Irene Fenton

FENTON, DRAKE

Posted By: Renee Rimmert (email)
Date: 11/11/2016 at 23:34:52

Appanoose Iowegian
Thursday September 3, 1891

Died: - At her home in this city on Friday evening, August 28th 1891 Mrs. Irene Fenton, wife of W. D. Fenton, aged 22 years. Funeral took place from the family residence on Sunday, 80th at 2:00 p.m. conducted by Rev. G. R. Putnam.

Her death was the result of an accident which happened on the day previous, Thursday afternoon. Deceased and Mrs. Lane Strickler were driving with Mrs. Dr. J.L. Sawyers on Fifth Street when the horses took fright and started to run. Mrs. Strickler jumped out from the low step of the carriage in the direction the horses were running and escaped unhurt while Mrs. Fenton attempted to jump from the rear and fell striking on the back of the head. Her skull was fractured near the base of the brain and one ankle broken besides being hurt internally. She was taken up unconscious and carried into the house of Prof. Stephens and physicians summoned, who did all that was possible to do but she never fully recovered consciousness and passed away about thirty hours after the accident. Mrs. Sawyers held to the horses though the tongue of the carriage was broken and one wheel, until their speed was sufficiently slackened to admit of her getting out without danger. The horses though young and spirited were considered perfectly safe and had been habitually driven by Mrs. Sawyers.

The case was a peculiarly sad one. A young lady of 22 years, just upon the threshold of life, and a bride of scare two years with life apparently all before her; a happy home is in a moment left empty and a child of a year old without a mother. She was a member of the P.E.O. and other societies and they made her grave a bed of evergreens and flowers. She leaves a husband, a mother and a sister - Mrs. F.E. Drake - who are prostrated with grief at her sad loss.