker, a Lifelong Local Resident, Victim of Angry Bull

MASONIC RITES HELD

Never have we been called upon to chronicle an event, that cast a deeper pall of gloom over a community or one that has elicited more expressions of sincere sorrow and regret, than the news that was flashed into Postville by telephone shortly after the noon hour last Sunday that John C. Hecker had been gored to death by a huge dairy bull, on his farm seven miles northwest of this city. Like wildfire the news spread about town and immediately there was a scurrying of loaded cars toward the farm in the hope that perhaps it might not be so, but upon arrival, alas, it proved all too true.

As is generally known, Mr. Hecker was the owner of a fine dairy farm and was building up a fine herd of purebred Holsteins, and last fall purchased for a herd head the champion Holstein bull at the Fayette county fair at a cost of $600. A few months ago Mr. and Mrs. Hecker, who had been residing in town and entrusting the conduct of their farm to a tenant, desiring to give a little closer attention to their dairy interests, moved onto the farm themselves, employing Mr. and Mrs. W. Ruckhaber to assist them. As Mr. Hecker was also engaged in business in town, he drove back and forth daily when the weather and roads would permit.

Last Saturday afternoon John drove to the farm to spend the week-end. Sunday forenoon he and the hired man were attending to various duties about the barnyard, where the bull was kept in a roomy and strongly built pen. A little before one o'clock a call from the house summoned the men to get ready for dinner. Mr. Ruckhaber left at once, stating he wished to shave before eating. John sent word by him to tell the women folks he would be up in a minute. A little later, John failing to put in an appearance, Mrs. Hecker stepped out side and again called to him. Receiving no response she started toward the barn and on approaching the bull pen she noticed fragments of clothing, which she at once recognized as John's hanging on the boards of the pen. Sensing that something had happened, she immediately called Mr. Ruckhaber, who came hurriedly and found the lifeless body of Mr. Hecker lying on the ground in a corner of the pen, having been gored to death by the great bull, which stood a few feet back gazing on the awful havoc he had wrought.

Phone calls to neighbors and the family in town soon brought assistance. In the meantime Mr. Ruckhaber had reached through the fence and got hold of a rope attached to a ring in the bull's nose and had him securely tired to a post when help arrived to assist in removing the body.

John Christian Hecker was born in Postville, November 23, 1876, and died at his home northwest of Postville, Sunday, February 26, 1928, aged a few months more than 52 years. He graduated from the Postville High school with the class of 1892. On August 29, 1905, he was united in marriage with Miss Lena Bendenbender, who survives him, as do also his father, R. F. Hecker; two brothers, Robert M., and Joseph Hecker, all of this city; and one sister, Mrs. Josephine Moody of Excelsior, Minn. He has for a number of years been associated with his father and brothers as a member of the firm of R. F. Hecker & Sons, in the garage and machine business.

The above is in brief the life story of a man whose entire span of years was spent wholly in this city and was of so noble and high a character as to need no encomiums at our hands. He was honorable and upright, a man of intelligence, integrity and industry, a good friend, neighbor and citizen, whose loss to this community is one that will be sorely felt. With friends innumerable we mourn his untimely passing and to those bound to him by closer ties ours go out in sympathy as unbounded as it is sincere.

The funeral was held from the Community Presbyterian church at two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, conducted by the Masonic fraternity of which he was an honored member, Brother R. R. Douglass of this city officiating for the local lodge. It was one of the most largely attended funeral gatherings ever held in this city and the floral offerings were profuse and beautiful, all attesting the high place Mr. Hecker held in the hearts of a community to whom his life was an open book. Interment was made in Postville cemetery.

Postville Herald, 1928 - contributed by Mary Durr

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Added by Judy Moyna, April 20, 2011:

Postville Farmer Trampled to Death

John Hecker, 52, a member of the firm of R. F. Hecker & Sons, of Postville, was killed by a bull on Hecker’s farm eight miles northwest of Postville, Sunday noon.

Mr. Hecker had been out in the yard with the bull, in company with another person, a hired man. While the latter went into the house to shave, Hecker was left alone with the animal. At noon Mrs. Hecker went to call him for dinner but found him dead.

All Hecker’s clothing had been torn from him and his body was badly mangled.

Mr. Hecker had moved onto the farm three months ago. Last fall he had bought the bull, a Holstein, for $600, and had placed the animal on exhibition at the state fair at Des Moines.

~The Clayton County Register, Elkader, Iowa, Thursday March 1, 1928, p.1.

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A terrible accident occurred at the Hecker farm north of Postville about Sunday noon when John C. Hecker was gored to death by the herd animal, a large Holstein. He is survived by his wife and his father Robert Hecker and one sister Mrs. Lowell Moody of Excelsior, Minn., and two brothers Robert and Joseph of Postville. His mother passed away a few years ago.

~The Clayton County Register, Elkader, Iowa, Thursday March 1, 1928, p.2.