ROWE, ROY (1885-1904)

ROWE, TORREY, INGLE

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 10/14/2012 at 18:45:26

The full account of how Roy Rowe came to his death in Texas has finally been learned from Roy Torrey, who married a half sister of the deceased, and who went down there for the family to bring back the body, if such a thing were possible.

He found upon his arrival at Carmona that Tuesday morning Feb. 9th, while Roy was unloading his cooking wagon, for he was traveling with and cooking for Alex. Glasscock's show, he started to pull his 38-40 Winchester rifle out to get it out of the way and the trigger caught in a 50-pound sack of sugar and discharged the gun, the large bullet striking him in the left abdomen passing clear through his body.

He was shot Tuesday morning but lived till the following Friday, Feb. 12th, being conscious and strong up to within five minutes of his death. Everything was done for him that was possible by the kind hearted people of the southern town. Two doctors attended him and he was carefully nursed.

The funeral was held Sunday evening and a large audience was in attendance. The citizens of the town raised $75 for the boy's funeral expenses. Carmona is in south-eastern Texas 150 miles from Houston, and is a saw mill town.

Mr. Torrey had intended to bring the body back with him but as it had been buried for three days and was not in good shape when buried, and he could not secure the services of an undertaker, he had to abandon the idea. He returned to Sumner Saturday afternoon and to Oelwein Monday. The boy was about nineteen years of age and Henry Flak was his guardian.

~Sumner Gazette, February 25, 1904
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The body of Roy Rowe, who was shot at Carmona, Texas last February, was brought here by his brother-in-law, Joseph Ingle, of Oelwein last week. The body was re-interred at Wilson Grove cemetery.

~Sumner Journal, Bremer co., Iowa, December 22, 1904

~Notes: The 1885 Iowa State census, Sumner twp., Bremer co. IA enumerated newborn Roy Rowe (age 0 months) in the household of Albert Rowe (age 55) and Carrie Rowe (age 32)