Wilbur, William Horace (1892-1940)

WILBUR, BLAIR, PETERSON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/14/2014 at 14:10:20

Marathon newspaper, dated after 05 Apr 1940

William Horace Wilbur
June 2, 1892 - April 5, 1940

7300 Volt Charge From Electric Farm Line
Funeral and Burial at Sioux Rapids Monday—Brother of George Wilbur

William Horace Wilbur, of Pocahontas, brother of George Wilbur of this place, was killed last Friday afternoon about 4:30, when a charge of 7300 volts of electricity went through his body to the ground.

The accident took place on the highway near the O. B. Jorgenson farm, southwest of Marathon, where Mr. Wilbur, in company with two other men were engaged in unloading a drag-line machine, which we understand was to be used in cleaning out the drainage ditch which runs through the country southwest of town.

The machine was loaded on a truck trailer and the men were unloading same. The operator had raised the long boom into the air and was raising the big shovel off the truck on which it had been loaded. As the weight of the shovel was placed on the cable, it caused the boom to swing to one side and it came in contact momentarily with the REA electric line, which carries 7300 volts. The electricity came down the steel cable to the truck, upon which Mr. Wilbur was working on the stripped gears, and as he was standing on the ground the charge left the truck and went to the ground through his body, burning him on one hand and on one foot where the charge left his body.

Clarence Osweiler of Pocahontas, who was standing with his hand on the truck door at the time was knocked to the ground after having been quite badly burned on his hand. However, he was not seriously injured.

Leo Collins of Pocahontas, who was operating the boom at the time, stated that he had swung the boom above the electric line and had plenty of clearance until the weight of the shovel caused the machine to tip and swing the cable against the line momentarily. He saw Mr. Osweiler drop to the ground and immediately stopped the machine to see what was wrong. Collins, being on the machine and not in contact with the ground did not receive a shock.

The two men were rushed to Dr. Theberge’s office here in Marathon, and it was found that Mr. Wilbur had been killed instantly. The burns of Mr. Osweiler were treated and he was able to return to his home.

A coroner’s inquest was held Saturday morning at the Nelson undertaking parlors, with County Coroner Taylor in charge and W. R. Ritchie, James Thomas and Asa Roderick serving as the jury. County Attorney Z. Z. White conducted the questioning and the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.”

Funeral services were held for Mr. Wilbur on Monday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Ida Peterson and at the Methodist church in Sioux Rapids, and burial was made in the Lone Tree Cemetery at that place.

Obituary:
Funeral services for William Horace Wilbur were held at the home of Mrs. Ida Peterson near Marathon Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock and also at the Methodist church in Sioux Rapids at 2:30. Rev. B. M. Watson officiated. A quartet composed of I. M. Powell, D. A. McConnell, C. F. Kischer and Robert Anderson of Linn Grove, furnished music.

William Horace Wilbur was born at Minden, Neb., June 2, 1892. He died Friday, April 5th, 1940. On July 26, 1914, he was united in marriage to Flossie Elma Blair at Webb. Three children were born to this union: Elma Viola of Spencer, Iowa; Helen Dorothy, of Linn Grove; and Orval of Waterloo. Mrs. Flossie Wilbur died August 19, 1927. On November 30, 1929, he was united in marriage to Miss Lyle Peterson, of Marathon, at Clarinda, Iowa. One child was born to this union, Charlotte Jane.

Mr. Wilbur leaves to mourn his death his wife and 1 year old daughter; four sisters, Mrs. Viola E. Johnson, Linn Grove; Mrs. Mary McKinstry, Stigneas, Mich.; Mable Parks, Superior, Iowa; and five brothers, Ruben W., of New Richmond, Wis.; George E. of Marathon; John W., of Laurens; Alva Ray, Spencer; and Gilbert R., of Sioux Rapids.
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Rolfe Arrow, April 11, 1940

Live Wire Causes Death Horace Wilbur
Clarence Osweiler Injured in Accident

Pocahontas—Horace Wilbur, 47, of Pocahontas, was electrocuted late Friday afternoon and a fellow worker, Clarence Osweiler of Pocahontas, was knocked unconscious and suffered a hand and foot burn in an accident near Marathon when the boom of a drag line came in contact with a live wire.

The men, employees of W. B. Linnan, Pocahontas contractor, had driven the truck with the drag line loaded on it to near Marathon where they were going to do a ditch job. Trouble with the truck was being investigated by the men with both standing near it when the drag line was to be unloaded and the accident occurred.

Wilbur, who was a crusher operator, suffered a serious arm injury last summer when it was caught in the crusher. He recently returned to work. Survivors include his wife, three daughters and one son.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Methodist church in Sioux Rapids.
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Pocahontas Record-Democrat
Thursday, April 11, 1940

Horace Wilbur Is Electrocuted Near Marathon
Was Assisting In Unloading Dragline Which Came In Contact With Wire

Horace Wilbur, an employee of W. B. Linnan in an accident which occurred near Marathon at about 4:45 o’clock Friday afternoon when the boom of a dragline which he was helping unload came in contact with a high tension wire.

Clarence Osweiler, also of this place, who was standing beside Wilbur was knocked unconscious and was burned about the hands and feet, but he has nearly recovered from the ordeal.

The accident occurred about three and one-half miles west of Marathon, while the two men with Leo Collins, dragline operator, was moving the equipment to a ditch clean-out project. As they were within a short distance of the site where they had expected to unload, the transmission in the truck containing the dragline broke. The men decided to unload at that spot and moved the dragline to the starting point on its own caterpillar power. While Wilbur and Osweiler inspected the broken transmission, Mr. Collins started to swing the boom preparatory to removing the equipment from the trailer. As he did so the trailer tilted to one side, causing the boom to rise high enough to come in contact with the high tension wire.

Wilbur fell forward into the truck when the charge struck the truck and Osweiler fell backward to the ground. Three bystanders helped Mr. Collins in his attempt to revive the men. Mr. Osweiler recovered a few moments after the accident, but Mr. Wilbur died a short time later.

Funeral services for Mr. Wilbur were held at the Methodist church in Sioux Rapids Monday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Watson conducted the services. Burial was in Lone Tree cemetery at that place. Pallbearers were John Peters, Willard Gilchrist, Edward Musser, Clarence Osweiler, Henry Bartosh and Homer Malcolm.

Horace Wilbur was born June 2, 1892, at Minden, Nebr. He has been employed with W. B. Linnan for the past three years. He was a man of fine character and was well liked by his fellow employees.

He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Charlotte Jane, three children by a former marriage, Orval, Elma and Helen of Linn Grove; five brothers, Rueben of New Richland, Wis.; Geo. of Marathon; Ray of Spencer; John of Laurens; and Gilbert of Sioux Rapids; four sisters, Mrs. E. Johnson, of Linn Grove; Mable Parks, of Superior, Iowa; Mrs. Harry McKinsary of St. Ignace, Michigan; and Mrs. Nora Greene of Seney, Iowa.
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Hawarden Independent
April 11, 1940

William Horace Wilbur, 46, was killed and C. G. Osweiler, 42, both of Pocahontas, suffered shock and severe burns on his hands April 5th in a freak accident on highway No. 10 between Sioux Rapids and Marathon. The two men, employed by a Pocahontas construction company, were hauling a ditch dredging machine on a truck. An axle of the truck broke and the men apparently were trying to unload the dredging machine to facilitate repair work when the accident occurred. The dredging machine slipped off center and a long boom swung out and made contact with a highline of the Northwestern Light and Power company about 35 feet from the ground sending 13,200 volts of electricity through the bodies of the two men, who were standing on the ground nearby. The victims were removed to a physician’s office in Marathon where Wilbur was pronounced dead. Osweiler was unconscious some time after the accident. Wilbur was the victim of another accident last year when his arm was caught in a rock crusher and he was confined to a hospital many weeks. Wilbur is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.